Metal Mouth Message Board

So, when I first decided to get braces, I read everything I could about metal braces, especially the Damon brand. I was so excited to start on this journey and begin stocking up on everything I needed to survive 2 years in braces. Then I get to my appointment and the orthodontist says: You only need Invisalign for a year....I didn't know if I should be happy or disappointed. Having it for a year didn't bring the cost down, but at least I won't have to worry with brackets.

Next week I'm getting temporary aligners to get used to the feeling of them on my mouth. I'm waiting on my real aligners to come in January. The office I went to used the scanner to send my pictures. So they should be here soon.

Any tips I want I should buy or get in advance? The metal mouth boards have lists after lists. lol. I feel like I'm missing out. Or should I just be thrilled that I don't have brackets and just get prepared for 22 hours/day in plastic purgatory?

I had Damon braces but am now in upper and lower Essix retainers, which are basically Invisalign (minus the horrible button things!).

Here's my list for you, of things to put in a little bag and carry with you wherever you go:

*Retainer wipes (SO necessary if you eat out at all)
*invisalign case (you should have at least 2-- one you keep at home and one you carry with you)
*floss-- both string and pick
*toothbrush/toothpaste
*chapstick (dry lips!)
*sugar-free mints (dry mouth!)
*small mirror
*wax, possibly? If you get elastics or a lot of attachments you might need it. I've read that some people are really bothered by the attachments/buttons when they take out their aligners to eat. When you have brackets your mouth eventually gets used to them, but with Invisalign it doesn't get a chance. So, you may need to put wax on them before you eat.

Also, I highly recommend a waterpik. It's easier on your teeth than constantly flossing. I refuse to put my retainers back in without brushing and flossing first, unless I can use my waterpik, then I feel comfortable skipping the flossing (unless it's before bed).

One more suggestion-- consider getting a prescription strength fluoride toothpaste to help strengthen your enamel while it's encased in plastic all year!

Good luck!

Thank you!! This is very helpful. I just got my practice aligners while I wait for my real ones to come. These feel so weirddd! I dunno how I'm going to do 22 hours...lawd.

I have invisalign and started in October.

This is what I recommend you put together in some kind of bag to carry with you:
1) Invisalign case - you get 2 a red and a blue. I keep the blue with me all the time in my kit in my purse. The red SHOULD theoretically be for your last set but I keep those in the baggie in a bag under my sink. My ortho recommended keeping them all in the baggies in case I ever needed to go back more than one set. I keep the red one then in my bathroom at home to store the aligners in when they're not in my mouth. I also recommend ordering some cheap extra retainer kits and leaving them in places where you MIGHT take your aligners out and not have a case with you (ie, car, gym bag, etc.) Retainer cases are cheap - replacing a lost aligner is not.

2) Travel folding toothbrush and travel size toothpaste. You want things small so they're easy to carry. In my experience it doesn't do anything to aligners to use a whitening one on them but you want to brush both your teeth and the aligners before putting them back in.

3) Floss and floss picks. I prefer the picks for on the go but like others said, a necessity. Mainly because you may have things get caught on attachments or new spaces open up during treatment where things get caught where they didn't before

4) Sugar free mints / biotene spray / etc - something to help with dry mouth. Any sugar free mint is fine as is biotene spray.

This stuff can all fit in a bag the size of your hand or smaller - so it becomes very portable. Keep with you and you're good :

For home:

1) If you don't have an electric toothbrush, I really highly recommend getting one. It makes cleaning easier, particularly if you have attachments. Go with the base model sonic care if you can. You don't need anything fancier unless you want it.

2) An ultrasonic jewelry cleaner (you can get these for like $5 online) to soak aligners in. What you soak them in is up to you - I've heard of everything from denture cleaner, to just plain mouth wash, to retainer brite. Generally, you should try to soak them/clean them once a day if you can (if you can coincide this with a mealtime that's great). I've done this and experienced no problem with odors (I also use retainer brite for what it's worth but what you choose is up to you.) Be sure to soak them especially if you're experiencing any type of cold or virus as germs can get trapped there.

3) A water pik - Again, you don't need the highest end model but this comes in really handy if you have a lot of attachments.

4) If you don't already use it - some kind of fluoride rinse. Just to doubly insure no cavities since getting a filling I think would involve new impressions being needed and slow treatment.

5) An emory board - this is if you experience any trays with less than smooth edges that cause irritation. You can smooth the offending edge with a little bit of filing. If filing alone doesn't fix it take it to your ortho's office and they can clip/smooth them for you. I haven't had to file a tray in a while but i had a few sets at the beginning that needed clipping because they were bothering my lower lip.

6) Straws! Buy straws in bulk! They will become your best friend. You can get around the "nothing but water" rule pretty easily with a straw if you're willing to brush after and use a straw for a beverage that might stain. (Don't try it with hot beverages though - so if you love your coffee, just ice it and you're fine).

I bought wax but never needed it or used it. Even with the tray that gave me irritation at the beginning I couldn't really figure out HOW to use it. I just had my ortho sand the tray down and then used that braces care mouthwash with aloe while I waited for things to heal (which took a few days)

For the day of getting attachments:

1) Pre-medicate yourself with an OTC pain killer before the appointment (it's not painful but it'll help with the added pressure later)

2) Wear a LOT of chapstick or lip balm so your lips don't dry out too much. This was the one thing I forgot to do and I was super dry/chapped after.

3) Some soft food on hand at home for the first/second day while you adjust.

I was supposed to start on a set of trays with no attachments but somehow Invisalign goofed and sent my first tray with attachments but the template for the attachments matched tray 2, so I didn't get the breaking in period I was supposed to. I will tell you my second day HURT. I mean, really hurt. After day 2 though I was fine and was eating raw carrots by day 4. I haven't had any pain like that with aligner switches after so that really is as bad as it gets.

I will say in my experience so far the worst was getting the attachments all put on and that wasn't that bad and afterwards you DO adjust pretty quickly. You figure out how to get the aligners in and out and what works best for you. (Although if you have no nails at all you may want to consider getting an outie tool). Make sure you get those chewies and use them at least for the first few days of each new tray just to make sure the trays really seat where they should. If your doc doesn't give you them (and usually they do) you can get them online.