Ok, today was my first real situation where I couldn't go take 5 minutes away to the bathroom to brush, floss, and re-insert my aligners because I was behind the turntables, DJing, and I would have messed up the party if I had gone away for too long.
So, I have to ask. Is it worse to leave them out longer, or is it worse to re-insert them without cleaning the teeth and then later when you're free go back and clean everything real good?
I know nothing about tooth decay, so I'm not sure how long it takes for damage to the tooth to be caused if you insert an aligner without brushing, but I'm just wondering if it's best to put em' back in without brushing and come back to it, or leave them out?
To pop them back in without brushing or leave them out longe
Moderator: bbsadmin
Yeah, I'd say it depends on what you ate. If you can get the food off your teeth with just water then it wouldn't seem so bad to pop the aligners back in. I've done that a few times. And keep drinking some water after that.
The problem for me is some of my teeth are sensitive and if I don't brush certain foods off first and put the trays back in my teeth will be more sensitive for a couple days after that. That is usually if I ate something sweet or acidic like orange juice.
But the way I understand how cavities form is a thin biofilm of bacteria builds up first on a tooth. This is called plaque. Then the lower layer of bacteria next to the tooth has to use anaerobic respiration because of lack of oxygen. This process creates acid which pulls minerals from the tooth. The enamel is porous and without the minerals filling the pores it is easily worn away. If it wears away enough you get a cavity.
The point is it is a fairly long process, so unless you are constantly putting the trays in without brushing I don't think it would increase your risk of cavities too much. The problem with the trays is that it prevents the saliva from naturally washing your teeth and remineralizing them. But if it's only for a couple hours then it probably won't be a problem.
(sorry for the long winded post.)
The problem for me is some of my teeth are sensitive and if I don't brush certain foods off first and put the trays back in my teeth will be more sensitive for a couple days after that. That is usually if I ate something sweet or acidic like orange juice.
But the way I understand how cavities form is a thin biofilm of bacteria builds up first on a tooth. This is called plaque. Then the lower layer of bacteria next to the tooth has to use anaerobic respiration because of lack of oxygen. This process creates acid which pulls minerals from the tooth. The enamel is porous and without the minerals filling the pores it is easily worn away. If it wears away enough you get a cavity.
The point is it is a fairly long process, so unless you are constantly putting the trays in without brushing I don't think it would increase your risk of cavities too much. The problem with the trays is that it prevents the saliva from naturally washing your teeth and remineralizing them. But if it's only for a couple hours then it probably won't be a problem.
(sorry for the long winded post.)
Thanks for the info both of you, I think it makes more sense to put them back in after swigging some water around rather then risk problems. I will know in a few hours if having them out for 4 hours prevented me from moving to the next tray on my normal schedule. 
The main problem for me was I was at a pool party complete with burgers, hot dogs, and ocean, and I took them out to have a ocean, but then I was hungry and ate food, and then my turn was up to DJ and I forgot to put them back in, and I couldn't get away from the DJ console to put them back in. Ahh the joys of trying to juggle everything around in life, but it will be so worth it when this is all done! I can already see a difference after 6 weeks.
The main problem for me was I was at a pool party complete with burgers, hot dogs, and ocean, and I took them out to have a ocean, but then I was hungry and ate food, and then my turn was up to DJ and I forgot to put them back in, and I couldn't get away from the DJ console to put them back in. Ahh the joys of trying to juggle everything around in life, but it will be so worth it when this is all done! I can already see a difference after 6 weeks.
Tray #4 is in!!!
YAY!!!!! 4 went in tonight. VERY tight (especially on the upper), tighter then all the other ones so I definately think I was pushing my luck, and will probably be feeling real pretty tomorrow. And of course, in the back molar area on both bottom and top it's loose, but as I've read others saying, it will tighten up over the next few days. If not I think it's time for a visit to the dentist. He gave me 5 trays to start, that may not have been a good idea since it was a nea treatment, he should have probably only given me 2 and followed up after the 2nd tray, but who knows.
My dentist people said if you have crowding issues then they only like to give 2 trays at a time, but if your teeth have spaces and are coming together then it's more straight forward so they will give 3 or more trays at a time.
I find there is variation in how painful they are from tray to tray. Sometimes one side hurts more than the other. From what you describe it doesn't sound out of the ordinary. If you are really concerned you could try to make an appointment for the day you are supposed to switch to #5.
I've had some aligners out for 5-6 hours on a given day and averaged close to 4 hours out per day over the two weeks. It hasn't been a problem. I do find new trays are tighter if I've had the old ones out for 2 hours before putting the new ones in, so I try to change to the new only after having the old ones out for less than an hour.
I find there is variation in how painful they are from tray to tray. Sometimes one side hurts more than the other. From what you describe it doesn't sound out of the ordinary. If you are really concerned you could try to make an appointment for the day you are supposed to switch to #5.
I've had some aligners out for 5-6 hours on a given day and averaged close to 4 hours out per day over the two weeks. It hasn't been a problem. I do find new trays are tighter if I've had the old ones out for 2 hours before putting the new ones in, so I try to change to the new only after having the old ones out for less than an hour.
John,
That makes perfect sense, I have had the best luck on my last day by being 100% compliant, and even making sure I wear the old trays for at least 3 hours before putting the new one in, and definately the hardest time was this last time where I had the old ones out for like 3hrs and then put the new ones in!
That makes perfect sense, I have had the best luck on my last day by being 100% compliant, and even making sure I wear the old trays for at least 3 hours before putting the new one in, and definately the hardest time was this last time where I had the old ones out for like 3hrs and then put the new ones in!
when ever i eat i always brush/floss/listerine if i can...
in saying that. planty of times i have eaten everything from snacks to huge meals & just popped then back in when in situtations where i cant clean my teeth. although i'll drink water while eating the meal & swish some around before putting them back in.
i wouldnt recommend it as everyone is different.
but i have been doing it for ages & my ortho says my teeth are looking great & clean and the whole process is tracking well.
(i brush etc later on when i get a chane, sometimes it can be ages though)
in saying that. planty of times i have eaten everything from snacks to huge meals & just popped then back in when in situtations where i cant clean my teeth. although i'll drink water while eating the meal & swish some around before putting them back in.
i wouldnt recommend it as everyone is different.
but i have been doing it for ages & my ortho says my teeth are looking great & clean and the whole process is tracking well.
(i brush etc later on when i get a chane, sometimes it can be ages though)
started treatment 6 May 2008.
All up 34 Upper & 20 Lower.
Loving the invisalign, a great choice for correcting my teeth.
All up 34 Upper & 20 Lower.
Loving the invisalign, a great choice for correcting my teeth.