Longest you've had the trays in? Shortest day?

[SteveL]

This is a combination topic... I think the answers will be interesting to read.

1). What is the longest you've had a tray in?

2). In one 24 hour day, what was the worst hours you put in? 8? And what happened that day?

3). How many hours do you usually wear your trays every day?

My answers:

1). Yesterday I had my new tray #15 in for 27 hours straight! For new trays I like to keep them in at least 15-20 hours the first two days to really maximize the effectiveness (unproven, but it makes me feel good haha). I know not brushing your teeth for 24+ hours is not too good, but luckily I'm working part-time right now so I didn't have to subject anyone to my breath. It's only once or twice every two weeks...

2). Hmmm, I'd say my worst was probably 15 hours? Which is still not too bad. Probably had a party with friends and it was just hard to stop and brush my teeth.

3). Normally, I wear my trays 21-22 hours every day. Being out of full time work has been a benefit in this rare instance. I am able to eat at home and brush immediately without concern of getting to task A or B. When I go out to dinner with friends, we usually head to someone's place afterward and I will bring my toothbrush kit.

Once in a while I won't have time to brush and will just pop my trays back in. When I get home hours later, I will remove them ASAP and brush and then pop them back in. I know putting them back in without brushing is not ideal, but if I can "steal" 3-4 hours with them in as opposed to have them OUT, I will do so. I don't like the feeling of popping them back in after 3+ hours of having them out. It makes me feel guilty and also there is a little tightness in doing so.

[newsazzysmile15]

That is impressive stats!

I usually manage with one meal in the evening where they are out for about 45mins-1hour and then take them out to have a banana and brush my teeth in the morning. I also quickly pop them out during my lunch break at work as well as I feel they and my mouth need a refresh with brush and mouthwash.

So I weat them about 22.5 to 23 hours a day, and I usually keep them in continuously for that 22hr period except for a couple of breath refreshing moments! Longest i've had them out is probably 3hours when I forgot to put them back in!!!

Hard work though, and I'm still new to invisalign so i'm guessing i'll start to need more food soon!

[lt81]

uh oh - not sure I should answer - it's made me realise how bad I am

My shortest day was probably new years eve with about 13 hours of wear (eek). That was actually a really bad idea because it was also my swap night - so queue major tight aligner when I put in the new one before going to bed in the small hours and a massive headach the next morning - which I maintain was all to do with the tight aligner and not the effects of partying

my average day I take my aligner out for an hour at lunch and then in the evenings take it out probably for 2-3 hours for dinner and then drinking something other than water.

I'm on the home straight now so should probably try to be a bit better for the last 5 weeks

[myhollywoodsmile]

Like someone else my shortest day was NYE where I forgot to put them back in after going out partying. I survived!

I actually wrote a blog post on a typical day for me-http://myinvisalignblog.com/2009/08/13/ ... y-in-life/
which I suppose tells you that I am not as compliant as I should be. I always intend to improve, but at the 15 month mark I think I am getting slightly less compliant if anything. Not intentionally, it is just that I am so used to my aligners that I forget them, unlike at the beginning where I was thinking about them constantly.

[myhollywoodsmile]

Sorry should have said http://myinvisalignblog.com/2009/08/13/ ... y-in-life/ for that blog post. doh.

[bojy]

I had my last set in for 3 weeks because I had to have an appointment for filing rescheduled. So in that last week, for most days I just wore them in the night, so about 10 hours in every 24.. it was fine, but probably only because I had them in for the 2 weeks already!