My Invisalign Experience – tips and tricks for adult clear braces.
I’ve always had crowded bottom teeth, they didn’t bother me too much as a youngster, but with age and the inevitable diminishing of my facial contours, the crowding was becoming more pronounced and making me more self-conscious. By the way- did you know that jaw bone density decreases and changes shape with age? This can start in women from mid 40’s, of course men are affected much later more like 65 – of course, (eye roll). I have a good smile, its big and wide and my teeth are healthy, the crowding in the lower jaw bugged me, but who wants to wear braces in adulthood, right? So I looked into Invisalign, the clear alternative to metal braces. I did my research, and while I wasn’t looking for Hollywood perfect, just a little bit less on the wonky side please – Invisalign looked like a great option for me. In just a few months my teeth would be uncrowded enough to restore my confidence, and if I wanted them super straight, that was an option too! With my dentist we worked on a plan, the Invisalign process includes a graphic pictorial video of what will happen to my teeth as they shift into their new position. You can actually see what will be happening to your teeth over time. This looks exciting! The process involves wearing a series of aligners, each one for around week (or two) until my teeth have shifted into place. I wear my aligner for as long as I can each day, taking it out to eat and to clean my teeth. I’m managing to get between 20 and 22 hours wear a day (it’s not that hard actually..). Portable tooth care kit Here’s a tip – I invested in a portable toothbrush carrier and mini toothpastes (and floss) for my handbag/briefcase – I don’t want to put my aligner back in after eating without first brushing my teeth – yuck! The food that’s stuck on and between my teeth can cause decay, especially with the aligner holding the food in place – let’s not even mention what that will do for my breath. Invisible? Yes! At first each new set of aligners can squeeze a little, they’re doing their job, right? But I soon get used to them and it’s easy to forget that they are in. In fact, very few people even notice I’m wearing them! (bonus!) Another bonus is that it’s almost impossible to snack, so regular mealtimes and no cheating for the next few months… Also – if you grind your teeth when you sleep – you won’t with your aligners in! Eating out I took my tooth kit and my retainer box everywhere with me, it’s easy for the fair sex, most of us have a handbag, men, it’s your briefcase of satchel I guess, and remove them BEFORE the long lunch, you don’t want to be taking them out at the table and have nowhere to put them while you eat. I’m fairly confident that your fellow lunchers will not be attracted to your Invisalign retainers sitting on the table with your phone. I keep a water bottle handy too – the aligners can make my mouth a little dry. Water will keep your mouth moist and hydrated – and washaway any loose debris too. Another bonus J Tea, coffee, red wine, drinks with colour can stain aligners. Luckily I have a penchant for white wine and water. Looking after your Aligners At the end of each retainer’s life (a week of wearing them 20-22 hours a day) they do get a bit grotty. I discovered that if I put them in diluted mouthwash for a time (while I’m having dinner or breakfast) and then cleaned them with soft toothbrush (not with tooth paste though, it’s abrasive and might damage them), they stayed in good enough nick for the week. Soaking aligners in diluted mouthwash or water with a denture tab while you have breakfast means your breath will be minty for the morning! It’s time for my next set! Moving along! I found it easiest to break in a new set of aligners at night. While they are tight when I first put them in (they can make my eyes water!) they aren’t so uncomfortable that I won’t sleep, and there is always Ibuprofen if I need it.. Done! Now that I’ve invested my hard earned time and money in my new smile, I want to keep it. My dentist has given me a retainer to wear while I’m sleeping to stop my teeth from moving back. Bonus again, I don’t need to wear my splint to stop me grinding my poor teeth while I sleep!
Dentures? 4 reasons why not to skip your regular check-up!
So you have dentures now, fantastic! They fit, the function, you’re eating well and grinning like the Cheshire cat, – but now is not the time for complacency. To keep your dentures fitting and functioning well, skipping your regular check-up is a no-no. Often denture patients consider their new Dentures an excuse to forego regular dental check-ups, but nothing could be further from the truth! My Denture wearing patients are my heroes in life, I am constantly astounded that many edentulous patients (without natural teeth) eat, drink, breath and live life to the full, despite having a plastic and metal prosthetic in their mouth. I advise my Denture patients to have the same regular check up’s as they did when they had their natural teeth Oral health is more than just about your teeth after all! A 6-monthly preventative check-up will enable you to ensure that your mouth and denture are healthy and in good working function. Just like your natural teeth Dentures require maintenance. With all that eating and drinking (and laughing) you are now doing, your denture will collect plaque and bacteria, just like your teeth did. A regular check will enable your practitioner to assess your denture and remove plaque and bacteria build up. A denture should always feel like it fits snugly, if it becomes a little loose or it slips, your denture probably requires a ‘reline’ of the fitting denture base. More often than not, we can get this procedure done on the same day – we don’t want you to be without your teeth for long! Even if you wear a partial denture, there is the chance if it doesn’t fit well that you could compromise some of your remaining teeth, or cause ulceration, gum disease and bone loss. Regular checks will allow us to monitor the health of your mouth and remaining teeth. In extreme cases, ill fitting dentures may lead to Oral Cancer. Your Oral Cancer screen is part of your regular dental check procedure. Regular check-ups with your denture professional will decrease all your risks, enable us to assess and secure your optimal comfort level and maintain a healthy oral environment. Some Tips! Don’t’ forget that it’s important that dentures are cleaned after every meal. Give them a good scrub using a soft tooth brush after food and drink. This will help you maintain good oral health and keep bad breath at bay. Do you love your smile? At Dental Fresh we sometimes see denture patients who are self-conscious of their dentures for aesthetic or fit reasons. Some have been issued dentures that resemble a ‘white picket fence’ rather than an array of natural teeth. These patients have thought that this is the best that they can hope for now that they have lost their natural teeth – not so!The highly skilled technicians at Dental Fresh are proud of their ability to create dentures for our patients that look natural and give you a smile that is real! Loose fitting dentures? They need not be, a snug fit so that you don’t worry about your teeth dropping when you laugh, smile or eat should be a prerequisite. All-On-4 and Implants With Modern techniques, Dental Implants are now widely offered as a permanent alternative for denture wearers. All-On-4 and implants are as close to getting your own teeth back as it gets. If you’re curious about whether implants will work for you, we’ll be happy to have a chat with you and discuss your options. Want to learn more or book a consultation? Visit our Contact Us page and complete our enquiry form or call us on 02 9389 3656, we’ll be happy to help answer your questions.
