Journey to a Perfect Smile -Culver City, CA

How are you doing?  Did you ever finish your treatment?  And if so, what type of retainers are you using?

Thanks!

Unfortunately, I think most people need refinements. I got to tray 19 and now waiting on my first round of refinements. :) You have gotten some great movement though, so maybe there won't be too many refinement trays if they are needed!

From how I understand it is that one of the trays might be the passive one and the other is still adjusting. My packages note that also and I agree that they are still moving.

thank you for sharing! i started invisalign 2 weeks ago and now i'm on my second tray. the first really hurt me on the top teeth for a week. it really hurts when i exchange the tray! is it supposed to hurt as much as the first tray? i have 12 more to go on my top teeth and 8 more to go on my buttom... so excited to finally start! about bubbles in the alighn- i have only a solution for the top teeth- put water in them and put the align together with the water on your teeth- the water will come out and after a few seconds there are no bubbles. works well for me. good luck everybody!

Passive trays mean they aren't moving teeth. I should have passive trays for my upper as I have 9 trays more on my lowers than the uppers. My dentist didn't order them though and I asked for them at my last check up. Can't imagine having to wear the same aligner for almost 5 months.

Sorry to hear about your headache from the trays. :( Hopefully that has passed?? Did you doctor happen to mention if the first set of trays were passive "training trays"? If they were that would help explain why this set feels so much snugger to you since your teeth would now be loosening up & beginning to move.

Yeah, its early to actually see any changes, but I'm glad you are adapting well. Keep us posted how this next set feels when you put it on!

I clean mine with retainer bright any time they are not in my mouth (at home I use a new tablet in the morning and soak while I have breakfast, then I leave the glass there and reuse it during that day.) I have a small container at work for lunchtime as well. I brush them with a toothbrush and rinse them with plain water before putting them back in my mouth (after brushing and flossing of course.) I have never had an issue with any odor or staining (only on my 3rd tray) and my mouth feels clean aside from when I first wake in the morning! I have a little bit of a sore tongue from the bottom tray on this 3rd set, but it is bareable. When I first got my attachments put on, one of the front ones caused a little sore on the backside of my upper lip. That was more painful, but it has gone away and I haven't had any more issues with my attachments rubbing since. You'll get used to wearing the trays. The first 2 days I had a small degree of claustaphobia (sp) from wearing the trays and thought there is no way I can do this for 13 months.... but alas, I got used to it and it is fine now! :) Good luck!

That is great that your husband's insurance made this doable for you! How exciting!!

While your tongue is getting used to the Invisalign you might try sticking some wax to the edge of the tray to soften it. Overtime your tongue will toughen up & it won't be as much of a bother, but getting to that point can be uncomfortable.

As for the bubbles, check out this forum & please add any other tips you have:

Any tips on getting rid of the little bubbles that show between the aligners and the teeth?

Congrats on starting Invisalign! I just started in February and experienced the sore tongue as well. The soreness will go away soon and shouldn't be a problem anymore. I clean my trays each morning by soaking them with half of a denture cleaning tablet for about five minutes. They don't recommend doing this, but it's the only way I've found to get rid of that awful morning breath smell. I tried the liquid hand soap, but the results were not very good. Good luck with your journey!