Invisalign: Stories

I got Invisalign on the first of April of this year and am now on my sixteenth set of trays. I have to say right off the bat that they are a worthy investment and worked really well for me. When I was first told I had to get braces, the orthodontist I had at the time was very negative about Invisalign and said traditional braces were the way to go. However, I'm a vegetarian and nuts are a big part of my diet. I'm also a foodie, so the idea of not being able to eat certain things made me crazy. Lastly, I've always been grossed out by the look of braces, and I wanted to feel confident about the way I looked going into my teen years. My parents were nervous about Invisalign for a long time, and it took a casual recommendation from my dentist and several years to convince them it was the best decision. Finally, after almost five years of pushing, I got them. At first the feeling is very alien, but I have gotten used to my aligners so much that now I feel weird when they're not in my mouth! It took a lot of my friends over a month to realize I had Invisalign, and I have been able to see the results of the orthodontics as they happen, which is really cool. The first day I put in a new pair can be uncomfortable - sometimes I have to take a tylenol or take them off for a while - but it always goes away soon. I brush my teeth twice a day, once after breakfast and once after dinner (I'm a bit lazy, so I don't bother brushing after lunch at school).

My boyfriend is going through traditional braces and had them put in at the same time I started Invisalign, and it's amazing how different the processes are - while he dislikes his braces and can't wait until he gets them off, and feels so much pain the first few days after having his tightened that he has to eat soup, I don't experience nearly as much pain and have come to enjoy my aligners. They even keep me from snacking too much, which is good for my body :) It's great to smile without having to close my mouth anymore, and I attribute that feeling to Invisalign. Definitely consider it!