Here's the Deal: Invisalign Update - Tray 10

Lots of crazy stuff happening the past couple weeks. Only posting photos because that's all I have time for and I don't want to get behind in my posts. Tray 11 goes in on August 3rd! 

July 20th, 2016

If you look closely at the photo below, you can see what appears to be a black crack on my lower incisor. This is actually staining buildup around the glue that binds the attachment to my tooth. I have them on both bottom incisors and it is driving me CRAZY!

Here's the Deal: Invisalign Update - Tray 9

Hi everyone - I am here checking in once again on my invisalign trays. I am now 1 week into Tray 9 which is very exciting. Only one more tray and I hit double digits! I believe I am now closer to finishing my treatment then to starting my treatment. I feel SO impatient - I just want it to be over now!

I saw my dentist last week and she told me a couple pieces of VERY good news: 1) I have 17 trays (not 20, like I originally thought). This is because she pads in an extra 3 trays in case I need any revisions, which brings me to my next point 2) My dentist said that it is very likely that I will not need ANY revisions! She said that I am progressing exactly how I should. I haven't had to wear trays for extra time and my teeth are moving well. She also gave me my next 3 trays! GO ME!

One thing that is really bothering me, however, is the staining and yellowing of my teeth. It is getting out of control! The rings are become much more prominent and I have just now noticed that the inside of my teeth have a thin, dark line along the gum portion of the tooth in the exact same shape as my trays. I mentioned this to my dentist and she said that part of my treatment plan is to receive professional whitening once I get my attachments off. I literally cannot WAIT for that to happen. I'd post a picture, but I am far too embarrassed of the situation. *cringe*

Thinking about it now, I wonder if the staining is due to the fact that I don't brush my teeth each time after I eat? I only floss and mouthwash, though sometimes I run out of mouthwash and just have to use water. Perhaps that's contributing to my staining?

Anyway, I am noticing lots of improvement this week in the movement of my teeth. These trays fit me pretty well right off the bat and didn't cause too much aching. A couple teeth on the bottom were sore because they are moving to the side. The gap I had is now closing up and isn't as obvious. I think they are making room for that lower snaggly tooth to be brought forward. The only thing that kicks me right in the OCD part of my brain is that the mid-line of my top and bottom teeth are not going to be centered above one another. It wasn't truly centered before but now it'll be much more dramatic. My natural smile doesn't show my bottom teeth so I'm not SUPER disappointed, just a little annoyed. 

Okay, enough blabbing - updated pictures are below.

July 6th, 2016

Look at that over-jet!

Moving that snaggly tooth forward!

Staining. :( 

xoxo,

Honey Lea

Here's the Deal: Invisalign Update - Tray 8

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay here - I am posting about a week later than I wanted to but life got in the way! I switched to tray 8 a week ago and, thank heavens, this tray wasn't nearly as bad as the tray before! A little pressure, as per usual, but no pain! I'm also seeing HUGE differences in my teeth, especially when comparing to my 'before' photo. It's amazing! By half way (tray 10) they should look pretty much straight with only minor adjustments thereafter. That means I am only 2 trays away from that! YAY!

This is also the longest I have gone between trays without seeing my dentist. She usually gives me 2 trays each visit and this time I got 3. I think that means she's confident in my self-discipline? It's nice not to have to visit as often though. My next appointment with her is in a week and I'll be getting tray 9 and hopefully tray 10 (double digits!). 

One not so good thing I have noticed is that I am getting pretty severe staining along the bottom of my teeth. I have golden 'C' shaped rings along the gum-portion of the tooth. This follows the pattern of my invisalign trays. NOT HAPPY. My teeth have definitely gotten more yellow over the course of this treatment and I think part of the reason is that I am not allowed to use whitening toothpaste. This is because they don't want to leave a stencil where your attachments are, so I have to wait to do all my whitening after I get my attachments off. I think I get them off around tray 17, so I have to wait about 4 1/2 more months. :( I'll post a photo below so you can see what I am talking about. I only drink 1 mug of coffee in the morning and sometime ice tea with lunch. I'm really cutting back on my colored beverages so not sure why my staining is so bad. I am really bummed out by it!

No other news to report. I'll post updated photos below along with a comparison with my 'before' teeth. I am looking forward to a nice 3-day weekend celebrating this beautiful country I live in! What are your plans?

June 22, 2016

Look at that overjet coming in!!!

You can really see movement of that bottom snaggly tooth!

Upper front teeth moving more outward.

 The 'C' shaped stains along the gum portion of my teeth - UGHHHHH!!!!

Here's the comparison from Pre-Invisalign and after finishing tray 7 (of 20). Looking pretty good!

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Honey Lea 

Here's the Deal: Invisalign Update - Tray 7

Hey there! Here we are again with another tray update for you. I'm on day 2 of tray 7, which has been by far the most painful tray since my first. I've got sores on my tongue AGAIN and my front teeth (top AND bottom) hurt so bad that I can't focus. The discomfort hasn't been so bad the last few trays but this one has me feeling little nuggets of regret just to escape the pain!

However, I have noticed a difference already! My lower snaggly tooth is really being pulled forward with this tray and you can already see it. My upper snaggly tooth is being brought down and I can see a little change, though I do feel it more than I see it on that tooth. Still got a sliver of a gap between my 1 upper front teeth. But I am noticing more of an overjet which is pretty exciting!

Generally, I've been getting lazier and lazier about the 22 hours/day rule. I am hitting closer to 20 hours a day as I've been eating more frequently and not being as diligent about putting my trays in after meals. This is probably why my teeth hurt so bad this tray - it's my own damn fault! 

June 8th, 2016

Look at those bottom teeth lining up! 

 Upper teeth getting pulled more forward.

Until next time!

xoxo,

Honey Lea

Here's the Deal: Invisalign Update - Tray 6

Hi everyone! Honey here with my next update. Last night, I switched over to tray 6 and I am really noticing changes this time around. My upper teeth are definitely overlapping my lower teeth way more then they ever have and it feels AMAZING when I bite down without my aligners! Also, my lower snaggly tooth is lining up so much! I really see the difference and my dentist has noticed it as well! Overall - things are still status quo. I'm still using my electric toothbrush for the first few days when I put in a new tray and it helps the teeth "wiggle" into place a little better. My teeth are pretty sore today though. Really feeling it in my upper snaggly tooth. 

Not much else to report on. Pictures below.

May 25th, 2016

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Honey Lea

Here's the Deal: Invisalign Update - Tray 5

Hello everyone! It's hard to believe that I am already 25% of the way through my treatment! How crazy is that? 

I popped in tray 5 last night. It wasn't as tight as tray 4 but I'm still feeling a lot of pressure. I'm not relying on as much ibuprofen so that's exciting. I haven't noticed any noticeable changes since I posted about my gap. Yet again, everything is pretty status quo.

I am noticing that it's getting harder for me to stick to the 22 hours/day rule. I am definitely getting lazier with the maintenance as well. Just overall feeling really annoyed when I can't eat things people offer to me because I JUST flossed or brushed my teeth. In a way, it's been nice as I am trying to eat better and get healthier. On the other hand, I've been doing some rigorous workouts and trying to build muscle so I can't keep up with the eating 6-meals a day crap. I think I am going to try a post-workout whey protein powder shake to try and get some protein and calories in me fast and easy. That's also better to work around with the aligners. 

Here's some photos I took last night before popping in the new trays. I will say that the new trays have some weird impressions on the upper teeth to pull the front ones forward and they have been MURDERING the inside of my lip (tray 4 had these as well). My whole mouth area is just getting beat up by these trays - cheeks, lips, tongue, ugh! So if you notice dry/sore spots on there, that's why. Oh and can we talk about how much lip product these aligners collect? IT'S INSANE. 

May 11th, 2016

(Tiny gap forming in between 2 front teeth)

Noticeable overlap of the top teeth, FINALLY!

As always, thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Honey Lea

Here's the Deal: Invisalign Hygiene Update

I spent a much needed 4 days in the California desert attending the Stagecoach country music festival over this weekend. It was awesome and we had such a blast - however, I have many things to share for Invisalign users!

Let me just start by saying that festival food (and snacking in general) SUCKS when you have Invisalign. I have to be very strategic on when I eat and then floss and swish and ughhhhhhh. Now imagine doing that at a festival with stinky portable bathrooms, no running water, and fatty foods. It was the worst. I stopped fussing as much as I usually do just because it was too hard finding water that I didn't have to pay $10 for. One of my snacks was a pretzel with mustard and now my trays are YELLOW. Like, really yellow! 

I also didn't bring my denture cleanser with me because I thought it wasn't a necessary packing item. For the first time since I've had my aligners, I can say that I see that "foul odor" everyone talks about and it makes me realize just how important my denture cleanser really is. I brushed my aligners twice a day and rinsed them whenever I could and the odor was STILL really bad! Not to mention the discoloration! 

So overall, I can safely say the denture cleanser isn't just nice - it's a necessity!

Also, in other news, I have my first gap! I have always had the TIGHTEST contacts on my teeth, so to see a gap is really awesome. As weird and goofy as that sounds, its a visual reminder that my teeth are moving and I am getting closer and closer the end of my treatment! Photo below...

May 3rd, 2016

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,

Honey Lea