Tray #5…
has made me feel like my chin is protruding, and when I touch it there is a bit of soreness. I have also felt a return to ‘yanking’. Well, mellow yanking.
I asked Dr. Gallagher about this and evidently there are bumps on the front of the Invisalign aligners and the back of the aligners which are causing the different feelings regarding my chin. After a few days I got used to it. I also got very, very frightened because one of my teeth (I do not know the number) started feeling a little loose. THIS SCARED ME TO DEATH. I must admit – this inhibited me from taking my aligners in and out because I was afraid my sweet little tooth would come with it. When I needed to take my aligners out, I was very, very delicate about it. I kind of held that tooth ‘up’ as I removed the aligner around it. My fear led me to keep my aligners IN more.
I asked Dr. Gallagher about this, and he told me that it was normal for there to be some ‘slight movement’ of a tooth. Evidently there is definite ‘looseness’ when one is wearing brackets and wires (WHY didn’t I do this as a teenager?!?), but that patients don’t realize it (because of the brackets and wires). I was relieved to learn that what I was experiencing was normal, but still uncomfortable because I have not had a ‘loose tooth’ since elementary school – and I really didn’t like it then. Anyway…
be gentle – don’t think the tooth fairy is visiting anytime soon. I know how important it is to wear my aligners and I am grateful to Dr. Kuhn and Dr. Gallagher for their reassurance and non-judgmental explanations. They are very patient.
All GOOD, wear the aligners—
be gentle – don’t think the tooth fairy is visiting anytime soon. I know how important it is to wear my aligners and I am grateful to Dr. Kuhn and Dr. Gallagher for their reassurance and non-judgmental explanations. They are very patient.
I try to wear my aligners ALL the time, except when I am eating. I am working really hard to remember to put them in the case each time I take them out, rinse, brush gently and put them back in. This journey has begun as an oral health, dental/smile improvement but I am experiencing something else.
This is more than just oral health.
In addition to taking better care of my teeth (brush, floss REPEAT) … I am eating LESS. So, after years of trying every diet on the planet I have now actually discovered a way to keep food out of my mouth for extended periods of time, though my coffee addiction continues.
I am learning, I am smiling, I have confidence in my dentist.
I am taking more selfies and wearing a bit of lipstick.
I am not noticing too much change in my smile, but Dr. Gallagher assures me that there has been movement – in the right direction. I have 20 trays – so…
I am 25% ‘in’ and can’t wait to see where #6 and beyond takes me! 😊
– Louise C.
