Invisalign Review: Lifestyle Changes You Will Have to Make

These are the lifestyle changes you will have to make if you get Invisalign, the "invisible braces." They all center around the fact that you must wear your aligners for twenty-two hours of the day, every day for fifteen months. They may seem common sense as you read them, but are all things that didn't occur to me until I was wearing the aligners.

Gum
The one thing you must completely give up is gum. Gum is something that you chew for awhile, and you only have two hours of "non-aligner" time a day. You simply can't use up all your "non-aligner" time chewing gum. And it is impossible to chew gum while wearing the aligners. I've found that I can successfully suck on hard candy, but even that is quite challenging. You don't realize how much you bite down on things and use your teeth until you have these plastic braces.

Out to dinner
A leisurely meal at a restaurant has to be altered a little. First, you need to "earn" the time by having a quicker breakfast and lunch. You end up eating faster than the other person(s) so that you can put your aligners back in. Also, when you are done with the meal, you can't sit there talking- you must go to the bathroom and brush your teeth, then come back and chat. If you want dessert or coffee a little while later, that's a big decision because that's another teeth brushing!

Eating while doing things
I can no longer eat an apple or snack on grapes while working on a document. With apples, I cut them up and eat them because the orthodontics loosens up your bite a little such that it's stressful to bit into the apple. If I want grapes, I sit there and just eat the grapes. Multitasking eating with anything else-- surfing the internet, watching tv-- is no longer an option.

Other eating habits that must be dropped include popcorn at the movies, snacking at parties, and eating on the run. I can no longer buy a bagel and eat it while walking. If I buy food at a stand or cart, I can't walk away eating it- I need to find someplace to set the food down so that my hands are free to take out my aligners and put them in their case. Then I can pick up the food again and eat it.

Small snacks and treats
I've given up all sorts of little treats that most people eat without even thinking about it. They include but aren't limited to free cheese samples at Gourmet Garage, a cookie from a friend or co-worker, afternoon candy bars, hors d'ouerves at a cocktail party, caramels or other chewy candies from a candy dish.

Side note: you might have noticed that this could be a great diet strategy. Indeed, I'm ten weeks into my treatment and have broken a lot of my bad diet habits such as late night snacks. It's too much trouble to take out the aligners so my laziness has really cut down on the amount of food I eat.

Times you can't brush your teeth
Finally, there are times you can't brush your teeth, such as at a picnic.While it's not inconceivable to simply put your aligners back in your mouth without brushing your teeth, it is definitely a gross feeling and one that I avoid by simply not having food.

Drinks
Very hot drinks must be allowed to cool. Although you can drink beverages while wearing the aligners, the coffee stains the plastic. I try to brush my teeth after coffee. I stay away from red wine because it gets trapped in between the aligners.

One more thing to remember
Finally, you need to carry a little "dental kit" wherever you go. This includes a case for your aligners, a toothbrush and toothpaste. I put together a few of these kits and keep one in each purse or bag, because I would forget to transfer the kit and end up having to buy a toothbrush. Mint tins such as the circular Altoids or York tins make good carrying cases.