Drymouth.. and Invisalign

Well yesterday was probably my worst experience with dry mouth. I am in sales, so I am talking all day long.  I probably drink 3-4 bottles of water just throughout the course of my work day to keep my mouth from drying out.  I found a few things that help..

1.    I thought I was addicted to chapstick before? HA! I swear I apply this stuff every 5 minutes now.  This Arbonne Lip Saver has been a LIFE saver during my first week and a half of invisalign.  I am definitely stocking up, I go crazy if I can’t find it.

This can be found here... http://acavallaro.myarbonne.com

2.     A friend recommended I try Act Dry Mouth Mouthwash, and she was right, it really helps!

3.     Always have water with you. Always

Until next time..

First Social Weekend

Well this past weekend was my the first weekend I went out and about with my invisalign.  Friday night I decided to go out and not wear my top liner, which meant leaving it out for a few hours.  My top teeth don’t need much shifting so I didn’t think it was a bad idea. (I don't suggest doing this by the way) I woke up Saturday morning to go to an Arbonne conference and popped my liner back in for the day.  My mouth hurt, a lot.  I think my teeth moved in the few hours I had it out. Never again, lesson learned.

At the conference I met so many amazing men and women, and no one noticed (at least I don’t think they did because they didn’t look at me like there was something wrong). After eating lunch with everyon, I went into the bathroom to brush my teeth, and everyone was telling me they wish they would have remembered their toothbrush.  At first I didn’t say anything, and played it off like I was smart for bringing mine, but then I caved told them why.  All these women  thought it was awesome what I was doing, asked questions and congratulated me for taking this step which really helped me accept it even more.  Everyone involved with Arbonne is so beautiful inside and out, and working for a skin care and health and wellness company really makes you appreciate and love your appearance each day.  Having invisalign in your mouth can make you self-conscious, but listening to amazing women, whom I look up to, tell me they couldn’t tell it was in really helped.

Another thing that is helping me accept invisalign day after day is a guy I met, two days after I got my liners.  When I’m with him, it’s like it doesn’t even exist.  He thinks nothing of me getting up to brush my teeth after dinner in a restaurant.  He even puts thought into which restaurant we eat at, making sure they have options I can eat because he knows how bad my teeth hurt sometimes.  He doesn’t hesitate to kiss me (which was my biggest fear).  One word.. amazing.

Today at work I feel like I have a a golf ball in my mouth, and I cannot get enough water.  Nothing unusual though.  I can tell that my teeth are shifting, they look like they have moved and my teeth and smile are already improving. I even think they are getting whiter, which is a plus.  I really cannot wait to see what they look like when this whole process is over if they are already shifting after a week!

Getting Easier Everyday

I've come to realize everyone is right, dealing with invisalign get's easier everyday. It's slowly becoming a part of my life.  Yes brushing my teeth takes more time in the morning, becuase I have to actually brush my liners as well but I'm getting used to it.  Yes it is annoying brushing my teeth EVERY TIME I eat, but to look at it in a positive light, I have AWESOME oral hygeine!  Is it awkward when I'm brushing my teeth in a public bathroom? Yes.  Do people stare at me weird when I take my liners out? Yes. But oh well, it's something I have to do and I am slowly getting used to it.

I've read so much that I can basically kiss my social life goodbye, and any romantic life.  But I have definitely proved that wrong in just 4 days of inviaslign.  I've gone out, talked and met new people with out them noticing.  Going out to dinner is different because I have to take my liners out and brush my teeth afterwards, but I can still enjoy a nice glass of wine with my dinner while my liners are out.  Alcohol while the liners are in? I tend to stick to Vodka & Water.  I ALWAYS make sure I brush my teeth as soon as I get home so I don't have any Vodka or sugar sitting on them, but no staining! And yes, the biggest question.. Kissing.  It is definitely possibly to kiss someone with this in. It kind of feels like you are 12 years old again, kissing someone for the first time ever, but you learn to manage!

I am not going to let this own or take over my life, I am going to own it. It's going to be a long process, and it's definitely life changing but I know, in a year when I have that beautiful smile I have always longed for, it will all be worth it!

Kissing... and invisalign

All I have to say is... whoever said you can't kiss with invisalign in is wrong.  That is all J

An Entire Full Day...

Well yesterday was my first full day with invisalign and I have one word... OUCH!

On my lunch break, I decided not to eat because I didn’t want to even attempt to take out my liners.  I spent my lunch break at rite-aid buying toothpaste, Listerine strips, a dental pick (to help remove the liners) a travel toothbrush and chapstick! I notice my lips become dry more often than normal, I’m not sure why or maybe I’m just making it up in my head? Anyway..  I ended up really hungry since I hadn’t really eaten since I got Invisalign so I grabbed a salad and brought it back to work with me.  It took me approximately an hour to eat lettuce... annoying. 

Later on in the day, my best friend needed me to ride her to an Arbonne meeting because her foot was broken.  I spent 3 hours speaking to multiple different women, I don't think anyone noticed it was in. No one looked at me weird, but I know I was doing something weird with my mouth.  I find it very hard to smile, I’m SO self-conscious with this thing in!  I think it’s because of the two attachments on my side teeth, it kinda looks like I have Vampire Fangs.  I always did want to be a Vampire, and reap the benefits, but I guess without the fangs showing ALL THE TIME! Hahaha…

Around 10:30pm I finally got the courage to attempt to eat again.  This time I was at a restaurant, and I took my liners out in the bathroom.. awkward. Everyone was staring at me like I was pulling out my own teeth or I had dentures or something.  I ended up ordering just soup and some fried rice, because neither involved much chewing.  Finally something in my stomach!! I guess if anyone wants to lose weight my best suggestion would be Invisalign!

This morning was a different story however, I woke up and have no pain at all.  The only problem is my top lip has a small cut on it from a rough edge on my liner, and I cut my tongue from the back of my bottom liner.  My friend who also has Invisalign recommended that I try “Peroxyl Sore Mouth Rinse” made by Colgate.  I'll try it later and hope that it works!  

So far I think my biggest hurdle is going to be not drinking coffee in the morning, and now that it’s fall I am dying for a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Oh well, I want nice straight teeth and I’m gonna have to put up with this and be dedicated until I am happy with my smile!

Day One

Well, last night was the day I had finally been waiting for.  My invisalign liners were in, and it was time to get this process started. Naturally, all day long, I read horror stories about how awful it is, and that I can basically kiss my social life goodbye, and any romantic life (if I had one). The hour long drive to the Orthodontist had my stomach in knots.  This is something I have wanted for more than 5 years, and now that I can afford it, it was finally going to happen for me and I wasn’t even excited! What is wrong with me??

Anyway, as soon as I get there they take me in and get the process started.  I find out I need 9 attachments, which was a nightmare come true. Trying to remain positive, thankfully they weren’t put on any of my front teeth. My orthodontist told me I have 16 different liners for the bottom, and 14 for the top.  Wearing each set for a 2 week period, puts me at an 8 month long process, not bad right? Hopefully I will be finished in 8 months, but Dr. Dahar thinks it’s going to be slightly longer than that, like maybe 15 months.. ughhhh...  

When I first looked at myself in the mirror I wanted to scream. I felt like it looked like I had a mouth guard in, and I could definitely see it when I smiled and when I talked.  I actually talked to my self while looking in a mirror so I could see exactly what I looked like.. awkward.  To my surprise though, It didn’t affect my speech too bad,which was my biggest fear. I actually sounded normal, which was super exciting, considering I am an inside sales rep and I talk on the phone all day long.

That night when I got home, my amazing roommate tried and tried to convince me that she could barely tell it was in, buttt I think she was just trying to make me feel better…

Eating that night was a rough, I probably should have eaten dinner before I went to my appointment.  I took my liners out, and attempted to eat.  I felt like I was going to bite the attachments off so I just stopped eating all together, put my liners back in, popped some advil and went to sleep.  I slept fine, and I wasn’t in too much pain which was good.  The next morning taking the liners out to brush my teeth was painful, it kind of felt like I was ripping out my own teeth, and brushing them was rough.  They felt really sensitive.

At work this morning, no one noticed until I told them and everyone is shocked at how well I am speaking.  I know it’s going to be a long process, and I am going to be completely thrilled with the outcome, but I just can’t wait to get used to this, and for it to get better!