SmileDirectClub Part 2: An Update—1 Month Down...4.5 to Go!
Okay, so if you remember from my last article, I started my smile journey with SmileDirectClub at the end of May. And this past Tuesday I just reached the one month mark. So, I decided to post an update piece about how things are going, my progress and so forth.
Progress
As I mentioned in my intro post, based on my smile plan I knew that I wouldn’t see any dramatic changes after the first month. Even though I can definitely tell which teeth are being moved by the pressure being applied, for the most part there aren’t any major changes. Keep in mind, the only teeth doing any major movement are my front 12 teeth (top six and bottom six). However, as you can see in the pic above, I can see some minor shifting from teeth that used to have some very minor crowding that are no longer overlapping. Note that in the start pic I’m wearing my top aligners and in the current pic, I’m not wearing them at all.
Adjusting to the feeling of wearing aligners:
Hands down, the first week of aligners were the most painful. And I’m 100% sure that’s because it was an entirely new experience and my mouth had to get used to wearing them. As promised, by the end of the first week, my mouth adjusted and the lisp went away. But it wasn’t until the second week where my teeth really stopped hurting. So, now when I switch aligners, my teeth or only super sensitive for the first 24 hours.
My smile plan is a 1 / 1 / 2 plan. This means that for weeks 1 and 2 of each month, I’m wearing a new set of aligners each week. But for weeks 3 and 4, I have just one pair of aligners for the two week period. Last month it felt like in weeks 1 and 2 there was a lot of movement happening with my teeth and then not so much in weeks 3 and 4. It truly felt like my bottom aligner was nothing more than a retainer to prevent my bottom teeth from slipping back into their original position. There was minimal detailing on my bottom aligner and it was technically loose enough that I didn’t even need to use the outie tool to remove them. And my top aligner only had minor pressure on it that went away within a day or two of my two weeks of wear.
Adjusting to life with aligners
To be honest, I’ve gotten used to the routine of having to do the ole brush, rinse, floss, and clean aligners routine before putting them back in my mouth. The first week was a pain because all I could think about was when I could eat or drink. But after time, I’ve gotten into a routine and typically only take my aligners out three times a day—unless I have to go into the city for events, or go out to eat.
For the most part, I’m home. And that makes it really easy to give my teeth the thorough cleaning they need without feeling like everyone would be watching me. Having said that tho, I still don’t pop these guys out every two seconds to eat or drink something other than water. I avoid removing them unless I’m really going to eat...or drink red wine.
I’m also pretty Type A about keeping my retainers clean. Every morning I soak them in a 1:1 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water while I’m eating my breakfast. And I also brush my aligners every time I’m prepping to put them back in after a meal.
Switching to new aligners:
I always shift into a new pair on Tuesdays and I try to put them on no earlier than 9PM in the evening. I find that it takes a good 12 hours for my teeth to get used to the new pressure. This past Tuesday—after two weeks of minimal pressure—it was pretty uncomfortable when I switched to the new pair. I ended up taking a couple Tylenol to help ease the discomfort. So, avoid putting in a new pair of aligners in the morning—unless you’re a masochist.
Anywho, I’ve seen people ask questions (in general, not directed at me) about what to do with old aligners. As you can see, I have several retainer cases from SDC. My purple case houses my current set of aligners when I’m not wearing them. Then I took a LED brightener case and labeled it “last week’s aligners”. That one (obviously) holds last week’s aligners. I strongly recommend that you keep your previous pair just in case you misplace your current set of aligners or there’s an issue with the fit. This will ensure that you won’t regress and have your teeth shift back. Anything older than last week’s aligners I toss.
So, when you’re ready to switch to new aligners, I like to do a few things to ensure that the fit is as comfortable as possible. Every week your aligners will come in these pre-labeled easy to open plastic bags. So, something I do preemptively is to file down all the edges on my aligners. I was originally using a paper file/emery board. But I’ve since switched to a ceramic/glass mini file that came in a three-piece set of files I ordered on eBay years ago.
After filing, I put my aligners in and wait for an hour or two. If any area feels particularly uncomfortable, I take them out, rinse and apply the orthodontic wax to prevent uncomfortable rubbing or cutting on my gums, mouth or tongue. And this is probably my only real gripe with SDC and dental aligners in general. Every week (or two weeks) is a new surprise of “where will it irritate you”.
The takeaway: Invest in whatever items you need to ensure that you can wear your aligners as comfortably as possible (not including the tight pressure issue in the beginning of a new week of aligners). If you don’t, your mouth will be raw and you’ll give up before you can even see any measurable results.
Going out with aligners:
So, even though I’m mostly home, I do go out to events from time to time—or out to dinner or lunch with the hubby. And that means that I have to go through the whole take ‘em out. put ‘em in routine. I’ve learned it’s best to take a kit with you so that you’re prepared. And that kit is featured in the title card, but I’ll walk you through it.
This tote looks big but it’s actually not. Anywho here’s everything I carry:
I went on Amazon and bought additional outie tools because I didn’t want to take the risk of losing the only outie tool that came with my aligners in my SDC box. I thought a three-pack for $11.55 was incredibly reasonable. So if you like to be prepared, I highly recommend you buy these.
I have yet another retainer case from SDC so I keep this one in my tote so I never have to worry about wrapping my aligners in a napkin and accidentally throwing them away.
I also keep a travel kit of dental supplies: toothpaste, toothbrush, mini flossers, mouthwash and the new Listerine Ready Tabs. An interesting tidbit, the toothbrush I use is from Doctor Plotka and features bristles that also act as flossers and are antibacterial thanks to the silver infused tips.
While at home I keep a very thorough and consistent routine for cleaning my teeth before putting my aligners back in, my outside routine can vary a bit depending on what’s going on. I always brush and use mouthwash. But if I’m not actually eating anything, I don’t always floss—especially if I know I’m going home immediately after an event.
So, now that I’m well under way, I still think SDC and aligners in general are a great and low profile way to improve your smile. It’s definitely a bit of a sacrifice, but the end result should make it all worth it!
If you’re thinking about taking the plunge and improving your smile—especially if you have a wedding coming up—then make it a little easier with this cool promo. When you use code TABSMILES you can choose between a free Smile Shop Scan or 50% off the cost of an Impression Kit, and save $100 on aligners. Head on over to www.smiledirectclub.com to start your smile journey!
Get the full story on my SDC smile journey here.
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