Yes, I use a generic version everyday and sometimes twice a day. Most denture tablets use perborate as the cleaner, when added to water it produces hydrogen peroxide, which is the "active" ingredient. This a mild oxidant which kills bacteria and bleaches stains, similar to bleach.

If you still have problems with daily use, I would try acid based cleaners (vinegar, citric acid, or other food grade acids). Acids do a better job dissolving proteins and insoluble metal complexes, which can occur in these biofilms.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Matthew86:
Hey everyone, I just got my aligners in this past Thursday and it's been irritating so far. While it seemed ok at first, now I'm having a lot of bothersome side effects. My mouth is dry, especially my lips. I'm using a lot of chapstick to help theyre constantly getting dry. The roof of my mouth behind my front teeth where the top tray makes contact with my gums is very sore. My tongue is sore in back where it rubs against my bottom aligner. And the inside of my left cheek is a bit sore from the edges of the aligners. Is this all normal for someone who has just started and will it subside? Thanks!

---

Hey... yes it will subside as your mouth gets used to the trays. I suggest taking some Tylenol and using Chloraseptic spray or some Orajel. I found that my lips were constantly dry as well and I went out and bout some Medicated Blistex that really helped. Drinking water helps and for some using Biotene Mouthwash will help with the dry mouth.

it is near impossible to take them out any other way, but trust me--aim for the back, and it should be ok!

my huge problem with Invisalign is that they had to make "adjustments" on my teeth. they basically made the gaps between some of my teeth larger by scraping off the enamel. Now, it may sound painful, but let me tell you- it's not JUST painful, it is EXCRUCIATING. (not the actual process, which is not painful at all, but the after-effects) For example, whenever I eat meat, I get food stuck in the larger gaps, which means I must floss. Of course whenever I floss now it's like flossing my bare gums-it makes my gums bleed pretty badly every time.

The worst part- that was only 2 out of 11 that I need to get in total.
I actually have even developed a sort of infection my my gums as well because of it. The doctor told me that they should be able to give me medicine for it, though.

On the plus side, no one can tell that I have them in, and despite the fact that the video I was shown for Invisalign had everyone talking with a lisp, I do not have one. I guess I'm just lucky??

I would have to say that even though I am in MAJOR pain right now, I would rather have this than traditional braces. My brother has had his in for 3 years and he's still waiting for them to come out. I, on the other hand, will be done in in just 9 months!

quote:

---

Originally posted by emi_emz:
HELP! i just got my attachments today! 6 at the top 7 at the bottom. I've tried about 5 times today to take them out and i can't! the pain is unbearable it feels like when i try and pull them off my teeth is getting pulled off in the process! My nails have almost broken too! before the buttons i used to pull them out easily.. i haven't eaten in almost 24hrs.. i pray they loosen by tomorrow morning or im going to die of starvation!

---

Okay Okay. First.. you'll need to stay calm. Start on the bottom, in the back, on the side with the fewest buttons. You want to ROTATE the tray OUT AWAY from the buttons and lift UP. Once that is free. Go to the other side and do the same thing, remembering to ROTATE. Then work yourself to the front, wiggling gently and it should pop out. Then move to the upper tray, starting on the side with the fewest buttons.

Eventually from brushing, the buttons will wear down and won't be as sharp or as hard to get on and off. Just be gentle.

Try using a small square of paper towel or even gauze to grip your trays when removing them -

makes all the difference!!!

I'm considering getting Invisalign only for cosmetic purposes and I wasn't sure it's worthed, so I thought I'd read some comments. Honestly, I'm pretty scared now after reading this forum and hearing the complaints as to how hard it is to take it on and off and the pain. My dentist hasn't told me about any of these difficulties.
As for the price, I got a quote for 8000 CAD, 16 months. I've got some questions and would appreciate if anyone hetlped:

- How is the final result in general? Is it exactly like you expected and 100% satisfactory or is it slightly different?

- I think my case is a bit different. My upper teeth are pretty straight, except for one spot in front where a tooth sticks out and another one is behind it because there is no enough room for both. My orthodontist told me one of them has to be extracted. I'm kinda concerned that these teeth are way too crooked to be fixed with a plastic tray although he said they can be. He also said I may have to wear metal braces for a couple of months after invisalign depending on the results. Has anyone had a situation like this?

- Do you have to wear retainers after your treatment? I've been told that I'll wear retainers at night for about a year. Are these also painful and uncomfortable?

My story:

I have been using Invisalign for the past 9.5 months, and just installed my last set today (19 sets). Before Invisalign I had severe crowding with my lower incisors and one extremely crooked upper incisor. This was the main reason for my getting braces. I had always had problems with the gums surrounding these teeth and they were never easy to clean by me or my dentist. The main reason for getting Invisalign and not traditional braces was that my Dentist offered it. I also wanted to improve my smile. Also, I am a Chef who is constantly surrounded by food and always sampling/tasting foods and recipes. Traditional braces were never an option for me.

I had the Invisalign impressions/molds taken in April of 2007. I did not enjoy the aligner impressions process at all as the molding material (purple goop) they use is not very tasty, and takes about 5 minutes to set. This molding required a non-refundable deposit, but it was still worth it! It took about one month for my dentist to return with the treatment plan and time elapsed video of what my teeth would look like when the treatment was done. I was informed that only my incisors, canines, and some premolars would be moving (no back molar movement) as this was my main goal. Treatment would be shorter and cost less. I liked what I saw so I went ahead with the treatment. This required immediate full payment of $3,400, including the non-refundable molding deposit.

The Invisaligners took about 2.5 months from this point to be made. I FINALLY started the treatment in late August of 2007. I had 4 button attachments installed on the upper teeth, and three button attachments on the lower teeth (for those that don't know, the button attachments help hold the aligners in place, and assist in turning/pulling/pushing teeth). I actually started the entire first month with only lower Invisaligners, so the upper button attachments came after the first two lower trays were completed.

I must admit, the first set of Aligners (lower only) was very uncomfortable for the first three days, but after that I got used to ALL of them very quickly. It took me about four sets of Invisaligners (upper & lower) to get REALLY used to wearing them comfortably. After about six aligners, I barely even knew they were there, except for the first full day or two of new Aligner installation.

I had very little problem taking the aligners off, or putting them on. To take them off, I was instructed to use the edge of a fingernail to push them up off my back teeth, then work my way around until they were loose enough to grab with my thumb and index fingers to yank them off. I didn't like that method as it irritated my teeth and gums from poking my fingernails around in that area. It was also not very easy to do or good for my fingernails. For me, I found the easiest way to remove the aligners was by using a pinching method on the back edge of where my molars meet the aligners. First, I use the end of my thumb (for the bottoms) or the end of my index finger (for the tops) on the very back edge of the aligners and push them hard towards my teeth to dislodge them. Then I pinch them in the same spot with both fingers off and away from my molar teeth all the way to the other side of my teeth. With this method I can remove both of them in less than five seconds!

I received two sets of invisaligners at a time, so I had to see my Dentist every four weeks for new ones. During my treatment some of my lower incisors had to be shaped with a special sanding strip so they would not collide because of over crowding. This "shaping" was a bit uncomfortable, and some gum damage did occur, but healed very quickly. There was no damage to my teeth and only millimeters of tooth enamel was removed. I had no problems with keeping my teeth clean during the treatment. I brushed before every re-installment of the aligners, and also flossed three times a day. I even brought along my tooth brush when going out to eat or on long drives where I knew I'd need to eat. On average I brushed 5 times a day. I never attempted to eat anything with the aligners in, but drank plenty of water. One of my daily rituals was to also clean the braces themselves to keep them free of any debris or bacteria. I also used Crest Pro Health mouth wash at night just before going to bed. Needless to say my Dentist was always impressed with my treatment and the health of my gums & teeth.

I have had several minor problems and one major problem with my Invisaligners, all of which my Dentist has been very helpful with... During alignment, I chipped my upper left canine while chewing because it is a very long tooth. The chip was small and was caused by all the movement going on in my mouth. My Dentist just buffed the tiny chip and I was on my way. I also contracted a minor yeast infection on the corner of one of my lips during alignment. My Dentist immediately prescribed an ointment which cured the infection in less than two days. I believe this was caused by my dry lips and the fact that my fingers were in and out of my mouth so much for aligner removal. Lastly, my biggest problem has been my "bite" does not close properly now (I cannot grind my upper & lower molars together anymore). I commented to my Dentist about this problem throughout alignment, and her final decision was to revise the alignment of my upper & lower teeth again when I was done with the original aligners. Apparently this bite problem occurred due to the fact that my lower incisors were so crowded. Although they are now perfectly aligned vertically, they are not aligned horizontally. The lower incisors moved too far forward, causing them to collide with the inside of my upper incisors.

I was given 10 lowers, and only 3 uppers. Why on earth would only THREE uppers be given? The computer imaging showed that three uppers would "fix" whatever was wrong.

I am pretty much done, I'm on my last sets right now and supposed to be molded for retainers this week. I do not feel done.

Oh yes, and the amount I paid for my Invisalign did not cover retainers. On top of that, I paid to have bonding done where the Invisalign did not fix a small gap between an upper central incisor and lateral incisor.

Of course, the dentist and assistant are like, "Invisalign Express doesn't come with refinements or anything!!!" And I said, but I only received THREE upper trays and ten is their limit. They said it doesn't matter, it would mean editing the submitted case.

Instead of bonding, I COULD pay $100 for each new tray in order to push things more. Something in my gut told me that additional trays would do nothing but take my money.

I had braces about 10 years ago in high school, so my teeth had already been fixed, just moved somewhat. And I was stupid and didn't wear the retainer after the braces came off. I wish they would have really stressed how important that is. I think a high schooler leaves without their braces on and thinks they are fixed forever.

I've been done with the uppers for about 6 weeks now. Finished with the lower about 3 weeks.

Just got the retainer wire on the tops (went that route instead of permanent at-night trays (the cleaning of the trays vs some difficulty in flossing convinced me.

There are refinements that need to be done with the lowers (tops appear fine) in that the left-to-right alignment is ok.

It's the up/down bite that out of kilter. Dentist took another upper/lower impression (god that impression material is foul) to attempt to get the bottoms more in line with the top (this was explained in the beginning as "refinements"). I expect to get 3-4 more lower trays (no uppers) for this final stage to correct the bite pattern issue I just described.

Would I do this again if I had a choice? From the appearance point of view, my kids (mid 20's) and co-workers at my job never knew (and still don't) that I wore "braces" (trays). From a personal appearance POV, it's a no brainer--yes.

The alignment issue causes me to re-think whether I would do this again. My crowding (wore braces as a teen, had an upper retainer that was worn religiously for a year, in those days there was no retainer for the lowers and I paid the price) is a result of the technology not providing for a permanent retainer at the time (early 60's).

The alignment issue--not sure if I would do this again in all honestly.

The molars don't meet on either side. Food constantly gets packed in there. The upper/lower canines generally prevent them meeting properly. My bottom front teeth bump up underneath the wire retainer that is cemented behind the upper front teeth.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Senta:
Hi there,

There seems to be a lot of debate about how long you leave your aligners in a day. I have becoming lazier and lazier and sometimes only put them in when I sleep. However I also wear them for 3-4 weeks instead of 2, or until they no longer feel tight before I change to my next set. Is this OK?

---

You really need to ask your dentist/ortho about that. Although everything I've read said they get changed every 2 wk (not 4) says you're wrong.

And not wearing them during the day means that at night, they get straightend (a bit) and then during the day they "unstraighten" a bit.

You're probably not doing any harm but then again, you're not making much progress.

What happens when the tray is in is that the bone structure that holds the teeth is initially "broken" then has a chance (2 wk) to heal before the next little break happens.

quote:

---

Originally posted by chashmish:
I always drink warm (not hot) drinks in with my aligners. I haven't had any issues. Just rinse out your mouth / trays afterward.

---

Thanks.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Senta:
Hi there,

There seems to be a lot of debate about how long you leave your aligners in a day. I have becoming lazier and lazier and sometimes only put them in when I sleep. However I also wear them for 3-4 weeks instead of 2, or until they no longer feel tight before I change to my next set. Is this OK?

---

I read somewhere on invisaligns webpage for professionals about extended wear time. It made reference to teeth grinders that couldn't wear aligners at night. It suggested removing aligners at night and extending length of wear to 3 weeks (esentially what you're doing, but opposite) I don't remember the specifics, but would refer you to invisalign's professional page. There is a link on here somewhere under the retainer thread.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Marc110:
Hello everyone. I'm on day 6 of invisalign and I just noticed that my bottom tray has a slight crack in it. Do these things break often? I've searched online and I haven't seen any stories about broken or cracked trays. I'm going to call the ortho first thing tomorrow.

Let me know if this has ever happened to you.

---

Hi Marc,

This happened to me - I broke my very first tray four days into the treatment. I went through every suggestion I could find online (I`m a professional researcher) and found a pretty much even split between the people who said persist with the cracked tray, and the people who said move on to the next one. Unfortunately my ortho was away, so I made the decision to stick with the cracked tray as it felt pretty tight.

I called my ortho when he got back into town - eight days later - and he told me to switch to the next aligner. When I did, I could feel the pressure on that tooth - it clearly hadn`t been moving as it was supposed to, and as a result was much more painful with the new aligner. It seems to have settled down now, but I think it had to move more than it was meant to this time.

Long story short: talk to your ortho as soon as possible. Depending on where the crack is, advice may vary. Just rest assured that you`re not alone! I`m being very careful with my new aligners.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Chuck:
I am on day 3 of invisalign and I have had a nightmare of a start. I am not sure how much to blame on Invisalign and how much to blame on my dentist. My first day of wearing Invisalign, I thought it was very easy and was surprised how little it impeded my speech. Until 3 hours later when I tried taking them off before a business dinner. I sat in the bathroom of the restaurant trying to take them off and couldn't! My nails bent backwards and gums were bleeding trying. I called my dentist in a panic (who blew me off until the next day). I couldn't eat dinner with the invisalign on and, the worst part, had to tell my business colleagues why I couldn't eat with them (sort of defeats the purpose of Invisalign now...). The next day, when I went to see my dentist, he laughed and tried to pull it out. He did wrestle it out (pretending to do it effortlessly) but it even took him a couple of minutes and I swear I thought he was going to break it or pull out my front teeth with it. I have since learned to take it out on my own, but it still takes me on average 2 minutes to take them out (with paper towel). It's too late to turn back on the expensive commitment, but I would have thought twice had I known how difficult this would be. My dentist claims that no one has had problems taking them out and that I'm being too "tender" - but if I could video tape how it looks when even he tries to take it out of my mouth, anyone could see that this is anything but easy. I may be a unique case, but as my dentist said, my teeth are not that crooked (I had braces when I was younger but it got crowded upon my wisdom teeth coming in) and if I'm having these problems, I've got to imagine I am not the only one. Please be careful and be selective about the dentist/orthodontist you choose. I am writing Invisalign a letter of complaint and inquiry about their procedures (or lack thereof) for allowing Invisalign practitioners. My dentist, for example, didn't even have me try to take off my trays on my own before I walked out the first day.

---

Hi Chuck,

I`m sorry to hear your initial experience has been so bad. I suspect a lot of this is related to the dentist or ortho that you`re using. My dentist warned me that the first couple of days are the hardest, and we made the fitting appointment for a Friday so I would have the weekend to get used to the aligners before having to try and handle them at work. They were hellish to get off to begin with - I honestly thought I was going to pull my teeth out - but I followed the dentist`s advice, and they did get better within 48 hours. The first set of aligners were never easy to get in and out, but I got it down to about 30 seconds each time. It did get much better with the second aligners.

Usual first tray shock. Advise an emory board to smooth any rough surfaces which scratch the tongue and mouth and lots of chap stick and lots of brushing. Overall, very positive experience which I would repeat in a heartbeat. Cost 4700.00 orange county, CA. Dentist, Dr. Lim in Brea, CA.