#8 Invisalign Braces

I can't sleep because of the way that lady spoke to me tonight.

[Don't worry i'll be fine tomorrow when i'm with my baby brother, i get spoken to like this alot and it does get to me until something makes me happy again, which luckily doesn't take long with my amazing friends and family]

So, for now, i'm going to distract myself by telling you about my invisible braces and my progress. That way, i'm talking about something positive :]

I've had many messages asking about my Invisalign Braces. I will post an FAQ on here for you. Also if you have a question, please do message me so i can answer it for you :)

Here is just three months progress. I only have another two months to go.

As you can see my top tooth still overlaps but nowhere near as drastic. My bottom teeth have also straightened up alot. I can't wait to see the difference in another two months.

The basic facts.

You have a consultation with your dentist where they take impressions and photos of your current teeth. [Impressions = A tray filled with putty that is fit into your mouth to take imprints of your teeth]

You talk about the type of braces you want. You can get train tracks at a cheaper price or Invisalign which are more costly. Your dentist may have a pay monthly plan. Your dentist may charge for your consultation.

My process.

When my dentist Taffy fitted my first retainers to my teeth i was in so much pain. I couldn't believe it. My body was in shock from the pain ha. I was going to New York for my sisters 30th the next day and i didn't want to be in pain and ruin my time there so i just wore my retainers at night to ween myself into them. This worked great for me because within three days i was wearing them full time fine. [You're meant to wear them 24/7 but sometimes you have to find your own strategies that work ha]

Every two weeks i return to Taffy and she files between my teeth to create new gaps. She numbed me for it once but i found it more painful to have a needle in my gum than the actual filing so i don't get numbed any more. The filing doesn't hurt me at all. [The noise is strange but it only takes like 2 minutes]

Once the teeth have been filed she fits the new aligners onto my teeth [plastic retainers] - very uncomfortable at first but just like my first set, fine after 3 days of wearing them. I find that i can't take my retainers out for a day because they are so tight. So i eat soup and drink smoothies to fill myself up until i can take them out.

If i can't make it every two weeks, i just carry on wearing my retainer until i can have the next one fitted. For example, i have a new retainer in now, but i can't see Taffy in two weeks time, so i'll carry on wearing this retainer for 3 weeks.

At the end of my journey i will receive free shaping of the teeth and free teeth whitening. And of course, free retainers to wear at night for the rest of my life to keep my teeth straight.

F.A.Q

Do they hurt?

Of course, your teeth are being moved from your gums. However, i haven't needed to take any pain relief for this [They advise to take ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain but i haven't taken any for the entire three months so far]

It's so worth the pain.

The most painful for bit for me is when you go and get your new retainer fitted every two weeks. But as i explained, only hurts for few days.

Can you feel them in your mouth?

I used to wear slide in veneers which is basically like a gum shield in your mouth [false white teeth] so to me, these braces i can't even really feel them. Of course it's going to feel strange at first - It's a foreign object in your mouth. But it's totally worthit.

Can you drink in your retainers?

You can drink anything in your braces. I drink tea and coffee in mine but it isn't recommended because it stains your teeth more because the drink sits underneath the braces. [I use essex smiles teeth whitening charcoal for a boost] But the dentist gives you free whitening at the end anyway, so it isn't a huge concern.

Can you eat in your retainers?

You can't eat in your retainers, it's impossible really. The food gets stuck and it just isn't nice at all. You can remove your retainers whenever you want but i recomend putting them back in straight after food. If i don't wear my braces for a day [if i'm filming or something] then they are SO tight to get back in, so it shows your teeth move back even in a day of not wearing them. I ate pasta in mine the other day thinking [this is so easy the pasta is so soft] ... Looked in the mirror and all the sauce was stuck under the braces so my teeth were red haha.

Can you talk normally in your braces?

I found it very strange at first and had a lisp but now i talk fine, strangers don't even notice i have them in until i tell them

Can you kiss normal in your braces?

I would LOVE to be able to tell you this but i haven't been kissed anyone in ages ha. I'm guessing there would be a LOT of spit... But some men like that freaky stuff any way HA.

What dentist do you go to?

How much do they cost?

Train tracks are the cheapest option but obviously they are very visible. I had train tracks when i was 15 and my teeth were perfectly straight after however i didn't realize that you have to wear your retainer for life after, so they went crooked again! Hence here i am with braces again! [ALWAYS WEAR YOUR RETAINER EVERY NIGHT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE - EVEN WHEN YOUR TEETH ARE STRAIGHT - EVEN AFTER A YEAR OF WEARING MY RETAINER - THEY WENT CROOKED WHEN I STOPPED]

Train tracks are around £2000 - Every dentist charges different

Train Tracks are around £2000 - Ask your dentist for prices

You can get train tracks that are also invisible - You can still see them but not as much.

Invisible train tracks are around £2,500 - Every dentist charges different

And of course invisalign are the most expensive ranging from £3000 - again, every dentist charges different but you can see the price bracket difference. I am wearing invisalign in my transformation photos above and i don't think you can see them. I think they are great and i'm definitely glad i got them!

TIPS -

Always do your research and visit different dentists - i went to three different Dentists before choosing one.

Do your research on transformation photos to inspire you - Instagram and Google is great for comparing what people's teeth look like before and after braces.

Really think about this. It's alot of money to spend. Are your teeth really that bad? Ask an honest friend their opinion to help you maybe? That's what i did. [You always need that one brutally honest friend in your life]

Do you really need the invisalign? If i didn't have filming i would have definitely gone the cheapest option - the train tracks.

Don't take your invisalign out unless absolutely NECESSARY!

I hope you find this helpful. Feel free to ask me any questions you may have :]

Braces = Pricey.

A confident smile = Priceless.