Invisalign and the holidays

[Anonymous]

How do you handle it? I have a lot of parties and get together where I’ll be eating and drinking for 4 hour blocks or so. Plus a vacation where I’ll be eating lunch on the go. So I’ll be taking out the aligners frequently and for longer than normal periods. How do you handle the missed time? I’m supposed to wear them 20-22 hours a day. Should I not switch to the new set in my switch day and just keep wearing them an extra week to make up for lost time then push everything else back a week as well?

[Anonymous]

You should talk to your dentist, but probably switch when you're supposed to and keep moving forward.

You can certainly drink clear alcohol while wearing aligners. Bring your toothbrush kit with you on vacation and brush when you can.

It's expected that people with Invisalign will have trouble keeping up with your hours around the holidays. Just do your best.

[Anonymous]

My dentist always tells me not to switch unless they fit perfectly.

[Anonymous]

I ate and drank a lot less, that's for sure.

I also carried my case and toothbrush/toothpaste in my purse so I could take them on and off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I ate and drank a lot less, that's for sure.

I also carried my case and toothbrush/toothpaste in my purse so I could take them on and off.

This. For a four hour party just keep them out or remove them before you eat. I definitely didn’t average 20-22 hours a day but did my best and it worked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ate and drank a lot less, that's for sure.

I also carried my case and toothbrush/toothpaste in my purse so I could take them on and off.

This. For a four hour party just keep them out or remove them before you eat. I definitely didn’t average 20-22 hours a day but did my best and it worked out.

It's lots of parties and a vacation, so I anticipate only being able to wear them maybe 14 hours a day. Would you add more days?

[Anonymous]

We handled it for DS on vacation. Bring the next sets if you’re still switching them, in case a set breaks or gets lost, so that you don’t end up without aligners at all. And carry a toothbrush, hand sanitizer, and aligner box everywhere. Sometimes ds would just wash with water and put back on and then we’d clean them well when back in hotel. But I always carried a box and hand sanitizer with me. I wasn’t too comfortable cleaning them in random toilets though so didn’t carry a toothbrush when walking around sightseeing.

For the parties, yes, either eat less, bring a toothbrush and put them back on, or just leave them at home. It really depends on how long the events will be, if a whole day thing or a 2-3 hour event. Be strict about wearing them any other minute of the day. Your progress maybe slower during this period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ate and drank a lot less, that's for sure.

I also carried my case and toothbrush/toothpaste in my purse so I could take them on and off.

This. For a four hour party just keep them out or remove them before you eat. I definitely didn’t average 20-22 hours a day but did my best and it worked out.

It's lots of parties and a vacation, so I anticipate only being able to wear them maybe 14 hours a day. Would you add more days?

Don’t you need to photograph your teeth and send to orthodontist? That’s what ds had to do, and yes, during vacation, the orthodontist would recommend that he wears the same set longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ate and drank a lot less, that's for sure.

I also carried my case and toothbrush/toothpaste in my purse so I could take them on and off.

This. For a four hour party just keep them out or remove them before you eat. I definitely didn’t average 20-22 hours a day but did my best and it worked out.

It's lots of parties and a vacation, so I anticipate only being able to wear them maybe 14 hours a day. Would you add more days?

Don’t you need to photograph your teeth and send to orthodontist? That’s what ds had to do, and yes, during vacation, the orthodontist would recommend that he wears the same set longer.

No, I'm past that stage. I'm now in the stage past the initial treatment where they make the aligners for me in the office.

[Anonymous]

My ortho said to add a day on with my currently tray for any day I didn’t wear it 20-22 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ate and drank a lot less, that's for sure.

I also carried my case and toothbrush/toothpaste in my purse so I could take them on and off.

This. For a four hour party just keep them out or remove them before you eat. I definitely didn’t average 20-22 hours a day but did my best and it worked out.

It's lots of parties and a vacation, so I anticipate only being able to wear them maybe 14 hours a day. Would you add more days?

That seems a bit silly. Are you just eating and drinking endlessly? I definitely drank sparkling wine, white wine, and clear cocktails with my trays.

And yes keep your toothbrush with you and/or rinse out your mouth and brush your teeth when you get back to your room. We’ve all done it and I promise I had myriad work events and dinners during my treatment.

I have brushed my teeth in many a high-end steakhouse. No one cares and have the patrons have had Invisalign anyway.

[Anonymous]

Just add a day of wearing it.
I had Invisalign as a teen and that’s what I did.