So, because I'm in the very early stages of Invisalign, I did a ton of research online, trying to find out what I should have on hand for when I start actually wearing the trays. I decided to order the following items just to be safe...and also because I'm a worrier like that.
1. Retainer Brite - A soak for the aligners which will clean, deodorize, and brighten the trays. I bought a three month supply on Amazon.com. If you're interested, here is the link.
I know there is some talk about the danger of discoloring the trays by using soak for them, but my ortho said Retainer Brite is great. I plan to soak the trays while I eat breakfast every day and then lightly brush them clean/spot brush where needed. The Retainer Brite is supposed to be great at keeping any odor away and keeping the trays crystal clear. I don't like the idea of intensely brushing the trays every day, as I can imagine that would scratch them and potentially make them foggy and therefore more visible in my mouth.
2. Outie hooks - A plastic tool with a lever on one end and hook on the other, used to remove the trays if they're stubborn or tightly attached due to buttons or attachments.
I bought a few of these just to have them on hand. I am scheduled to have "buttons" or attachments applied around week 6 of treatment. I've read that many patients struggle to remove their trays after buttons are attached because they cause the aligners to fit VERY snugly. These hooks are supposedly a miracle-worker. Let's hope so.
Here is the link I used to buy my Outies.
3. Lots of floss and small toothbrushes for my purse at work. I had fun in the trial/mini size aisle at Target. Well, really...let's be honest. I have fun wherever I go in Target. It's amazing. Too amazing sometimes.
4. SmartMouth Mouthwash to help with bad breath from wearing the trays in general. Okay, so I have not seen SmartMouth recommended on any Invisalign experience blogs, but let me tell you...it is an all-time favorite, miracle worker of a product for me. It has been in my medicine cabinet for about 2 years now, and I do not ever plan to be without it. I have nightmares about this product disappearing from stores...seriously. So, SmartMouth is very unique, because it does not contain any alcohol, and it does not work as a traditional mouthwash does. A regular mouthwash kills the bacteria in your mouth for 30 minutes to an hour, but SmartMouth simply wipes out the bacteria's ability to eat or produce odor.
I swear by this stuff and know it will become even more invaluable once I'm wearing aligners all day. I plan to swish both morning and night. Please, read up on this stuff if you're interested. I buy mine whenever I'm at Target. I have also seen it at Walgreens, and I believe it's at Rite Aid, too! It's easy to find and really worth the extra few dollars. It blows Scope, Listerine, Act, Crest, etc. out of the water. Really. Click here if you're interested in reading up on SmartMouth.
