Looking Good

Ok well I suppose the title is true. But partially, I feel like it's not. Let me explain. My teeth are still moving and look great, but I personally feel they have gotten to a point where they look a bit awkward. Like they are so far pushed forward that it doesn't look natural. My two front teeth look oddly shaped. There are somehow tiny gaps between every single tooth. I'm sure it's just getting to the point where everything is now moved forward so they will soon be moving back, but I feel a little weird with my retainers out. I know for sure I am more critical because I notice things on myself on a far higher magnitude than other people do. Just hope they move back and start looking more natural. I still am getting compliments on how good they look. I personally am just really picky about myself in general so I tend to notice EVERY tiny flaw in myself.

Otherwise things are going good. I somehow managed to pinch the inside of my lip with my retainer the other day, but I'm sure no other person can do that. I'm just talented in the ways of clumsiness. Without my lip ring, my teeth are center stage. I love the way they look with the retainers in. They seem like they're all in place. I can't imagine not wearing a retainer. I probably will wear them at night forever, even after treatment! I will have to ask about that when the time comes. A sort of embarrassing problem the retainers tend to have are if your lips are dry, which mine are a lot (especially in winter) when you talk or smile your lips can sometimes get caught on your retainer. Happens to me quite a lot lately! But it's not THAT big of a deal, I guess.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my invisalign and reccomend it. Just wanted to be honest about my struggles with it. Still far better than the stories I've heard from those with braces. Now time for a funny story. A couple days ago (Tuesday), I had to go in for my invisalign check up. It's every 6 weeks and it's where they make sure my teeth are moving like they should be (they just ask me how it's going and look at my smile) and give me 3 new sets of retainers. Since I'm a day behind, the hygenist made me try on the new set to make sure they fit even though I wouldn't be changing into them until the next day. So I tried them on, they felt good. (I was totally ready for a new set. Usually you can tell when your teeth are done moving for the set. And mine usually don't feel ready until the day it's time to change, or sometimes not even then and I push them. But this time the night before they felt SO ready) I put the old set back in my mouth and she held open the little ziplock-like bag it comes in so I could put the new ones back in. Socially awkward me couldn't get them in the bag so I was touching her bare hand with them. I couldn't get it so I told her, "Sorry, I'm not trying to rub you with them" and she laughed and said it was ok and she dealt with them everyday. But then she dropped the bag so I could do it myself. LOL. It was so awkward, but funny.

Anyway, that's my update. I will try to get some new pictures up soon. I know they're not the best quality, but maybe I can take some with my actual camera.

New year, new smile!

I just changed retainers two days ago, which resulted in some pain. But it's pretty much all gone now. My teeth are once again at a weird angle, but I've gotten better at adjusting my chewing so it's not a problem. And you rarely could tell when your retainers are in. That's the key to success too, so all around it's important to keep those retainers in. Which I don't think is much of a problem because your teeth feel better IN the retainers. It's like they feel more supported and "in place". It will be weird to go without the retainers in the future.

I think the biggest show of change is watching videos of yourself talking. I have been taking some videos over the past year on and off and I started watching them recently. The old videos really showed me how bad my teeth were, which I hadn't realized the severity. The new videos show a completely different story... My teeth look GREAT! I can't get over how amazing they look on camera, which means that's how they look to others. When I look in the mirror, I see the imperfections and tiny adjustments that need to be made, but in reality they aren't that much. If my teeth stopped moving right now, I would be a lot happier with my smile than I used to be.

In a couple weeks I go for another checkup to see my progress and get more retainers. I'm very pleased with my journey thus far, and am always excited to move on to the next step!! Here's an undated picture:

Sorry for the blurry webcam, but you can see the general shape. Looking so much better than I ever thought they could!!

Sore toothy

Ow! I am having some major tooth placement annoyance today. On the top right side a tooth is position so it digs right into the center of the tooth under it on the bottom. I tend to clench my teeth together when I'm thinking, which I don't notice so that's making it hurt even more. Not very comfortable. Plus add the fact that when I take my retainers out, the rest of my teeth are not at a natural position, it's quite annoying.

I also can notice lots of small gaps between most of my teeth. They really are moving. They are still moving forward. Judging from how the retainers look there isnt' too much more forward movement. Then they will be moved back and into their new permanent positions!

It's almost 2012...which is the year my treatment will be complete!!! New year, new smile! I'm very much looking forward to getting these attachments off so I can start some whitening products to make my smile even better. And I certainly won't be upset to get rid of this discomfort. But once again, it's completely and totally worth the smile I will have.

Woahhh

Almost forgot to change retainers today! But thankfully I remembered, and woahhh do they ever hurt. It's almost Christmas so I'm nervous they will still be sore, but nothing will keep me from feasting. I remember a few years ago when I got my wisdom teeth out a week before Christmas (now that's a story) and I ended up getting dry socket and being in so much pain. I had a packing on my mouth wound and could barely eat, but I did NOT let that stop me from eating small bites of Christmas dinner. I actually had to resort to ibuprofen, which I haven't had to rely on for months. But it has helped the pain so it's all good. I am about halfway done and the progress is amazing, so I will put up with minor discomfort to get my smile even better!

Update & New Pics!!

So I have really noticed the change recently. I have been looking at lots of old pictures and videos and WOW I didn't realize how bad my teeth were before. I'm even happier now that I made this decision.

Things are moving along. I have been really bad recently. I drank a milkshake yesterday with my retainers in and just now drank some apple juice! That is definitely not reccommending because a) it can stain your retainers and b) it can get sugar in the retainers and then it just sits there trapped in your teeth which is not healthy for your teeth. However, it's not something I do frequently, so I'm hoping it will be ok. Right now, the position of my teeth is driving me NUTS, but it's passing already. It is such a gross feeling when your top tooth is in between 2 of your bottom teeth. Eww! But I get through it and it's fine.

I've included some new pictures because it's been awhile since I've taken some.

Things are continuing to improve!! So I am very please.

Booyah!

Been getting sooo many compliments lately! Very exciting. My sister was admiring my teeth and asking about my journey. I love talking about the process. It's kind of amazing to me how these retainers have totally transformed my smile and confidence. And the level of maintenance is not as hardcore as it may seem. Sure, it does take work to keep your retainers clean, but it's really not much different than taking your teeth clean. An extra few minutes brushing throughout the day is totally worth it.

It can be annoying, especially as of lately, when my teeth are in an odd position and feel uncomfortable when I'm eating. It's only temporary though, and it's not horrible. The pain that comes with teeth moving has been so minor overall. I have heard from so many people with braces that it is a painful process, so I feel sure this option produces the least pain. The most I've ever had, besides the pain that came with getting used to the first retainer (which did suck) was a minor tooth ache in like 2 teeth for a day or two. It's definitely bearable. And the dentist, and least mine, has been there every step of the way. If something doesn't feel right or I'm concerned, I could go right in and get checked out.

I cannot be any more pleased!! Now, just a side note to keep in mind once again: I am not being sponsored to say these things. This has been my REAL experience. And I'm very happy with it thus far. There have been some un-perfect moments, but overall this has been a GREAT process!!!!

Check Up Time

Today it was time for another check up. I had a different hygienist today and I didn't even see the dentist, which was unusual. I told her I was a day off so she gave me my three new retainers and made me try on my newest one to make sure it fit alright. It felt fine so she told me to change tomorrow. So tomorrow I should be starting tray 11 I believe.

My teeth are once again in a strange position. It's crazy how the tiniest amount can really make your bite off. Soon enough it will pass, as it always does, but still annoying nonetheless. It's nice to be getting further in my treatment. I'm about halfway done now!!! Woohoo! It's exciting to think soon I will be retainer free. Well, I believe I will still wear them at night for a while, but during the day my teeth will be freeeee! AND I will get these attachments off, which is the most exciting part.