I get to....

GO BACK ON INVISALIGN TREATMENT. That's right, I have to go back on retainers for probably 5 trays my orthodontist guessed, so that's at least 3 months. I never thought I would have to do this again, but my teeth moved so I have to. I'm not upset, just shocked. I had to get molds done again (my very least favorite part). I gagged at least 4 times and almost threw up on the hygienist, but they are all done and sent away to invisalign. I may have to get attachments again. I'm a little nervous for the pain, but mostly I just want my teeth back to looking good. Then when I'm all done, I will have to wear an invisalign retainer at night instead of my other one because it didn't work. Overall, I was very impressed with my orthodontist and their ability to help me out. Plus he said it wouldn't cost me anything. Which is amazing, since I already spent a lot on these teeth!

UPDATE & movement?!

So it has been quite some time since I wrote. I got used to my night retainers, but they didn't seem to really keep my teeth in place. They were sort of loose and basically just had a bar in the front. They weren't tight fitting like the invisalign retainers that had a spot for every tooth. There were a couple nights I didn't wear them (because I was sick and really didn't want to throw up or hack with retainers in) and I noticed a couple weeks ago certain teeth were moving back! I was so angry! One tooth on the bottom is now unaligned with the rest and the top problem tooth seems to be moving back in the direction it came from. I guess the retainers weren't tight enough or maybe I should have worn them more than just at night? No clue what happened.

So naturally I called my orthodontist, even though it has been probably 6 months?, and they unfortunately couldn't get me in for 3 weeks because he was going out of the country. So I will be going back to hear what they have to say. I am nervous because 1) I'm afraid they can't do anything or I'll have to pay a lot OR 2) If I do have to get new retainers, it is almost guaranteed to hurt. And having to go through new molds (ICK!) But I'd rather have nice teeth than worry about a little pain. I'm thinking original invisalign retainers should be the best solution. But I also don't know because they weren't enough to originally correct my bite. I guess I will not know until I get there. But I just wanted to provide an update. I can try to get pictures to show the movement, but we'll see.

OH NO!

So I have just been bad. I have just been wearing the new bottom one and the old top one still. Last Thursday I came home completely tired and forgot to put my retainers in before I fell asleep. I woke up and my teeth felt fine so for the next 4 days I wore NO retainers to bed. Then Monday my teeth were so sore. I couldn't figure out why. I was randomly watching youtube videos about teeth whitening and it dawned on me why my teeth hurt...they were moving BACK! I jumped up and ran to the bathroom. I put my bottom retainer in and it fit great. The top one, which was the invisalign one, didn't fit at all! It hurt to snap in, which clearly showed in 5 short days my teeth had moved enough to not be in place. I was freaking out. SO I forced myself to wear my new top one to bed. It was so gross because the saliva problem, but I just forced myself to do it. It was hard! I tried to keep my tongue from moving to the top, and after about 15 times slurping up my spit (gross I know) and 3 times taking the retainer out to dry it, I fell asleep. When I woke up my mouth was still saliva-y, but it stayed in all night. And my teeth feel so good this morning. My bite feels great. I don't know if I totally ruined my progress, but I will be forcing myself to wear those retainers from now on and night.

I read it takes you mouth muscles or whatever 9 months to realize their new position. I'm hoping to wear these for awhile and correct my bite for good. (Also hoping the saliva problem will go away when my mouth gets used to them) Then I really hope I can get new molds and get invisalign retainers for night because they are so much more pleasant to deal with, but we'll see. My orthodontist hasn't called to check in since 2 months ago when I was there last. So it's all up to me I guess.

Bad me!

I have been SO busy. So busy that I have not yet gone to the orthodontist to figure out how to wear my top retainer. I know, I know. It has been weeks since I got them. But it's hard to make time. I tried Friday, but they were closed. Like legitly closed at 11 am. I have been wearing my "new" bottom retainer and have no problem with it. I have tried my top one for days and days, but I just can't. I can barely swallow with it in and I basically choke on all the excess saliva. I'm wearing my old top retainer and it feels tight by the end of every night when I put it on. Meaning, my teeth probably move a lot during the day. Which is a good thing that I wear it. My bite feels better, but I'm sure I should be wearing the new top ones too. I just need it to not go back as far onto the roof of my mouth. I would try fixing it, but the material it's made out of doesn't look like anything I can safely alter. I will seriously have to make time this week because next week college starts again and then I'll really have no time.

Determined!

I have tried several times wearing my new retainers to no avail. I really was ready to give up, but my dad told me I need to use it, which is true. And my bite has really been bothering me. I can handle the bottom one. I wore it for probably 5 hours today. The top one just isn't working for me. It goes back SO far it traps saliva in between the roof of my mouth and the retainer and I choke on it. It literally doesn't let me swallow it. I'm thinking the only solution is calling the orthodontist Monday. There doesn't seem to be a reason they can't shorten it. Or hopefully offer some sort of solution. I have been trying and it's just not right.

Raise your hand if you're disgusted

So I got a call from my orthodontist that my new set of night retainers were in. I went in yesterday to get them. I sat down and when they opened the retainer case, I died inside. They were old school metal retainers. The kind you see on tv. I tried them on and they were super uncomfortable. I couldn't talk in them and my orthodontist told me it would be common to wake up with them out of my mouth until my mouth gets used to them. I tried to have an open mind.

I tried to put them on last night and just couldn't do it. My mouth was creating way too much saliva and it was very uncomfortable. I couldn't stop gagging. So I decided to wear my old retainers. I'm not supposed to wear them once I start the new ones because my bite is supposed to be corrected by the new ones. I don't want to be a baby, but I'm not sure I could get used to them. I wouldn't mind my bite off that much. I possibly may ask if there are other options. At this point, I'm going to keep trying but I'm not sure if I will be successful.

A little pic of the most disgusting retainers out there!

Quick Update

Nothing new on the retainer front. It's weird to get in the habit of wearing retainers only at night, but I'm doing fine. Haven't missed a day or anything. When you go a long time and don't put them on until late (like 1 am late), you can feel the tightness, so I'm sure they will move back fast if retainers aren't worn. My bite is still towards the middle and no thte back, which is annoying to get used to, but I'm doing alright.

The main thing I wanted to write about was the whitening. I noticed my teeth were feeling pretty sensitive, which worried me. So I only use my whitening toothpaste once a day (at night) and brush them in the morning with a normal toothpaste. I don't brush any other times during the day because I don't think my enamel is strong enough for that. If needed, I chew gum after I eat. But otherwise I try to give my teeth a break. I don't want to damage them in the process of whitening them!!