This summer, to straighten my teeth, I got Invisalign instead of braces. Invisalign is just a plastic retainer while braces are wires with metal brackets stuck to your teeth. Both cost the same. My brothers and my mom had Invisalign and all had a good experience.
My good friend had braces for five years and was always complaining that her teeth hurt, even when she was near the end of her treatment. The skin on the inside of her lips and cheeks would get caught in her brackets and bleed. She also didn’t like how you could tell she was wearing braces since it makes your upper lip protrude..
A lot of my classmates at school have Invisalign or are planning to get it. I’ve seen many videos about how Invisalign is a hassle to manage, but I’m now on my second week with Invisalign and it’s not a hassle at all.
When I first got my Invisalign, the dentist made me practice taking it on and off to help me get used to it. It was very easy to put on since it perfectly latched onto my teeth. Surprisingly, taking it off was just as easy. All I had to do was use my nail to unlatch the retainer from the back of my mouth, and then the rest of the retainer slipped off smoothly. The dentist also told me to clean them with toothpaste every time I take them off and brush my teeth before putting them back on. If I’m out and can’t brush, she said to rinse my retainers and use mouthwash.
My teeth only hurt for the first three days with Invisalign. They felt sore and sensitive. It hurt when I bit into something. I kept swallowing because I wasn’t used to wearing it so my mouth and lips got really dry. Drinking cold water consistently throughout the day helped me get used to wearing it. I also took them off 30 minutes before a meal so the pain on my teeth would ease before eating. But overall the pain wasn’t that bad that I could still bite harder foods like toast and corn on the cob.
When you get Invisalign you actually get more than one tray of retainers. Usually, a treatment takes around 20 to 40 trays. Depending on what your dentist says, you change your trays every 7-14 days. I have 22 trays and change them every 10 days. My treatment will be done on February 19th, 2027 according to my app.
There’s an app called “My Invisalign” that my dentist recommended I download and has been really helpful. It keeps track of what tray you’re on and reminds you when to change trays. The app didn’t exist when my second brother had Invisalign four years ago. To get started all you have to do is scan the information that’s printed on the bag containing your Invisalign. There’s also a stopwatch in the app you can use every time you take off your retainers to track your non-wear time. This way you know if you’re wearing your retainers for your recommended time and not keeping them off for too long. You can also shop for Invisalign products in the app such as cases, cleaners, and tools to help take off your retainers.
I like that I didn’t have to change anything about my diet with Invisalign, unlike braces where you can’t eat popcorn or chew gum because these can get stuck in your brackets. I could still eat all my favorite snacks like boba and chips. I just needed to take out my retainers first.
Getting Invisalign also improved my dental health and hygiene. I have to brush my teeth anytime I take my retainers out, even if it’s just for a quick snack. I now find myself brushing three to four times a day and flossing after every meal. I also never forget to brush my teeth because I know I have to put my retainers back in ASAP.
I thought getting Invisalign would be hard to manage since you have to take off and clean your retainers every time you want to eat. But actually, cleaning them is super easy and only takes 30 seconds. After the first three days, I got used to the Invisalign and now I barely notice when I’m wearing them.
Even when I’m eating out, it’s not a big deal to go to the bathroom and rinse my retainers before putting them back in. I would definitely recommend Invisalign over braces because it’s barely noticeable and you don’t have any restrictions on what you can eat. My friends didn’t even realize I got Invisalign until I told them since the retainers are clear.
Having my Invisalign has not been difficult nor disruptive at all. It has led to several health benefits. Since I’ve had it, I’ve increased my brushing and flossing and upped my hydration. I’m very satisfied with the experience so far and I can’t wait to see my perfectly even teeth on my next yearbook picture.
Audrey is a teen journalist and an opinion editor of her school newspaper in Silicon Valley. She writes about trends, pop culture, media, and her experience as a Filipino-American.