Almost to My Fourth Aligner 😃

Only a few more days until I switch to my fourth aligner! I swear it feels like just yesterday that I started this process by meeting with an orthodontist for the initial consultation. I have now found that I feel weird without my aligners in, sort of like a naked feeling, but on my teeth. I've done fairly well wearing them for the recommended time. Occasionally, I go out and know that I will have a few drinks so I just don't wear them out. I brush my teeth and put them back in when I get home. This doesn't happen all the time so I figured it'd be okay. 

To be honest, I feel like the process could speed up a bit. After wearing an aligner for a week, they feel loose. One of them wouldn't even stay on my teeth. The back would sit a bit up and I couldn't maneuver it to get that tight grip feel. I have my next appointment in 2 weeks so I will totally bring it up then. I'm secretly wishing that my Ortho will say to switch aligners ever week instead of every 2 weeks. Whenever I have switched, I only feel a small bit of pressure. I'm proactive by taking ibuprofen before putting them in and then again for the next day. Other than that, I'm doing very well with them. I'm thankful for my decision to get them as next August (around the time I am expected to finish with my treatment), I'm going to be a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's weddings. It's going to be an all-day thing so I already know that I won't be wearing my aligners. I'll have so much going on that day that I won't want to add to it. Not a big deal in my mind. I'll be just 2 weeks shy of a full year of treatment. That's why I'm hoping I can speed up my treatment so that I won't even be wearing them by then. My Ortho says I will most likely have a retainer to wear at night once I'm done. That won't be a big problem. I'm spending this much on my teeth and don't want any setbacks. 

I'm happy that I have my friend's wedding to look forward to near the end of my treatment. I won't focus on angling my head correctly during the wedding so all pictures should be great! 

I'll post an update after my next Ortho appointment with hopefully the news I can speed up the process. Anyone out there with invisalign or who had invisalign that could switch every week?

Life Gets In The Way

So I sometimes, life gets in the way. Since I last blogged, I've hiked 12 beautiful miles through the Colombia Gorge in Oregon

 and I've also found a teaching job. My old teaching job to be exact. I got the call the day after I last blogged and it has been a whirlwind ever since. 

Not sure I mentioned this in previous posts but the third night of wearing my first aligner, I drooled uncontrollably in my sleep. I was afraid that was going to happen every time I wore a new aligner. Luckily, it did not happen this time, which is great considering I was staying at a friends! Nothing else to report on this topic. 

Flying back home was just like flying there, except is brushed my teeth in the airport as I was taking the redeye back to Boston. No need to eat on the plane. 

Teaching has been interesting with them. I take them out for lunch and then brush my teeth before going back to class. Not too bad. I don't think anyone has noticed, except for those lucky few who get to see me take them out right in front of them. I gave them a heads up prior to that so they weren't completely disgusted. I told a coworker and she said that she couldn't even tell. Luckily, I think I got used to talking with them in. I just think there will be a day or so after putting new ones in that I will struggle a bit with talking. I'll just plan for partner work or tests on those days so I don't have to lead a whole class 😜

The only part I'm a little unsure of is telling my students. Half of my students I had last year and some have had braces out on over the summer. They're so proud they have braces and I keep myself from going "hey me too!" Not that I'm afraid of their reactions, I really could care less what 10-12 year olds think about a 25-year old getting invisible braces. I just don't have time in my classes to explain!

Well, this has been a quick update as my life is crazy busy between getting thrown back into teaching and this 3-month old adorable puppy, Copper, trying to play all the time with my 6-year-old lab, Trouble. For now, I'll leave you with a picture of my cute fuzzies🐶❤️