Home - My Invisalign Journey: Overcoming Gum Disease

I thought my pain tolerance was low until this articled popped up. It is horrifying even though I am well aware of the pain.

“Unable to Take the Pain, 21yo Taipei Man Punches Female Dentist Repeatedly & Nearly Blinds Her”

worldofbuzz.com/unable-to-take-the-pain-21yo-taipei-man-punches-female-dentist-repeatedly-nearly-blinds-her/

Did you know?

Everyone is aware of the impact of gum disease on our physical health. What is less well known is that it impacts your brain health, too, without routine dental hygiene and care.

The part of the brain that could be mostly affected is the hippocampus, which is responsible for storing your memories, and it can thin out. It’s depressing to think that perhaps I have already suffered some of this shrinkage. It also raises the chances of developing Alzheimer’s. Please make every effort to keep your dental hygiene appointments before it’s too late.

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230705/Gum-disease-and-tooth-loss-linked-to-brain-shrinkage.aspx

Japanese Researchers are working on a drug that can regrow tooth that you lost. However, for gum disease patients it might not be possible, as there’s no bones to support the tooth. Hopefully, there will be a drug for regrowing bones and gums in the near future.

Below are my personal experiences and how I resolved some issues that I have encountered when using Invisalign. Please consult your periodontist or Orthodontist for solutions as always.

My Invisalign tray bended a bit on one of my tooth molds. I pushed out the bended part with my tool and made an incision cut to the bended part as you can see below. I was worried that it would delay my progress with Invisalign but luckily it didn’t.

I couldn’t live without my pulling tray tool. It helped ease pain and discomfort of removing the trays with my fingers. I remembered one time that I forgot my tool and the sharp edges of the tray cut into my nails and causing excruciating pain that lasted for hours.

I was surprised that my orthodontist offered these tools for free to their patients. The blue one is free and the coral red one is bought one. The blue one has a sharper tip and both works about the same.

The chewie provided by my periodontist was weak and small (one on the left). The ones I got online was definitely denser and kept my tray securely locked down. This is a crucial step as it might delay the progress, or incorrect movement can affect your treatment outcome significantly.
Going on vacation as a foodie with Invisalign was a real headache. After each meal, I had to sprint to a restroom to yank out the trays, scrub the teeth, and pop everything back. I could practically hear my taste buds begging for snacks and ice-cream, but the thought of the fourth oral chore was too much. So, I ditched the full brush, grabbed a piece of floss, swished my mouth with water, and slid the trays back in. Instant game changer.

Amazon affiliated links to the tools above if you need it:

https://amzn.to/4m4ysa4 – for the chewie

https://amzn.to/40vYxqq – for the pulling tool

Please feel free to share your experiences and what tools help you overcome some of the challenges.

“If you want to see something ugly, go look in the mirror,” said my friend’s son to me as a joke. He was referring to my croaked teeth and messed up jawline. His words struck me like a lightning bolt. I tried to hide my embarrassment by simply saying, “you got jokes.” That was the point when I decided to make an appointment for a consultation with an orthodontist to consider Invisalign treatment. However, I know that it would not be easy as I have been suffering with gum disease for the past 20 plus years. My periodontist did the checks to see if I am a good fit for Invisalign and luckily got the approval.

My Invisalign journey wasn’t a smooth one for sure. Initially, I was trying to put on the Invisalign tray for more an hour, with tears effortlessly rolling down my face. The excruciating pain was more than my routine cleaning (4 times a year). My trays were cutting into my gums and they had to do an incision cut at the edge of the tray. Thankfully, my trays can finally fit into my teeth.

I would love to connect with you on your Invisalign journey while managing gum disease. Also, I would like to know what you helped you through this journey, whether it’s the products you used or hacks that you have discovered.