#6

I switched to the #6's last Friday, the 18th... It was the first (and only so far) night I lost any sleep over my Invisalign. It's not because it was terribly painful, just whichever way it was pressing on my teeth was causing a pounding headache that lasted a couple days. It's Tuesday now and they are already loose and I'm back to the grinding.

Of course, there's no obvious visible difference between these aligners and the previous ones. Trust me, I've scrutinized every indention on the trays... BUT this morning I pulled out the last ones in this package, #10, and I CAN see a difference. By February, my front 2 bottom teeth (the one that's currently in front of the rest and the one next to it on my left) will be aligned with each other! The top tray also seems to get a little wider and the teeth next to my front 2, a little more lined up. I can't wait until I can see my top teeth pushed back. After that, I'll be heading back to the dentist to get more. Looking a month ahead, it's too bad these changes won't be visible during our trip to TX to see family. Oh well, one step at a time.

Can't wait to get through January now!!!

The boys have started to call my Invisalign "Mama's glass teeth". Nick likes to examine them in my mouth nearly every day and asks to put them in his mouth. Ew! LOL

I slack on how many hours I keep them on during the day, but not enough to mess up treatment... I'm just not as paranoid about it, I guess. Instead of leaving them out for strictly 1 hour per meal and a snack mid-afternoon, I keep them out roughly 2 hours per meal and for a little bit first thing in the morning while I wake up... and for a little bit for snacks all day long.

That's all that's new! I hardly think about the things now... they really have become just another part of my life.

#5

Dr. V filed more on my teeth today. Fun, fun. Nick went with me and now I think he wants to be a dentist! He laid on my chest and watched every move the dentist made... he even assisted by giving her a few tools! I love how the office is so kid-friendly. They didn't mind one bit that I brought my month-shy-of 3 year old boy with me.

Dr. V informed me that she won't be filing on my teeth every time but that it's needed right now to create space to un-crowd my teeth. She also told me I'll probably start to SEE a difference around the 4th or 5th month mark, which is about half-way through my treatment... so that's what? February or March? Sweet. I'll put up new progress pictures whenever I cross that milestone. I really could care less about my crowded bottom teeth... shove my upper teeth back and I'll be a happy girl!

These aligners feel tight, but no tighter than the last ones have been when I first put them on. We'll see how the pain is during mealtime. I'm anxious to see how that goes - to see if the filing and stuff made my gums more sore than usual. Oh yeah! She did say she could tweak the aligners some how if the teeth grinding becomes too bothersome. I told her my jaw is popping and hurting so to go for it but she didn't do anything. I'll just deal with it.

Otherwise, today is yet again, pretty uneventful... aside from the rain! It's raining in Sun Diego! The boys were so excited they were squealing with joy! I think we'll even walk to Sam's school to pick him up... after all, it's not too often we get to use umbrellas and hop in puddles around here!