Reddit mentions: The best personal orthdonic supplies

1. Colgate Max Fresh Wisp Disposable Mini Toothbrush, Peppermint - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HXAIN90/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_srDoDbQNF1M5N
   
   Great for on the go and at my desk for a quick “brush” but there aren’t many in a pack so I try to use no more than 1 of these per day. I got mine at Target but probably would get a better deal on Amazon.
   
   
2. Plackers Orthopick Flosser for Braces - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AKJ3W7I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_HsDoDbRJTQV6P
   
   Samples of these came in my “kit” from my ortho and I ordered a stock on amazon. I use these at nigh and use my waterpik in the morning.
   
   
3. Plackers Grind No More Dental Night Guard for Teeth Grinding- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GDKH9C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xtDoDbMBQ84EH
   
   I let my dentist and ortho know I use these (I prefer them to any other mouth guard I’ve tried) and they ok’d them with braces since they aren’t the heat & mold kind. I use them for a little longer than the box recommends (3 days) but toss them when they get gross.
   
   
4. GUM Orthodontic Wax, Mint with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KQ9FF1J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iuDoDbAEJZPTT
   
   I keep seeing people saying they can’t keep wax on. I love this wax (I got 2 kinds, no flavor and mint) because it’s perforated and easy to size out. Just roll in your fingers before applying otherwise it’s not going to stick. The mint is nice and fresh! I am using this a lot while my cheeks are getting used to poking metal but always remove before eating or brushing!
   
   
5. Preserve Mint Tea Tree Flavored Toothpicks- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077J1K6ZY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yvDoDbZ4D9Y
   
   Do not use these too aggressively, you don’t want to damage your braces! But after a meal these have been a lifesaver for me. I gently (and hopefully discretely) get food unstuck. I got minty ones and keep a pack in jackets, backpack, car... I’m serious when I say lifesaver!
   
   
6. Trident Sugar Free Chewing Gum- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F1W4Y48/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AwDoDb2NFAKMM
   
   This is a bigger debate than getting wax to stick! My ortho did tell me that sugar free gum is allowed but not too much and don’t keep chewing it if it dissolves. Consult your ortho if you’re not sure. I was surprised to find that almost all gum is sugar free. Not all but most. I was searching all over for “SUGAR FREE” specifically and it was right at the register! I might get the 15 pack on Amazon though.
   
   
7. Slim Brush Interdental Cleaners- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009MHV3VW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cyDoDb81CT899
   
   Honestly I don’t use these that often but once and a while it’s nice to clean every nook and cranny. I have to force myself to floss every day so this isn’t something I use often. They are more gentle than toothpicks but food gets caught in the tiny bristles and it turns into a mess. I picked up a small pack at Target.

I only brush 3 times a day (when I wake up, after lunch and before bed). I bought two kits like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Sunstar-724KK-GUM-Orthodontic-Kit/dp/B06XY65XQY and I have one at home and another one at work, I like the brush cause it's softer and it doesn't hurt as much as the normal ones (I also felt like my old brush would break something) so this one is great; and the small brushes are soooo helpful for whatever's left between your teeh.

You're lucky it doesn't hurt as much, I couldn't chew for like a week!

u/alose covered the switches part, but if you want to quiet down the keycaps as well, you can use O rings to help with that. They help to keep the caps from impacting the housing which will cause some noise. You can use something like these Cherry O rings that will give you some choices in what stiffness you get, or something like Orthodontic elastics if you want to go cheaper.

I just started too but I'm about a week and half ahead of you. Few things I found through lots of looking:

Put your new trays in before you go to bed, you'll miss a lot of the tightness and ache while you sleep. Worked well for me, I just put a new tray in and they don't hurt at all the next day... for me at least.

I had issues getting my trays out too, maybe because I have long nails and all. It also felt like it was starting to mess up my nails struggling with them. Looked around and found this: https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Aligner-Removal-Tool-ORTHOKEY/dp/B07JR5GFCY It's so much easier for me to take them out with this. I just hook it in on the inside of the tray towards the back and once I get that loose I have a much easier time just pulling the whole thing out. Depending on where your attachments are, there might be easier place to pull them sort of thing.

And in terms of getting used to them, I'm not too far in, but I had a retainer that I wore at night before this from having partial orthodontics done as a kid (ugh I wish they finished them) so the trays themselves really don't bother me. Not sure if you have rubber bands, I think those are more annoying just because they dig at my cheeks and make it harder to talk but pretty used to them already too. I think the worst for me personally is when you take the trays off and just have the rough attachments gouging your cheeks xD not cool. On the bright side it is motivation to keep the trays in as much as possible.

All of the wax I've gotten from orthos have been sub par. Spring for the Gum brand, it's not as soft and melty as the cheap stuff. Even better is if you can find Gishy Goo. It's a soft silicone that sticks way better than wax, and I was even able to eat with it in. Here it is on Amazon, but it's unavailable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002EA8RH2?vs=1

Milkshakes will be fine if you at least rinse with water after. I ate a lot of chunky soups and protein shakes when my teeth hurt. My biggest hurdle when I got braces wasn't so much the pain, but learning how to manage food. Like how to chew and get food unstuck. It takes practice! The water pik was a life saver.

Assemble a To Go kit with these things:

-Travel toothbrush

-Small tube of toothpaste

-Your floss of choice (I used Superfloss, but regular floss plus threaders works too)

-Handheld mirror

-Proxabrush

-Pick-a-dent (like these: http://www.amazon.com/DISPOSABLE-PERIODONTAL-HOME-CARE-DENTICATOR/dp/B000W6GO2U)

I purchased a dentakit when I got my braces and it has served me well for 3 years. It comes with lots of stuff, but what I listed above is what I used most often. You can buy it here: http://m.dentakit.com/denforad1.html

Hope that helps, and congratulations on starting the process!

Got both top and bottom linguals less than 3 weeks ago.

The tongue got used to all of this in about 10 days. It gets better quickly. Even though it's been only 3 weeks from me, when I'm not eating or talking I'm not even noticing that I have braces. As I mentioned I have both top and bottom so the discomfort should be greater for me, yet it has gone away completely for me.

What really helped the first few day is using using wax. Just place it on the spots of the braces that scrape/scratch your tongue. For me it was only 2 spots that really scraped it.

This product worked best for me:
https://www.amazon.com/Gishy-Goo-One-Patient-Kit/dp/B002EA8RH2

It's called Gishy Goo. You could use regular dental wax if you can't find gishy goo.

There's a thing like this that's kind of a sponge that works great for holding tooth paste and cleaning gums and tongue.

Edit: Ah Ha! There ya go. =]

I wish I could add a real genuine TARDIS to my WL. I could really use a vacation and an adventure. Also the doctor is quite cute!

[Here is an item I need for my braces that is $6.47 with shipping] (http://www.amazon.com/Butler-G-u-m-Orthodontic-Wax-Pack/dp/B000RCNOYK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1L8ON2MX2QPTV&coliid=I3THRFT35OKAKZ) Thanks for the humble contest!

Amazon! $6 and they worked like a charm.

Aligner Chewies for Invisalign Trays - White - 3 Chewies per Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0158VKQOA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ijPZBb42H667F

Edit to say I didn’t need more than 3. So this was the best deal for me.

Very thin dental bands also work fine for silencing.
If you get ones that are too thick, you will reduce key travel too much.
I used 1/8" 2.5 Oz Dental bands for my novatouch and just lubed the stems very lightly using silicone grease along the vertical grooves of the stem housing and it feels and sounds great now.

The 1/8" bands are a bit of a pain to actually get on the stem though, but I'm not sure if 3/16" will be too thick because it will be stretched less when on the stem.

Also, get clear (silicone) bands and not yellow (natural rubber) as the natural rubber tends to dry out and crack faster.
You might have to open the keyboard up and lube or replace the rings every few years, but it is practically for free though compared to hyperspheres or other more expensive means of silencing.

My son's good friend wore these or these for wrestling. I'm not sure which, but they worked great for preventing cuts. He wore them every practice and all through off-season competition. He swore by them.

HS in-season they required a full mouth guard. I would recommend SISU in that situation.

If you really want the dental bands, I used these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OT8R29Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_o.GOAbEP6361M

I would definitely recommend the KBDFans silence x rings -- best experience for the price in my experience.

I would recommend Aligner Chewies! Sometimes we don't do a good job of making sure the aligners are fit snugly on our teeth so even if you have them on for 2 weeks, your teeth might not have shifted the way it should've. At least, that's what my ortho stated. Chewies are cheap and I just chew on them when I put my aligners back in. My opinion is that they're worth the (small) investment. Two Chewies have lasted around five months so far and they're still in good condition. You might be able to find them cheaper elsewhere on the Internet too.

Retainer cases would make great bobby pin cases. I use them for sewing pins, rivets (and buttons) for when I make jeans and denim jackets, and wooden toothpicks. They're great for anything small that needs to be corraled, like paper clips, safety pins, whatever. Plus they're plastic (no breakage) so they work great in the bathroom hiding small items out of site in the medicine cabinet. I only buy the white ones, but they come in all kinds of colors and designs to match your decor. And they're inexpensive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RPV5ZVQ/ref=twister_B07RQSVWL8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I was nervous too, just got them yesterday! I didn't prepare and I suffered LOL. I recommend 100% dental wax prior your visit, nail filer, toothbrush, toothpaste on the go & floss!! I have a hard time taking my trays out so I also bought a clear aligner removal tool. Link

I get mine from my ortho and they’re the actual Chewies brand. Those are my favorite but I’ve also used these and they’ve been fine:
IXO Aligner Seater Chewies for Invisalign Aligners, Unscented, Free Carry Case for Travel and Storage (5 PCs) (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1V9H2R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_6hWrL3WhNJx4i

The straighter your teeth get the easier it is. Also the older the tray the easier it is. I recommend these:

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https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Braces-Aligner-Removal-Patented/dp/B001NFS4HW/ref=sr_1_4?crid=336QDQNFKGD5P&keywords=aligner+removal+tool&qid=1554390651&s=gateway&sprefix=aligner+remova%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-4

I switched out my nighttime mouth guard for a trainer like this https://www.amazon.com/AZDENT-Orthodontic-Appliance-Alignment-Retainer/dp/B07842SZ3Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8&th=1 and felt a huge improvement in my jaw stability. I'm a side sleeper and it keeps my jar from being pushed to one side from the pressure of my pillow. Talk to a doctor or dentist to make sure it won't cause any problems if you decide to try.

Orthokey is hands down the best $10 I ever spent. Makes getting the trays out 100x easier - can do it on the fly in 5 seconds if needed.

It shouldn't hurt that bad- meaning there's a pretty good chance you should be using a different method. The more it hurts, the more pressure you're exerting on the tooth/attachment/invisalign retainer. Disclaimer: as the attachments wear down over time and your teeth straighten, it will get MUCH easier. This is the worst part.

Go slowly, and start at one of the back sides. Grab the inside edge and rotate it slightly towards the outside edge while pulling - it should pop off easily. Repeat until you get to the middleish, then repeat for the other side. Just don't pull hard enough to break the retainer.

Also, I recommend these. Takes a bit of playing around with to figure out the best way to use them, but then it's so much easier.

Invisible Braces - Aligner Removal Tool - Outie Tool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NFS4HW

I got a Smartie remover from Amazon UK. £15, but well worth it. Link: amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01N32YCQH

They are these cylindrical plastic things that you chew on that help trays sit better, like these. Ask your ortho to give you some!

It’s something you can get from Amazon. Many of us use tools like this. It makes taking the trays off so much easier and quicker.

Clear Aligner Removal Tool by ORTHOKEY - Invisible Removable Braces - QTY 2 Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQ5KZFT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4oApDbX2SAAZS

expensive little things that look like little cylindrical erasers. I just bite on an eraser and it's free from work. https://www.amazon.com/Aligner-Chewies-Green-Mint-Scented/dp/B00M2COQZ4/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494436225&sr=8-3&keywords=dental+chewies

Hopefully it is OK to post a link here. Try these - they are little rubber rolls to bite down on (supposed to be used with invisilign braces to seat them properly).

https://www.amazon.com/OrthoBands-AC-25WPP-Aligner-Chewies-Unscented/dp/B00GBHS91S

But you also gotta think- how long are you gonna leave them on there? You need to eat eventually, and eating with them in is not an option. You need to be able to brush your teeth. The pain you are feeling is just tenderness and soreness in your roots. Nothing is broken or fragile. And at the end of the day no one can take them off for you. You gotta take them off with your own 2 hands and get used to that feeling.

I always use my thumb nail to pull down on the inside of one back tooth. Then I can sort of peel off the tray from one side to the other.This is easier than trying to pull off the whole tray, both sides, at one time.

You may also want to buy an ortho key to help get them off in the future:
https://www.amazon.ca/Clear-Aligner-Removal-Tool-ORTHOKEY/dp/B07JR5GFCY

my nails are thin and split down the middle, can't have acrylic nails and can't remove the trays with my nails. Here is my lifesaver: https://www.amazon.com/PULTOOL-Aligner-Removal-Invisible-Removable/dp/B07CYJ7DBM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=tray+remover+invisaling&qid=1559133944&s=gateway&sr=8-1

I seriously was panicky because I couldn't remove the trays with my nails. This tool is well worth the money. I found one for $7 and ordered two just to have a spare. Now getting the trays out is so much easier, still painful (i just finished week 1), but easier.

https://www.amazon.com/PULTOOL-Aligner-Removal-Invisible-Removable/dp/B07CYJ7DBM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=invisalign+tool&qid=1567215056&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzMkU4TkxXREpIVTM2JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDE0MDI2VUFWVUQ1NjFJVk05JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5OTk0MDhGUEw1ME80MEtCUzMmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I love this thing

8 top, 4 bottom. used to have 4 more on the bottom that i got to get rid of with refinements. it only takes a few seconds - do you have an ortho key or anything to help?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07NQ5KZFT

I just keep the tool in my case. Maybe I’ll learn to do it without the tool, but for now it makes it easy and I always have it with me.

Use your chewies, get an Orthokey. I'm on tray 13/22. I switched from weekly to bi-weekly swaps and the pain when changing trays decreases immensely.


Good Luck!

Edit: they sell the chewies on Amazon too.

Just an aid to seating the aligners - which is all Acceledent is, but cheaper. Need no batteries! ;)

Like these - https://www.amazon.com/OrthoBands-AC-25WPP-Aligner-Chewies-Unscented/dp/B00GBHS91S

Mine gave me one type, which was like a hard plastic stick I bite on.

I didn't like those as much so I bought some rubber(?) ones on Amazon. Like these

Is this the key?

Clear Aligner Removal Tool by ORTHOKEY - Invisible Removable Braces - QTY 2 Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NQ5KZFT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1igtDbQAAY6X9

The orthokey was a life saver!! I keep one in my Invisalign travel case and one by the container I use to clean it...https://www.amazon.com/Clear-Aligner-Removal-Tool-ORTHOKEY/dp/B07JR5GFCY

No more gagging during removal and it saves time!

I use this, it's brilliant

Smartie Retainer Remover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N32YCQH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MsAACbAGSVJ06

This is a chewie: https://www.amazon.com/OrthoBands-AC-25WPP-Aligner-Chewies-Unscented/dp/B00GBHS91S

Basically, it's a tiny pool noodle that you bite on if your teeth are being a bit stiff and don't want to shift for a new aligner so you've got an air gap. Since it's a bad idea to chomp a tray directly into place because it can get damaged, and impossible to even gently clench when you have an open bite, the chewie becomes a squishy thing you can bite on instead until the tray gets to it's spot.

If the tray tracks perfectly, then you are right, you don't need the chewie.

I've only read about chewies on here. My ortho actually gave me a thin silicone tube to chew on when switching to a new tighter tray. Amazon has them, but the reviews are not great.

https://www.amazon.com/Aligner-Chewies-Invisalign-Trays-White/dp/B0158VKQOA

I would definitely wait and ask your ortho at your next appointment. I wouldn't want to risk sleeping with random objects in my mouth while clenching my jaw. It might leave your jaw sore from constantly clenching at only one specific part of your teeth (where the chewie is).

Maybe ask your ortho if you can sleep with an off-the-shelf mouth guard on top of your invisalign trays?

You have to wait it out, unfortunately. Try salt water rinses every couple of hours to keep everything clean. Also, this is kind of weird, but if you can open/position your mouth/smile so that your brackets aren't rubbing against the inside of your mouth where it's currently sore, that also seems to make any soreness heal a lot faster too.

Wax never worked well for me either, but a lot of people swear by silicone earplugs. You just break off pieces of them and use them like you would wax. Alternatively, you could try a lip shield like this: https://www.amazon.com/TecnidentUSA-Comfort-Shield-Protector-Braces/dp/B07NPYVSLP/

This is what I use: OrthoKey

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GBHS91S/

I just got these. They're essentially the same ones I got from my Ortho

I feel you so much D: I’m on day 4 of my first trays and I can tell you how much I was crying and in pain when trying to take the trays out the first day. I researched and learned many methods. One is that there is a tool that helps you to remove the trays. Link: tool. The other that I’m currently using is the gloves to help me remove it. I also learned the hard way not to take off the tray in the front but to take it off on the back and inside of the trays with both hands if possible. Using the glove and taking it off from the back has helped me to take the trays off even though it is still painful for me. I hope you find your way to take off your trays!

Much, much, better. I was getting a few sore spots the day after (where the attachments hit my cheeks, but maybe 3 days after, they started to disappear. And I'm not lisping anymore :D

I bought this one: https://smile.amazon.com/PULTOOL-Aligner-Removal-Invisible-Removable/dp/B07CYJ7DBM/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1543280722&sr=8-1&keywords=pultool
but I was reading that others use a crochet hook. :)

I also was doing my chewies for 5-10 minutes every time I put them on, it helped with the uncomfortableness. But I hate the chewies (I gag after a while), so I am trying these out: https://www.eocamerica.com/collections/munchies-1
I'll let you know how they go!

I just put in tray 2 this morning, and so far so good. It feels a little tight, but not uncomfortable! Good luck! I'm here for support if you need it!