With the Invisalign treatment, there’s an additional pouch that I needed to bring every time we went out. It may take up space especially if my bag is small. It was a hassle at first, but it got better as it became a habit. The first few days of wearing the Invisalign, I kept thinking of just settling my meals at home. But of course, that’s just a wishful thinking because eventually I will still have to head out and experience the inevitable.
Here’s what my pouch contains:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Mouth wash
- Rubber bands (for my Invisalign treatment)
- Invisalign casing
I have consulted a few friends who did braces in the past, and somehow all of them did the traditional metal braces. The advice I was given was to bring a bottle of mouthwash, in case the public toilet isn’t ideal for brushing my teeth. At least with the mouthwash, I can do a quick rinse and wear my Invisalign back. It indeed was very good advice as it did happen to me at the local coffee shop and hawker center.
Somehow, most public toilets I went to were clean enough to brush my teeth. It was awkward at first as my very first experience was at the Singapore Zoo. A young girl, around primary school age, kept staring at me when I started flossing my teeth and brushing. It was a very uncomfortable situation but I try to take it that kids are just being curious at why I’m doing this in a public place.
Initially, I thought the frequent visits to the toilet before and after meals would be a hassle, but it wasn’t. I started the Invisalign journey with the mindset of having better dental hygiene and the trouble would be worth it. I have seen myself flossing often and brushing my teeth as best as I could. Not that I didn’t brush well previously, but I just want to make sure what I’m doing now doesn’t cause any teeth issues like decay.
My experience thus far has been good. Getting the hang of this new habit and ignoring everybody’s stares. Overseas experience coming soon in the year 2024. Wonder how it will be considering there’s street food to eat.