Yeah, aligners definitely simplify the hygiene routine compared to braces. One thing I'd add though—keeping a travel toothbrush handy is a lifesaver. I learned the hard way after a spinach salad incident at work...not fun. Agree on saltwater rinses too, they're underrated and way less irritating than some mouthwashes. Glad your jaw tension improved; I noticed less headaches myself once my bite started aligning better.
Totally relate to the spinach incident...had a pesto pasta disaster myself at a friend's wedding. Didn't realize until I saw the photos later—still cringe thinking about it. I'm just starting my aligner journey, and honestly, the hygiene part is what sold me. Braces always seemed daunting with all those wires and brackets to clean around. Good tip on saltwater rinses too; mouthwash always leaves my mouth feeling raw. Hoping I'll see some headache relief like you did once things start shifting into place...fingers crossed.
My daughter just started aligners a couple months ago, and the hygiene thing was a big selling point for us too. She had braces briefly before, and honestly, the cleaning routine was exhausting—so many little crevices to worry about. With aligners, she pops them out, brushes normally, and it's way less stressful. Haven't noticed any headache relief yet, but now I'm curious...didn't realize teeth alignment could impact headaches. Maybe that's something to watch out for as her treatment progresses.
Aligners definitely simplify hygiene, but just a heads-up—I've seen patients get a bit lax because aligners seem easier. They still trap bacteria if not cleaned properly. Also, headache relief isn't guaranteed...alignment helps some, but it's not a universal fix. Just something to keep in mind.
Glad you mentioned the cleaning bit...I admit I got a little lazy with mine at first—thought rinsing them off was enough. Nope, lesson learned the hard way, haha. As for headaches, I wish aligners were magic cures too, but sadly my tension headaches stuck around even after my teeth got straightened. Still, no regrets—definitely beats metal braces (flashbacks to middle school trauma incoming...).
