Water’s my only safe bet now. Anything else, and it’s like playing dental roulette.
I get where you’re coming from, but isn’t it kind of overkill to avoid all drinks except water? I mean, sure, coffee is a stain magnet, but what about stuff like clear herbal tea or even those sugar-free flavored waters? I’ve tried sipping chilled chamomile tea with my trays in and didn’t notice any stains or weird smells—maybe because it’s not as pigmented as coffee or juice.
Also, those disposable brushes are handy, but have you thought about just carrying a travel-sized regular toothbrush and a mini toothpaste instead? The disposables add up cost-wise after a while. I’m on a tight budget with these aligners already, so I try to minimize the extras.
Curious if anyone has luck with the cleaning crystals or the generic ones from Amazon. Do they actually help with stains or is it mostly hype? Sometimes I think we get too paranoid about being “perfect” with aligners. Maybe there’s more wiggle room than we think...
Sometimes I think we get too paranoid about being “perfect” with aligners. Maybe there’s more wiggle room than we think...
Totally relate to this. When I first started, I was super strict—literally only water, wouldn’t even risk a mint. But after a couple months, I loosened up and tried clear teas and the occasional flavored water (the kind with no dyes or sugar). Didn’t notice any staining, but I do brush pretty soon after. The cleaning crystals—eh, they help with odors more than stains in my experience. I use them maybe twice a week and haven’t had any major issues. It’s easy to get caught up in the “rules,” but a little flexibility hasn’t hurt me so far.
