I've been thinking about finally doing something about my slightly crooked front teeth—nothing major, just a couple teeth that decided to do their own thing over the years, you know? Anyway, I'm stuck deciding between those clear aligner trays and traditional braces. My dentist says either would work fine since it's minor stuff, but I'm kinda torn.
On one hand, the clear trays seem way less noticeable and easier to deal with day-to-day (like eating whatever I want without worrying about wires). But then again, braces might be quicker or more precise? I'm not sure if that's true or just me assuming things. Plus, knowing myself, I might slack off wearing the trays enough hours per day... discipline isn't exactly my strongest suit, lol.
Has anyone here tried one or both of these options for minor fixes? Curious which you liked better and why. Any regrets or things I should think about before deciding?
I went with clear trays a couple years ago for something similar—just a few teeth that decided to wander off course, lol. Honestly, the discipline thing was my biggest worry too:
"Plus, knowing myself, I might slack off wearing the trays enough hours per day... discipline isn't exactly my strongest suit, lol."
But surprisingly, once I got into a routine, it wasn't as hard as I thought. The convenience of eating whatever I wanted and not dealing with wires was huge. Braces might be slightly quicker, but for minor tweaks like ours, the difference is probably minimal. No regrets here!
I had the same worry about discipline initially—I'm the type who forgets to water plants, let alone keep trays in my mouth 20+ hours a day, haha. But honestly, it became second nature pretty quickly. I found that setting phone reminders at first really helped me stay on track, and after a couple weeks, I didn't even need them anymore.
One thing I'll add though: clear trays are great for convenience and aesthetics, but I did find myself brushing my teeth like crazy after every snack or coffee break. Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind if you're someone who grazes throughout the day (like me...). Also, braces might be a bit quicker overall, but the difference was barely noticeable for minor adjustments. I'd say if comfort and flexibility matter more to you than shaving off a month or two, clear trays are definitely worth it.
"I did find myself brushing my teeth like crazy after every snack or coffee break."
This is exactly what's been holding me back from clear trays—I snack constantly and can't imagine brushing that often. Did you end up spending a lot more on toothpaste and brushes? I know it's minor, but costs add up. Also, did anyone here have issues with staining the trays from coffee or tea...? That's another thing I'm worried about since I'm a big coffee drinker.
My daughter recently finished up with clear trays for a similar minor alignment issue. Agreeing with earlier points, the brushing-after-snacking thing was definitely a hassle at first—we went through toothpaste faster than usual, but nothing too extreme cost-wise. Staining wasn’t an issue since she stuck to water while wearing them, but coffee could probably discolor them pretty quickly. Did your dentist mention how long you'd need braces vs trays? For us, trays were slightly longer but more convenient overall.
