Haha, totally get where you're coming from. Honestly, most people I see tend to feel hyper-aware of their aligners at first—it's like your brain just can't stop noticing this new thing in your mouth. But you're right, after a while it does fade into the background. I've had patients who were convinced they'd never get used to them, and then a month later they're chatting away like nothing's changed.
And yeah, progress can feel ridiculously slow sometimes. It's kinda like watching grass grow—you stare at it every day and notice nothing, but check back after a couple weeks and suddenly it's obvious something happened. Weird how our brains work, huh?
Just keep reminding yourself why you started this whole process. Those subtle shifts you're noticing now are actually the biggest motivators later on. And before you know it, you'll be looking back at old photos going, "Whoa, was that really me?" Hang tight...you're doing better than you probably think.
I totally relate to that feeling of hyper-awareness at first. For me, it wasn't just noticing them physically, but also constantly worrying if others could see or hear them when I talked. Took a good few weeks before I stopped obsessing over it. And yeah, progress felt painfully slow at first, but taking weekly photos really helped me see the subtle changes. Maybe try that if you haven't already—it can be surprisingly reassuring to track your progress visually. Hang in there...it gets easier.
Totally get that hyper-awareness thing—honestly, even working in dental care didn't stop me from obsessing over my own teeth when I started treatment. I'd catch myself checking mirrors way too often, haha. Photos definitely help, but I also found it useful to remind myself that most people aren't paying nearly as much attention as we think they are. Easier said than done, I know...but trust me, they're probably worrying about their own teeth (or hair or whatever) more than yours. Hang in there, it'll ease up soon enough.
I relate to this a lot—I tend to notice tiny imperfections more than anyone else would. One thing that helps me is comparing progress photos over time rather than day-to-day checks. It gives a clearer perspective...and reduces the urge to obsess over minor details.
"It gives a clearer perspective...and reduces the urge to obsess over minor details."
Haha, totally feel you on this. I used to zoom in on every tooth like it was a crime scene photo or something. Progress pics definitely help keep me sane, but does anyone else find themselves comparing their teeth to random people's smiles on TV? Like, suddenly I'm critiquing actors' teeth alignment instead of following the plot...just me?
