Hi all,
Does anyone here have advice/experience with wearing braces (for your teeth) and training/racing? Any general tips would be helpful, but specifically, I’m looking for feedback regarding the use of traditional braces vs. Invisalign - and maybe even the lingual/I-braces. I know either way I go, it’s going to be a PITA, but is one style any better than the other in terms of taking in nutrition on the bike/run, care while traveling to/from races, etc?
Thanks,
Brent
After having braces as a kid and never wearing my retainers, my teeth got a little crowded again and I went with the Invasalign Express for 18 weeks last year–full 18 on the bottom and 12 on the top. I did one race without them, because I forgot to put them back in after I brushed my teeth. My fear with the Invisalign is that when I trained, they would just fill up with sports drink and bathe my teeth in sugar. Also, you can’t bite or chew with them on. And, you really can’t leave them out for more than 30 minutes or so without your teeth starting to move. Seriously! Also, in one open water race in the ocean, I got a big cut on the side of my tongue from the friction and salt. However, that said, it was okay for the short time that I had them, especially because I only raced and trained short course last year.
If I was doing longer stuff and/or needed the Invisalign for longer than I did, I would have gone with the braces. It was surprisingly cheaper for me to use Invisalign rather than braces, but only because I needed them for such a short time.
Hope this helps. Dr. Tommy has posted some good stuff up here before about how to take care of your teeth while training and racing with sugar-filled food and sports drinks.
Good luck,
Danielle
I had the traditional braces as an adult - my orthodontist assured me that he sees lots of adult patients, but for each visit I made to his office, it was me and a bunch of 12 year olds. Anyway…
The traditional braces cut the inside of your mouth all to pieces at first. I’m sure there is a clinical reason why they must be made of razor sharp metal… but they give you wax to cover them up. After a while your mouth gets used to it. Breathing while swimming seems a little strange at first, but it’s a small adjustment compared to things like trying to eat a salad.
So in a nutshell, you should have no problems. Just don’t get them put on two days before a big race or anything like that.
Depending on how bad your grill is should determine whether you will be better off with one than the other. I think if you are going to be training and competing during the course of having braces on, you are better off with conventional over invisalign. I wore the conventional braces for 5.5 years as a teen and young adult. I have no regrets. I have worn all three types of retainers and am content with the metal/acryllic mouth piece.
I also suggest you stay away from the clear braces. They look nasty and turn yellow over the years and only make your mouth look unattractive.
Get your braces, wear them with pride, have them removed and show off your new grill.
I JUST got my braces off. I had no problems at all with them during triathlons, though I was happy never to have been kicked in the mouth during the swim…
I had the clear on the top/silver on the bottom combo, and would go with all silver due to the yellowing effect mentioned above. Of course, that is with about 4 cups of coffee per day. Invisalign is limited in what it can fix, as I understand.
What you should look into however, is SureSmile. I had my wires switched to SureSmile late in the game, and was very impressed. They take a zillion pictures of your teeth, make a 3D computer model, then a robot bends your wires EXACTLY how it needs to be bent to fix your teeth the fastest. (No, I don’t work for them…) I understand the founder of the company used to be the head engineer for Ferrari(or Porsche or something). Not all orthodontists do it, so you would have to find one with the training/setup. Sure would save you time though.
ThisIsTheSea
My husband has had Invisaligns for a year now. He’s a serious cyclist, not a triathlete, so he has no information on how they work while swimming. He’s had no real problems with them as far as either training or racing on the bike, though; some adjustments, but not problems. Obviously, eating on the bike is an issue, so he limits himself to gels and sports drinks. He can get those down without popping the Invisaligns out. No stopping at 7-11 for cookies, though ;-). But he’s done 100+ mile rides without any issues, and hasn’t lost a set yet, even with a fair amount of traveling. I’ve accidentally thrown them away a couple of time when they were wrapped in a napkin, but we’ve always been able to get them back.
He had horribly crooked teeth and the Invisaligns have been miraculous. I had braces as a kid and it took much longer for much less of a problem. That his teeth could move as much as they have in a relatively short amount of time is pretty amazing to me. I have to admit, though, I’ll be happy when he’s done and I don’t have to watch him pop the damn things out every time we go somewhere for dinner!
Brent,
I too just got my top braces off - it’s been 10 months and I’m stoked at the whole experience. Bottoms come off in 8 weeks.
Like anything there is a learning curve - yes, the shred the inside of lips at first but you use wax to for a day or two and they heal and you move on. The only adjustment period I found in terms of training is that initially there was just a slight change in breathing during the swim. It’s amazing how specific and precise we get - I found I got just a touch more water in my mouth during the first couple swims as my lips were sliding into place as quickly. That went away in 3 swims.
Invisaline told me they wouldn’t work with my issue. I went with clear tops and old school metal bottoms. I just got a retainer for my tops and it’s a heck of a lot like an Invisaline tray. I’m just getting used to that but, hey, I can now floss like a normal human so I’m thrilled.
Do it, go with the fastest route and enjoy.
Ian
Hey all - thanks for all the great input. Also, thanks for the heads up on the SureSmile. I had never heard of that before and will be investigating.
And of course, if anyone else has anything to share, I’m waiting to hear it!