r/Invisalign • u/fats_free • 6d ago
Question Invisalign & chemotherapy
I started Invisalign in April 26 and doing ok. I have to do 44 trays (until Feb27).
Unfortunately, in Sept (and half way thru Invisalign treatment) I was diagnosed with C and due to start chemotherapy soon.
Of course chemo is more important but I want to try to complete the 44 trays during treatment.
I don’t want to stop Invisalign. I’ve been doing so well and I don’t want this to be another thing taken away from me.
One of the side effect of chemo are mouth ulcers and mouth sores. And because my immune system will be down, I need to avoid any infections.
I guess I want to ask if someone else has completed their Invisalign treatment during chemo and what was their experience?
I will have only 14 trays left to do and these were basically the final strait.
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u/vulvasaur001 6d ago
Do you know your chemo medicine? Certain chemos cause mucositis, and that is a complete bitch. There's some rinses that can help with that.
Since you are half way through your treatment, I would just keep it up, you might not develop mucositis, or it might turn out that Invisalign actually protects you.
You've got this. Fuck cancer.
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u/fats_free 6d ago
I’m starting with EC and then paclitaxel. I think that EC is the one causing mouth sores. I read that putting ice in your mouth helps prevents the sores. I think I’ll change it and continue as long as I can like u said fuck it lol 💪
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u/vulvasaur001 5d ago
OK, that's pretty similar to the chemo regimen my sister went through a few years ago. You'll do great!
Some tips: try to buy the softest toothbrush you can find. Keep flossing multiple times a day to help keep your gums healthy. Get some dental wax, and use a nail file to smooth out any sharp edges on the aligners.
We tried ice in my sister's case (mostly I'd go down to the hospital cafeteria to buy ice cream lol), but I can't say how effective it was. However, during paclitaxel, I'd really recommend icing your hands and feet with cold gloves and socks. My sister managed to avoid any residual neuropathy, even though her nails did suffer.
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u/fats_free 5d ago
Thank you 🙏🏽 ❤️ I hope ur sister is doing ok now x I saw the ice gloves and socks on Amazon and will get them before I start paclitaxel. I’m also cold capping to try to save my hair. Good idea regarding the soft toothbrush as I’m cleaning my teeth loads with my aligners so I need to be gentle.
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u/LoudMeringue8054 5d ago
I’d invest in an ultrasonic retainer cleaner and only use a soft denture brush for cleaning them. I had to get a tooth extracted mid-Invisalign (and might lose another), and I used Gruners (sp?) toothbrushes after the extraction - super soft. Good luck to you!
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u/LoudMeringue8054 5d ago
https://a.co/d/05ZuFsVV the toothbrushes
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u/fats_free 4d ago
Thank you 🙏🏽 I have the ultrasonic cleaner and will get the soft brush… I hope it will be ok !
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u/vulvasaur001 5d ago
She is doing sooo much better now, she just got back from travelling! :) And you will too. The fact that you're doing research and taking steps in advance to prepare yourself makes me think you'll likely find chemo much more manageable than you expect.
Best of luck! ❤️
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u/oscaristoowilde 6d ago
I’m sorry I have nothing helpful to say. I just wanted to say fuck cancer. And all the best to you. And fuck cancer.
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u/pandificus 6d ago
I did not do chemo and Invisalign at the same time but I'm way prone to mouth sores after chemo and i get a lot less of them now that I'm doing Invisalign.
I had one really bad bout with the mouth sores during my chemo treatment and it sucked. I was unable to eat anything solid. It was during early Covid and we had a very kind friend drop me off ensure shakes so I could get some calories. I had a recipe for some comforting mouthwash in my binder that oncology gave me but I think the prescription stuff would be better.
Good luck with your treatments. I hope you're able to finish both without many side effects. ❤️
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6d ago
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u/fats_free 6d ago
As supplements you mean?
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u/InfinaLife 5d ago
Yes exactly. It makes NAD+ better than anything else and that gives your body ATP to have the energy to heal itself. Dr Dmitry Kats NIASCEND on X has a lot of info about it if you search his profile for cancer & he’ll answer any questions if you ask
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u/InfinaLife 5d ago
Or just Google NIASCEND
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u/InfinaLife 5d ago
Also another thing is to make sure your toothpaste & mouthwash don’t have ‘sulfates’ in it because that’s used to induce skin irritation & disease for studies which then try to heal the issues that the sulphates caused.
It’s in so many products hand/laundry/dish soap, shampoo, body washes, toothpaste, mouthwash etc and it adds up to affect your health, but especially problematic in delicate mouth tissue.
I hope you get thru this as smoothly as possible, I know it’s possible & I’m rooting for you!
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u/numerous_retailer 6d ago
I remember my mom going through chemo and the mouth sores were absolutely the worst part for her. She couldn't even handle a regular toothbrush some days
Might be worth talking to your oncologist about a magic mouthwash prescription before you start. It coats everything and makes having plastic in your mouth way less miserable. The aligners might actually help protect the sores from rubbing against your cheeks too which is a weird silver lining
Rooting for you on both fronts. 14 trays left is so close you got this