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It’s late. Or early, depending how you look at it. It’s edging up on two o’clock in the morning and I’m just now finally getting ready to close my laptop and my eyes for a few hours after three days of non-stop TV appearances in three different time zones across the country. It’s that time of year, when I offer up gadget gift guides far and wide, delivering advice on what to buy for every budget and everyone in the family. As soon as I finish this round of deadlines, it will be time to reflect over tech trends of the year past, and take a turn with the crystal-ball forecast of what’s in store for innovations next year. And somewhere, in the middle of all of this holiday madness, there’s me.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I want this Christmas. As someone who goes hands-on with just about every tech gadget invented at some point, there’s not a lot that I want for when it comes to “stuff.” I, like so many super hard working moms (and dads) I know, would give just about anything for more time in the day, more moments of peace and pure bliss with my daughter and husband. More quiet, disconnected hours. A real vacation. But this year, there’s something I actually want to do for myself. It’s something that I’ve put on the bottom of my bucket list for too many years to count. I want to fix my teeth.

My bottom teeth are crowded in the front and they’ve ached for a good 20-years (about the time I stopped wearing my retainers from my high school metal-mouth braces). They’re not crazy crooked, and because of that, I’ve actually felt self-conscious and guilty about getting them fixed. I’ve also never been able to swallow the idea of spending $3,000-$5,000 on myself for something that isn’t life threatening. I’m sure a lot of moms feel this way. There’s college to pay for afterall, how could I spend so much on myself?

I did a story that included Invisalign* clear aligners as a high-tech alternative to traditional braces last fall, and they’ve been there in the back of my mind ever since. Many insurance plans pay around 50% of the cost. I can use my flexible spending health savings accounts for Invisalign treatment, and make my money go farther with pre-tax dollars. I even found a local orthodontist that offers financing for around $100 per month. Hmmmm. Why not wear a set of nearly-invisible braces for a few months? The trays are clear, would slip right over my teeth, and fix up the trouble in no time. Why not?

It sounds crazy, but I would love to start another year rocking a sparkling straight smile with teeth that don’t ache so often. So the next time I file a selfie-blog post like this one, all tired and all … hopefully I’ll be updating you on my newest review: Invisalign clear aligners.

*Disclosure: I’ve partnered up with Invisalign clear aligners brand, but all opinions expressed in this article are my own.

Posted in Girlfriend's Guide, Sponsored, TechStyled

Sponsored by Invisalign® clear aligners

You probably remember school well enough to recall that other kids can be the absolute worst. I still have the occasional bad dream about the “mean girls,” teasing me about some drama du’ jour — my clothes, hair, crooked-smile. But some of the worst taunts had to do with my braces. Two girls in particular would trail me through the hallways mock-whispering a steady stream of brace-ism’s: Train-tracks, metal-mouth, zipper-lips, tinsel-teeth, cheese-grater, stump-grinder, and dum-dum-who-can’t-chew-gum-gum. It’s kind of funny now. But back then? Not so much.

It’s true, I did have the full metal mouth complete with hideous headgear and all. Thanks to some recent breakthroughs in digital dentistry, teen breakdowns over braces, could soon be a thing of the past.

Invisalign Teen®:

The single biggest advancement in the world of teeth straightening is Invisalign Teen clear aligners that straighten teeth without traditional wires and brackets. It works by using a series of custom-made, BPA-free removable plastic aligners that teens wear 20-22 hours a day, taking them out to eat, brush, and floss. Teens get new clear aligners every two weeks, and if your youngster tends to lose things — six free replacement aligners. As teens wear each set of clear aligners, their teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place. And because they’re virtually invisible, most people won’t even notice them. Sure, they’ll still talk a little funny, but no different than any other braces-wearing teen.

Many dental insurance plans that cover traditional wire braces also cover Invisalign Teen clear aligners, and studies show Invisalign is just as effective at correcting the most common teeth straightening issues such as under-bite, cross-bite, deep-bite, over-bite, and overly crowded — to widely spaced.

A Better Impression:

The other big breakthrough that tech has brought to the world of braces is called iTERO. It gives orthodontists a way to digitally scan your teeth and mouth, without choking you with thick, chalky goop. I still remember half stuff going half-way down my throat and gagging me until I felt like I was being water-boarded. iTERO replaces the goop with a sophisticated, high tech wand. Talk about making a better impression!

Banish the Brace Bullies:

While wearing braces might seem like a rite of passage, getting bullied about it doesn’t have to be. Invisalign Teen recently commissioned Kelton to conduct a new Teen Confidence study with 3,000 teens ranging in age from 13-17. The study revealed that while 41% of teens say wearing metal braces is embarrassing, only 8% say it’s embarrassing to wear Invisalign clear aligners. What’s more, two-times the amount of teens said that Invisalign actually gave them a boost in self-esteem while in treatment than those with wire and brackets. The best finding though?  Nearly 70% wearing Invisalign clear aligners said they were less likely to be teased about their braces.

You can find out more about Invisalign Teen at Invisalign.com.

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