Melissa Amos, a 45-year-old mother of three from Hertfordshire, has lost two stone after fitting Invisalign clear aligners to straighten a protruding front tooth.
The unexpected weight loss occurred because the clear plastic dental trays must be worn for at least 22 hours each day, preventing spontaneous snacking between meals.
Amos had previously maintained an active lifestyle by practising yoga, taking long walks with her dog, and trying to eat healthily. However, after entering her 40s, her weight began to rise despite her regular exercise regime. She began mindlessly snacking on cereal bars, cheese, and chocolate during the day.
When Amos stood on her scales, she discovered her weight had increased from under 11 stone to more than 13 stone. Standing at 5ft 3in tall, her weight meant that she was classified as obese according to National Health Service guidelines.
Despite her concern over her weight gain, her main priority at the time was a bottom front tooth that had started protruding. She booked a visit to her dentist in March last year to address the issue.
Clear aligners prescribed for protruding tooth
During the dental appointment in March last year, her dentist recommended Invisalign aligners to straighten her teeth. The treatment involves removable clear plastic moulds designed as adult braces.
Invisalign treatment typically costs between £1,500 and £5,500 in the UK. Hundreds of thousands of Britons use the clear aligners, usually wearing the moulds for about a year and a half. Unlike traditional metal braces, the transparent aligners can be removed when eating.
Amos soon discovered an unexpected benefit of the orthodontic treatment, joining a growing number of Invisalign patients who report losing weight while wearing the devices.
Although patients can take out the aligners at any point, dentists advise wearing them for a minimum of 22 hours per day to ensure successful treatment. Eating while wearing the plastic trays is impossible, which immediately altered her daily eating routines.
"My dentist said that if I wasn’t consistent from the beginning, it would affect the entire course of my treatment," Amos said. "That commitment made me much more conscious of the choices I was making."
Curbing mindless snacking habits
Amos, who works as a mental wellbeing coach, realised that removing the aligners every time she wanted food forced her to rethink her impulse to snack.
"I sometimes used food as a distraction or a way of soothing myself," she said. "Since I had to take the Invisalign out every time I wanted to eat, each time I got the urge to snack I had to stop and ask myself, 'Am I genuinely hungry, or am I trying to change how I feel?'"
The added effort of removing the trays delivered rapid results. Amos lost more than 2lb within the first month of wearing the aligners, and her weight continued to drop over the following months.
Dietary changes and exercise routine
As her physical condition improved, Amos increased her physical activity. She stepped up her walking routine and added strength training to her weekly fitness schedule.
"I realised how much I loved walking," Amos said. "I then began weight training, to take advantage of my new strength and vitality."
To support her fitness goals, Amos analysed her daily nutrition using ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot. The tool highlighted that her diet was deficient in protein.
"When I started thinking about my health more, I put my diet into ChatGPT and found out I wasn’t eating enough protein," Amos said. "Now, I eat much more protein-based foods like eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and peanut butter. I feel more satisfied and less hungry."
Dental results and expert opinion
Since having the aligners fitted, Amos has lost around two stone. With several months of treatment remaining, she expects to shed further weight while enjoying cosmetic improvements to her smile.
"The changes to my teeth, bite and jaw have been remarkable," Amos said.
Dentists say that weight loss is a widely recognized secondary effect of clear aligner treatment. Dr Daniel Sutcliffe, founder of The Bespoke Dentist clinic in London, noted that many patients report shedding weight during aligner therapy.
"For the best part of a decade I heard the same thing from patients, usually said half laughing, 'You’ve made me lose weight,'" Dr Sutcliffe said. "When every snack means removing your trays, the biscuit simply isn’t worth the hassle. It adds a little hurdle between you and the biscuit tin."
