Metal Mouth Message Board

Thank you both for your words of encouragement. I'm not entirely happy with the outcome of my treatment - I think after 16 months and several thousand pounds worth of treatment, I was hoping for, and to be honest expecting 'perfect' teeth, which I haven't got! But I think you're right to say that fo...

I've just had my braces removed after 16 months of treatment. Although my teeth are straight, I have been left with an overjet of 3.5mm (was around 6mm to begin with). My ortho says this is within normal parameters and perfectly acceptable. It was clear he didn't intend to do anything else to reduce...

I've had my braces for three months. At my last adjustment I heard the orthodontist tell his assistant that he was going to 'break the anchorage' - what does this mean and why would he do it? (I have a moderate overjet and have had one tooth extracted to make room for the front ones to pull back). I...

For the first month of my treatment the lower two back teeth were not tied in with wire or bands, although they did have brackets fixed on them. The wire was added to them at the next adjustment.

Hi Jem,

I've had the metal wire for six weeks now. I was very self conscious at first, but now I don't worry about it so much. I do prefer the white wire though and would choose it every time if I could...

Hi Colbrit7,

My white wire isn't the same colour as my teeth either. I assumed the white wires were less obvious than the metal ones even if they didn't match your teeth. With your experience of having both types, do you think that is true?

Thanks for that Jem. My wire had mostly retained the white coating and I'm very disappointed about having metal next time - I'm only 4 weeks into the treatment and still very self conscious about my brace. I get the distinct impression that my orthodontist doesn't like using white wire. He ordered s...

I've just had my first adjustment and the orthodontist said my white wire will have to be replaced next time with a metal one, because the size he wants to use doesn't come in white. Does that sound right? I knew I would have metal wires at some point in my treatment, but so soon? If anyone else has...

I seem to bite the inside of my mouth whenever I eat, so its constantly sore. I've been using Colgate Peroxyl mouth wash for sore mouths and I find it very effective.

Hi, I'm 51 and got my braces 3 weeks ago. I'm slowly getting used to them but eating is a real challenge. I've got to attend a big family party next month ... and eat in public! I don't know how I'm going to manage - everything I eat seems to get stuck in my braces.

Hi, I've had my ceramic braces for 3 weeks and they look a bit stained, although I think it may be the ligatures not the brackets that have discoloured (even though I'm also being very careful!). I think the dentist changes the ligatures at every visit. I've got my first appointment post braces in a...

Thanks for the advice Noelle09 - I'll try the dry mouth spray.

My estimated treatment time is 15 months. My teeth are not in bad shape really apart from the large overbite. I don't think I'll ever get used to looking in the mirror and seeing the brace, but I'm sure I'll feel a bit better when I see my teeth starting to move. I'm hoping the top bracket will feel...

My mouth is particularly dry at night too. Lip balm does seem to help a bit during the day.

Hi, No matter how much water I drink, my mouth is always dry - so much so that my top lip seems to stick to the brackets. Is this normal? What can I do? Also, I've got lots of little sores inside my lips where the front brackets are rubbing against them. I'm using wax at night but its not really fea...