Metal Mouth Message Board

I am "supposed" to wear mine 24/7 but haven't done it. If I am lucky I wear them about 16 hours a day. Reasons for not wearing them 24/7: 1) I just get plain tired of them 2) eat something and forget to put them back in 3) want to go out and socialize and don't feel like dealing with them....

I have one. I can floss with floss tape by putting the floss through a small gap in one of the front teeth. If you don't have any tiny gaps you can use oral-b superfloss.

Anyway, it is not a problem unless you make it into one.

The permanent retainer that I have on the lower teeth is not retaining the teeth all that well so go with your orthos advice and where the upper removeable retainer in addition to the permanent retainer. The reason it is not retaining that well is that it is boned to the two canines and then just a ...

I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth just as you describe. It made me lisp just slightly at first until I got used to it. I have to say, it is not retaining my teeth all that well so I am wondering what the ortho will say when he sees it at my check up. I don't really care about my bottom ...

It doesn't have to be loose to have a place where stuff can get stuck. Talk to your ortho (not the assistant this time). She doesn't have to live with this issue, you do.

I posted about this awhile back. I find it pretty disturbing which is why I hate to post pictures of my teeth. They just look wrong to me. I think as your teeth get more symmetrical you will feel better about it. Mine are not totally symmetrical still after all the work that has been done. To get th...

I am not going to hold me breath that my gums are going to grow back either. But if they do I will be on this board letting everyone know!

I don't think I am going to wear mine out. I am clenching more than grinding , but nevertheless if it does come to that I will have another plan.

Regarding the cost. My ortho makes them in his office. He told me $40.00 for a new one.

Oh man. I just tried something really soft an creamy and it went into the retainer. I have a retainer btw, not the trays but I think they are similar. I guess the risk here is that the food stays stuck there and the tooth decay starts. I would take them out for sure.

fabulous!

Sorry- What are lower hooks? Are the spaces on the lower teeth or upper and lower? I have black triangles on my lower teeth. The ortho did some IPR and they became less noticeable but they are still there. To be honest, they don't show when I am talking or smiling because they are down by the gum li...

My ortho told me to change them 3/4 times a day. Every time I yawned I stretched them all out !

5. Yes, you have to use a floss threader with a bonded retainer. Some people here have hated it (most like it) but I don't know if they've had it removed. My ortho said that I will keep the bonded lower retainer for life. If it comes out on it's own he will put it back in. You can also use threader...

Are you teeth like super crooked. Sometimes if there is alot of stress on the brackets at first it can cause that. Another thing is that it just might be your dentist's bonding technique. Or maybe even the etching process, or you have super stubborn teeth! I hope your brackets settle down soon. I ha...

Most people won't notice and if they do it will be considered quite normal. I had lunch yesterday with a friend with my newly brace free face and she didn't even notice I got them off. When I said something she said, "Oh I just really don't pay attention to people's teeth!".