Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm always so amazed at the difference jaw surgery can make to a person's face! It almost looks like you've had a nose job - and I mean this in a good way! Your facial features all fit together beautifully, whereas before things were a little sharper (but let's be honest, you were never hideous to b...

For anyone interested - finally asked what these springs are called! They're "side winders", and are generally used to perform minor rotations. I've since had a lot more of these springs added (9 in there at the moment!), and although I can't really see much of a change, I think they've ev...

I barely understand my treatment plan at all to be honest! My ortho is one of those super busy people who flys in and out of the treatment room before you can get a question in. I had something similar once before on one of my bottom teeth, and they said it was to rotate the tooth. But this doesn't ...

Haha I've had them on for 2 years now so I highly doubt they'll ever clean it up

I use Super Floss or threat regular floss underneath the wire (which takes forever!!) I have a Water Pik but don't really like it. It's really loud and doesn't make me feel as clean as thread floss. I find I don't need to floss as much now because my teeth have become so gappy that nothing can get s...

Figured out how to attach images!

I've attached a photo of the spring things. Let me know if anyone has had these/ knows what they are!

I'm 24 and got my braces on at 22 when I was just about to start post-grad. I completely understand your concerns about working and had similar ones myself. I still feel a little uncomfortable in work or academic environments because I do recognise my braces make me appear younger than I am (I recen...

My estimated time has been very inconsistent. To begin with, my ortho told me that at the 1yr mark we could discuss switching from ceramic braces to invisalign, but that I would be so close to finishing at that point that I wouldn't want to change. My official treatment plan, however, said 24 months...

Breakfast: oats, omelettes, scrambled eggs, smoothies

Lunch: more smoothies, soup, soft bread

Dinner: pasta, rice dishes, noodle dishes

Snacks: BANANA BREAD (my saviour), yoghurt, pudding

Went through the exact same thing! The hardest part of braces is accepting that most of important stuff happens without us noticing. Although my overcrowding was my focus, I also have bite issues which we've been working on for the past year. To me, my teeth look great and finished, but I know that ...

Worst thing was the pain after I got elastics for the first time! Every time I took them off to brush, the pain would immediately disappear. So, it was all the most painful and disheartening having to put them back on each time. I've also just got these new 'spring' things on my upper front two teet...

Do you have metal or ceramic brackets? I got my first power chain yesterday, and my ortho went through about 4 sets because the chains kept tearing. I have ceramic brackets, and apparently ceramic tear power chains really easily, so they're a pain to put on. It made me wonder if this mean they would...

When you first get elastics they hurt quite a lot. So, I don't think it would be the worst thing for you to postpone wearing them for a couple of days. Make sure you wear them as soon as you're home, and have the pain killers ready!

I've had ceramic uppers and lowers for about 2 years now and can confirm the brackets themselves do not stain. The ligatures ('o' rings, bands, whatever you want to call them), on the other hand, certainly DO STAIN. Staining has been my biggest annoyance during my braces journey, and I wish I could ...

I have some kind of 'springs' on my front teeth (also on my incisors). I've been trying to find some information about what exactly these 'springs' do, but can't find info anywhere or even what the correct name for them is. I'd post a photo on here but can't figure out how. They're not coil springs,...