Metal Mouth Message Board

I thought your retainer is supposed to maintain the position of your teeth. It's worrying to me that my bite changes with it in. My teeth also feel sore, like they did with braces on. Could they we shifting with the retainer?

I am addicted to sugar. It's bad.. So I enjoy my chocolate, and I drink a can of soda a day. I wash my mouth out with water when I can. I brush 2 sometimes 3 times a day for 2 minutes, and floss once every night before bed. Sometimes I'll use my water pik. Also use mouthwash, currently using ACT fo...

I agree with what everyone has said. It takes time. 5 months is very short to call it quits. Sometimes things will get worse before they get better. I can't tell from your pictures regarding your gums... are your roots exposed? I have recession, and when I asked my ortho about it, he said it was nor...

Out of curiosity, do you brush under your braces at the gum line? I had the problem with my gums receding, and when asked the ortho assistant about it, she said it was due to brushing under the braces. She said most people end up with puffy gums because they don't brush there. So, I'm just wondering...

Let some ice water sit in your mouth for a bit. Helps numb everything.

Scrambled eggs also really nice soft food. Hang in there.

Just got out of braces and into retainers. When I have the retainer in, I am only able to make contact between two teeth. Other than that, I have no bite at all. When I take the retainers out and wait a few minutes before eating, my bite returns to normal. Anyone else experience this?

- The Hawleys are usually much more expensive. Essix can be made at your ortho's office, while the Hawleys usually have to made at an outside lab. So, if you get the Hawley but decide later that you'd prefer the Essix or just want one as a backup, the later Essix might only cost you $150 (the cost ...

I'm due to get my braces off next month but not sure which day yet. I can't wait, though I am slightly terrified of the removal process. I had a bracket repositioned earlier this month, and although it snapped off easily enough (no pain), the glue grinding process was slightly uncomfortable. And th...

I'm nervous about the braces removal process. I've heard that it can be somewhat painful with pulling the brackets off and buffing down the adhesive. I have sensitive teeth, and I've had some slight discomfort during my regular dentist cleanings where they had to use the "drill" to remove ...

Thanks. That is interesting to me. I can't see how Hawleys would help with grinding or clenching since they don't cover the teeth where they meet, unless they have changed from the one I had in my teens. It covered the roof of my mouth (caused a lisp) and had a wire that held my front teeth in plac...

Interested to know why that is. Can you wear a mouthguard over Hawley retainers at night to prevent grinding? From what I read, Hawley retainers seemed to prevent people from grinding on their own (I guess they keep the teeth separated?), whereas essix encouraged clenching and were destroyed by gri...

I did some searching around the forums as well, and the general consensus seems to be Hawley if you have issues with bruxism, which I do. So, I may have answered my own question at this point.

So I've done a little research, and it looks the clear retainers are the Essix. I like that the Hawley can be adjusted whereas the Essix has to be remade. So I'm probably going with the Hawley? But I still wouldn't mind hearing other opinions.

I just got my appointment for the 3rd to get my braces removed. Sometimes the ortho recommends a specific retainer for certain cases, but apparently I'm not one of those so I get to pick. I have the option for Hawley removable retainers top and bottom, a bottom bonded retainer with removable top, or...

I've had braces on for nearly four weeks now. So far just brackets and wires, no elastics, so no change in my bite (or the grinding/clenching that I think result from the malocclusion), but it's early days. Still very hopeful! That's interesting. My bite changes all the time . Even without elastics...