Metal Mouth Message Board

As far as a Waterpik, I reccomend this: http://www.waterpik.com/products/SpecDisplay.do?prdNbr=100262 It's seven dollars and works beautifully IMHO. As far as my brushing habits... Morning: Waterpik through my teeth, proxy brush around the brackets, brush with my Colgate something-or-other and Crest...

I got my Waterpik from Walgreens for $6.99. I got the cheapest one, but it serves me well. I wish I would have gotten it earlier in my treatment, though, because my gums don't bleed as easily, and it's so much less o a hassle to floss everyday, what with teeth moving about and all. Very worth the mo...

I went for a cleaning today, and good news all around! No cavities, and the dentist said I had the healthiest gums he had ever seen for a person in full braces. Score!

That Waterpik flosser I bought is totally worth the $7!

This is completely off topic, but I'm curious as to how you went about becoming a high school teacher. What class(es) do you teach? Did you get a Master's or can you teach with a Bachelor's? Did you take teaching courses during undergraduate study or after graduation.

Powerchains aren't just for extraction gaps; I've never had an extraction and I'm going on 13 weeks with a powerchain.

From that distance, if you ask me, Tom Cruise looks more natural. I think the overdone fake tans really add to the whiteness and scariness of celeb's teeth.

It's like getting white and orange ligs. Neat colors together in theory, but not when placed on a human. Well, not in my case at least.

Ever since I've had braces, I do not close my mouth all the way (as in, hold my teeth together) unless I'm eating or the ortho tells me to. I find that biting down all the way is uncomfortable for me. Is it ok to continue this until my braces are removed and biting is much easier for me?

I have a funny feeling I'll need elastics.

I'm having that problem but I've got a metal bracket. It's frustrating isn't it? In my case, the wire will hook to the bracket after the spring is removed, but the space is never large enough. I've had the spring applied 4 times now to no avail. It's horrible, I know how you feel. At my next adjustm...

I've got a spring on my bottom row, also. Be sure to take extra care when you brush in that area because I've ripped up the bristles a few times before.

Flossing is easier than you think, it just takes some extra effort to squeeze the stuff in there.

Your teeth do the same thing mine do! My front teeth are longer than the rest, and they nearly completely cover the bottom brackets. Did your ortho tell you anything about fixing that, or is it normal?

Even if they don't hurt right away, go home and take Advil or something as soon as you get a powerchain put on. The ache is just horrible.

Don't mean to scare you, but wow. It was pain yesterday but today a terrible ache.

The thing that goes around the lig's and across the wires, if we're on the same page here, is a powerchain. It is normally placed to close gaps...I think. They hurt. I'm on my 3rd day with a powerchain and boy am I aching.

Yes, I know, no question is a stupid question.

I'd like to know, what is the purpose of elastics? I never had them, but I might need them depending on what they do. Also, I'm just curious as to their purpose. Thanks!

I had a set on my top arch for about 3 months until they were removed 6 weeks ago and replaced with o rings. In those 3 months my top teeth had absolutely no gaps whatsoever, they were beautiful. I went back yesterday and he replaced the power chain on the top and wow am I hurting today! So I guess ...