Metal Mouth Message Board

I just got mine yesterday - not a good night - kept half waking up wanting to open my mouth and it felt impossible... not too bad right now. I have a triangle pointing down on both sides. Mainly I think because on one side the hook on the bottom back molar is too close to my gum - very painful when ...

Hi, sorry too that you having a hard time. The first couple of weeks are the worst. Then you really do get used to them, even attached to them! I think a lot of us panic at the beginning. I know it's different for everyone, but so far the braces have really helped with my TMJ. And in hindsight I've ...

Yes, floss! - Oral-B superfloss is great - highly recommend it. It does get easier in a few days - but those first few days - I just took a deep breath and went ahead.

28: I think you should just floss, because otherwise you'll get a build up of plaque pretty quickly- it gets easier honest! The first days are the worst just getting used to the braces. I've found that soup is the best thing. And salt water really does make a difference and the wax.

Good luck!

Hi there, my Ortho has supplied most of what I have needed so if you are going private yours should do the same. The best floss I've found is the Oral-B Super Floss (my Ortho doesn't supply this), it's available at Boots and even my local supermarket stocks it. I agree the Waterpik is great too - Bo...

This is a really interesting thread. I have noticed my face changing over the past year and have been wondering about it. My face definitely looks longer and thinner - I even had someone come up to me a while ago asking if I was ok because my face looked thinner (and I'm the same weight). I also see...

Hi Mary,

Your teeth look wonderful - very inspiring! And I love the colours of the retainers! When I was a kid I had a very boring 'gum coloured' one... it's good to know things have moved on.

Hi there, I've had Damon 3's on since February this year. I think they are great. I've had very little pain and changing wires has been easy. They don't look as good as some of the others, but you don't have to have elastic bands, which I think more than makes up for it. They are also supposed to be...

It was reassuring to come across these posts. I've been cancelling things left right and centre because I have been feeling so tired. I just had a conversation with a friend, which got we wondering if the metal itself can have a diverse effect - has anyone come across this?

Thanks Mel

Hi Phaedra, congrats! on getting started. I don't have any answers to metal bands - but it's great you haven't had to use the wax yet. "I bought the Oral B Ortho brush head for my electric toothbrush--that also came with special brushes--very handy." I've been looking for something like th...

From scared to nonchalant, popping wires, bite turbos, I've even tried baby food... and lots of juices. Life with braces... but it's so worth it. I've put a new link in the sidebar of my blog to a search of all my braces related posts. I'll keep it updated... I've just moved my blog so I'll update t...

Hi, I thought I'd do an update. Bottom braces put on on Friday and so far so good... a repeat of the top experience, but not so bad because I knew what was coming – no wanting to rip them out. No biting at all though, as my teeth don't touch. I've also got bite turbos on the back of my front teeth...

hi, These postings have been really useful – many thanks. I got my bottom brace on yesterday with bite turbos at the back of my front two teeth and I was also only told that they were to prevent my top teeth from touching the bottom braces - nothing about erupting molars, so that's been really int...

Hi aka,

No, not all in the mind - I have told both my Orth and dentist... sad I know.

Yes I loved it - we were made to feel very welcome.

x Mel

Hi there, It's really true, I went to Colombia last summer and I couldn't believe the number of adults who had braces, far more than anywhere else including North America. I went for a wedding and there were even adults at the wedding with braces on. It really is the place to go if you can't decide ...