Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi everyone. I have been out of braces for a number of years now and have been using removable (Essix) retainers for a while now. I'm worried that the retainers "stretch" after a few months/years and don't hold my teeth as tightly in place anymore. For example, I just recently started usin...

I just went to Dentakit.com and there seem to be two options for retainer cleaning: Retainerbrite vs. Sonicbrite. I've searched and there was only one thread on this and not many answers. It seems as if Sonicbrite is tougher on stains, but has anyone used either? Right now, I'm just using Walgreen's...

I just read online that Essix retainers aren't good for patients who've had their arch widened with expanders because the retainers are too flimsy to hold the arch. Here's what I read at http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-504000.html - Can’t use essix on patients who have been tre...

I am sooo anxious to whiten and brighten this new smile of mine, but I don't get my teeth cleaned by my dentist until next Saturday. I was told not to do the strips until after the cleaning because if I didn't, I would just be bleaching the plaque/tartar that built up. But, my ortho did a superficia...

I have so much trouble getting these dang things off! I was told not to use fingernails as they might break, but I seriously can't get it off any other way. I'm afraid with all this pulling at it, my teeth might come loose or become loose. Also, is it ok if I take off my retainers for a few hours a ...

Thanks so much. I was really hoping I'd go in tomorrow and they'd be like, "Oh well, we might as well just take them off!" But I've only been stabilizing for 5 weeks, so I don't know about that.

Help me, y'all. I'm about to start crying. I just broke a bracket off - the first time it's ever happened - and I only have a week to go. Will this put off my getting my braces off? I plan on getting it fixed tomorrow.

Hey y'all! I just found out that I only have six more weeks to go before the braces come off! My ortho said I'll be getting the Essex retainers and I was wondering whether I'll be lisping or have any kind of speech impediment while wearing them. I had expanders in for 4 months and for 4 months, I so...

Hey y'all! I've had fastbraces (the Viazis brand) on for about six months now and my canines have already moved down considerably and I don't think my ortho is planning on moving them down any more. But, the thing is, I really want the sides of my canines to be even with my other four front teeth an...

Did you wear rubberbands? I have them on, but the changes they've made seemed to have plateaued. Ugh!

Hey y'all! This is kinda hard to explain since I don't have a camera anymore (someone stole it!). I think my canines are impacted or something. What I mean is that they are higher up than the rest of my teeth. I have rubberbands on to bring them down and they've already moved down quite a bit, but n...

Yes, actually Jennie, you're right. I was actually talking about have teeth that are rounded, not triangular. I want that rectangular shape. I don't mind the canines being pointy...I just want them brought down. I'm afraid there's going to be this space between my canines and the lateral incisor nex...

Hey y'all! I'm 20 and I've had braces on for about 2 months now. I want my teeth to look perfectly even, but I'm afraid that they won't even after the braces. I have teeth that are rounded at the bottom, not square and I'm afraid the sides of my canines aren't as long as the sides on the rest of my ...

I'm 19, about to be 20 in a month. I floss every night and brush twice a day and do a floride rinse every night. How do I know if my teeth are tipping and not expanding?

Hey y'all! I just started my treatment on March 19th, 2007. I'm about to be 20 in May and I just got my upper expander on that date. I've only had it on for a bit, but I'm worried that it doesn't seem to be working like it should. And one side seems to be expanding more than the other! Also, I'm goi...