Hey guys,
I'm new to the forum and a future brace face, I will be one on December 8th to be exact, and I have a quick question for you guys.
My ortho told me I will be receiving something called a bluegrass roller to help my tongue thrusting issue. It's going to be cemented along with my braces the day I get them.
I saw what it looks like, and it's basically a wire with a rolly-thingy that goes at the roof of my mouth. I asked how long I have to wear and and the lady doing my impressions said that I would be wearing them until my habit is controlled, then they would take it out.
Has anybody here experienced one of these? My mom wants me to go to school after I get my braces on (I have an early morning appt.) and I'm worried that my speech is going to be affected badly. Will I have a bad lisp, or will it be hard to talk?
And how hard is it to eat and brush my teeth with a bluegrass roller?
Thanks guys! :)
Blue Grass Roller?
Moderator: bbsadmin
Re: Blue Grass Roller?
I'm not familiar with that specific appliance, but with long experience with several appliances that span the roof of my mouth (jaw expander, TPA, surgical splint, retainers), yes, you are going to have trouble talking. Depending on a lot of factors that nobody can predict, your speech could range from "a little funny" all the way to having to talk VERY slowly and carefully to be understood at all.
And I'm sure neither you nor your Mom wants to hear this, but it will take several days for your tongue to re-train itself to talk normally. (Which means it's pointless to avoid school that day, you'll still be talking funny the next.) The best way to speed up the process is to talk out-loud to yourself every moment you can. Read a book, sing along with the radio, whatever... This will help your "muscle memory" reprogram itself to operate your tongue properly.
(In a little bit of good news, when the appliance comes out, your tongue will "remember" it's original operation just fine and you won't have to do it all over again!)
P.S. Talk this over with your dentist and mother, but might it make sense to delay having the appliance installed until your December school break? That's not very long from now, and you should be talking normally by the time you go back to school. Although if food (or talking) is a big part of how you enjoy the holidays, the appliance may impair that...
And I'm sure neither you nor your Mom wants to hear this, but it will take several days for your tongue to re-train itself to talk normally. (Which means it's pointless to avoid school that day, you'll still be talking funny the next.) The best way to speed up the process is to talk out-loud to yourself every moment you can. Read a book, sing along with the radio, whatever... This will help your "muscle memory" reprogram itself to operate your tongue properly.
(In a little bit of good news, when the appliance comes out, your tongue will "remember" it's original operation just fine and you won't have to do it all over again!)
P.S. Talk this over with your dentist and mother, but might it make sense to delay having the appliance installed until your December school break? That's not very long from now, and you should be talking normally by the time you go back to school. Although if food (or talking) is a big part of how you enjoy the holidays, the appliance may impair that...