Swollen Gums

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#16 Post by **dagwoman** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 3:59 pm

You just have to practise and persevere. It does get easier, I promise! Or you could go and buy special floss for braces that have a stiff end that makes it easier to thread through braces.

#17 Post by **Lisa65** » Tue Nov 13, 2007 6:04 am

It is tricky I agree, but as Meryaten said there are different gadgets available to make it easier. I've tried threader floss (with the stiffened end) but eventually I settled on using a threader. I thread the floss under the archwire at the bottom and pull it out at the top, then grab the floss between my fingers to get it tight and wiggle it between my teeth. Kinda complicated to explain but I can floss all my teeth in about a minute using that method. If you have tight spaces between your teeth, try a waxed ribbon floss such as Crest Glide.

Your gums will thank you lol

#18 Post by **Scottman** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:27 pm

Lisa65 wrote:It is tricky I agree, but as Meryaten said there are different gadgets available to make it easier. I've tried threader floss (with the stiffened end) but eventually I settled on using a threader. I thread the floss under the archwire at the bottom and pull it out at the top, then grab the floss between my fingers to get it tight and wiggle it between my teeth. Kinda complicated to explain but I can floss all my teeth in about a minute using that method. If you have tight spaces between your teeth, try a waxed ribbon floss such as Crest Glide.

Your gums will thank you lol

Ok, well I flossed last night and I hope to keep it a nightly routine like my brushing habits!

It took me like 10 minutes just to floss in between my two front teeth!! I used a standard floss called "Crest Glide" that I got from my dentist. I also kind of felt pain because it felt like the floss was going inside my gums!

On another topic, what is an easy way to get rid of a canker sore besides time? This canker sore has been here for about 2 weeks, I feel slight pain in it but it keeps getting caught on my braces whenever I smile or talk!

#19 Post by **HotWired22** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 9:02 pm

Baking soda! I know it sounds wierd but I used to get canker sores (I called them ulcers when I was a kid). I used to get them all the time and sometimes 2 in the same spot! OUCH! I once heard that they were somehow hereditary. And some people either get them randomly or never at all.
Anyway try and get regular baking soda and if you can keep the sore as dry as possible the better it works. Just get some baking soda on a Q-tip and dab right on the sore and keep it dry. Sometimes you have to hold your lip or cheek out to keep spit from washing it away. Sounds crazy but believe me it works and doesn't hurt at all. Do this pretty often for a few days and it'll be gone in no time!
Also, salt water rinses often! You'd think it'd hurt but it doesn't, it just kinda tastes nasty.

#20 Post by **Lisa65** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:44 am

As well as the above suggestions I'd recommend putting a piece of wax over whatever bit of your hardware is touching the sore. If you have a mouth sore like that, everytime your braces touch it, it will irritate it all over again. You need to give it a chance to heal without being constantly rubbed and chafed.

Good luck with the flossing. The floss does need to get under the gumline a bit because that's where the plaque hides which can't be removed by brushing. If you keep up with it, your gums should get less swollen and flossing won't be so uncomfortable.

#21 Post by **Chloe1** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:50 am

I've just been using those brushy pick thingys and stick them right in between my teeth instead of using floss. It was hard at first because my teeth were almost too tight for the brushes and they would tear my gums a bit. Now my teeth have spaced out enough that I only have to use floss in one spot.

#22 Post by **Ariesinatl** » Tue Nov 20, 2007 11:30 am

Listerine. Period. This stuff works wonders. I had some swollen gums and started rinsing with the original Listerine and within 3 days it was gone.

I also used it after getting my tongue pierced and it worked then as well. Rinse with it for a few minutes then soak a cotton ball and leave it wedged between your lip and gum for 15 minutes. This really works.

#23 Post by **Scottman** » Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:01 pm

Ok, well I have been flossing for a week now and I haven't really seen any changes in my gums

But I bought some Lysterine with alcohol as suggested by someone and now I am using that.

#24 Post by **Scottman** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 2:25 pm

I just got back from the orthodontist and they said I got class 2, whatever that means! So if any of you can inform me how long it will take after "class 2s" that would be great!

My ortho said my teeth closed up a lot! I didn't even notice a difference! And about my gums, he said to his helper for her to take off the powerchain and it will let my gums go back up. Hopefully him taking this off won't slow down the process!

Thanks!

#25 Post by **Lisa65** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:17 am

Class II malocclusion means that your top molars are in front of the corresponding lower molars instead of just behind them as they should be in an ideal occlusion. There is a pic here http://www.unc.edu/depts/appl_sci/ortho ... ngles.html which shows what I mean.

A class II is often coupled with "buck" front teeth where the top teeth stick too far out of the mouth. This is a class II division 1. Alternatively you can get top front teeth that are slanted inwards generally accompanied by a deep overbite, where the top front teeth almost or completely cover the lower teeth when the mouth is closed, and this is termed a class II division 2.

Hopefully having the power chain off will allow your gums to return to how they were.

#26 Post by **Scottman** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:45 pm

Lisa65 wrote:Class II malocclusion means that your top molars are in front of the corresponding lower molars instead of just behind them as they should be in an ideal occlusion. There is a pic here http://www.unc.edu/depts/appl_sci/ortho ... ngles.html which shows what I mean.

A class II is often coupled with "buck" front teeth where the top teeth stick too far out of the mouth. This is a class II division 1. Alternatively you can get top front teeth that are slanted inwards generally accompanied by a deep overbite, where the top front teeth almost or completely cover the lower teeth when the mouth is closed, and this is termed a class II division 2.

Hopefully having the power chain off will allow your gums to return to how they were.

Thanks for the info!

Well, my dad is a doctor and he had some Silver Nitrate and he thought that using that on the canker sore would work. Well after he burned the heck out of it, it has shown no improvement!

Besides that, the gums are showing very little improvement, but it has to start somewhere!