This is the place to post general questions and comments about all areas of orthodontic treatment. Before you post a question, use the forum's SEARCH tool to see if your question has already been answered!
New Members: YOU MUST MAKE A POST WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REGISTERING OR YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED. In other words, don't sign up unless you plan to actively participate in the message board immediately. This is necessary to keep out spammers and lurkers with bad intentions. Of course, you can read most forums on the board without registering.
DO NOT POST FULL-FACE PHOTOS or personal contact information on this website. We have had problems with people re-posting members' photos on fetish websites. Please only post photos of your teeth, not your whole face. Keep your email and your personal information private. Thank you.
I've had my RPE for about 3 months now without any major problems. Then the other morning I woke up to find my tongue was hurting. I'd obviously been pressing my tongue really hard against the expander in my sleep. There's now an expander-shaped impression gouged deep into my tongue, with the skin broken through in one or two places where the wire must have been sharpest.
So I'm now finding it painful to eat, and the trouble is I seem to be developing a habit and shredding my tongue anew every night. Ouch! I've tried using wax but I can't really get it to stay round the wires all night and I obviously push my tongue up against the roof of my mouth so hard that even the waxed bits still dig in.
They make a bandage for the inside of your mouth, kinda meant for canker sores and such as they stick to the inside of your cheeks well. I have seen people using them to cover the expander. You may want to check around locally or on the internet to see if you can find them.
Thanks for that link, Meryaton. What a twit I am: when I read it I remembered looking at it before and thinking what a clever idea that was. Never thought I'd need it for myself though!
just wanted to let you know that i feel your pain! somehow my expander moved up to be flush with the top of my mouth (maybe as my mouth got bigger?) so i only had to deal with it for a couple weeks, but it was hell. sorry, i hope it gets better
Thank you for your sympathy, Calyanne. I was in danger of getting smug as I'd had no big problems with the RPE up to now, but at least I can sympathise with others a bit better now! Your experience doesn't sound like it was much fun, either! I can't imagine the expander riding up to meet the top of my mouth. Ouch! Still, we come through these things, don't we, and it will all be worth it in the end!!
