Eating with elastics in?

Message

#1 Post by **Boolajoojoo** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 8:52 pm

Is this normal? Are those of you with elastics instructed to even eat with them in?

This just doesn't seem practical to me, but I was given elastics to wear at my adjustment today and I was instructed to wear them 24/7 including while eating. Only remove to brush.

I'd be happy to comply and I've tried at every meal today, but they keep coming off when I eat and then I don't notice til I'm done chewing a bite of my food and realize an elastic is gone... and I'm wondeing "Did I swallow it?" So far I haven't swallowed one, but the elastics end up mutilated and stuck elsewhere.... and they barely gave me enough to last me to the next adjustment if I go through a pair of them a day.

#2 Post by **iBorg** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:06 pm

I eat with them in and eat them with my food.

I just view it as a way to be sure I change them often enough.

As for if you have enough, there's about a 100 in a pack. If you wear two at a time that's 50 changes. If you change them four times a day (meals and before bed) a pack will last about 12 days. If they didn't give you enough, ask them to mail you some.

Mike

#3 Post by **lionfish** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:19 pm

I ate with mine in. At one stage, I had four of them all in vertical configurations. The box elastics kept coming off, and/or got shredded or eaten.

I used to take spares when I was out because I knew I'd have to replace them.

#4 Post by **Boolajoojoo** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 9:24 pm

iBorg wrote:I eat with them in and eat them with my food.

I just view it as a way to be sure I change them often enough.

As for if you have enough, there's about a 100 in a pack. If you wear two at a time that's 50 changes. If you change them four times a day (meals and before bed) a pack will last about 12 days. If they didn't give you enough, ask them to mail you some.

Mike

Yum! Same texture as calamari right?!

Yeah... I have two packs of 100 which is definitely not going to be enough to last 8 weeks til my next apointment. I was told to change them when I brush my teeth... but when I realized how many they have me I thought maybe, just maybe that meant take them out when I brush my teeth and change them once a day when I brush my teeth.... ew... I did the math and they didn't give me enough to change them twice a day for 8 weeks. If I change them 4 times a day... then that doesn't even last me 4 weeks.... You're right, they'll have to mail me some because it's an hour and a half drive for me to go to their office.

#5 Post by **purpleteeth** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:14 pm

I go through about a bag a week or every 5days or so (I have 2 different bags I work out of, one in my bathroom and one in my purse/ backpack). I wear 6 elastics at a time and change them 3-6times a day. I go through a total of at least one bag a week, between the two different stashes... hehe...

Needless to say, I find elastics EVERYWHERE!! They pop off when I am sleeping sometimes, they have shot off while working, they come off while eating, they don't go on the first time and end up being shot across the bathroom or across the room at work (when I have to put them on outside of the bathroom). I think I have even found them in my shoes!

I eat with mine in sometimes, like when I am snacking or eating something small. I do this mainly at work or if I want to eat something and not brush my teeth -- but I am supposed to take them out. I don't like the feeling of eating latex, ew.

#6 Post by **Luella** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:42 pm

I'm hoping I don't have to wear elastics again! I wore them as a child... I remember eating just fine with them in. I can totally relate to you purpleteeth- I was cracking up reading about you shooting them across the room and stuff. Been there. done that! Boolajoojoo, keep practicing- maybe remove 1 side each time you eat, and alternate which side you remove so you have 1/2 a normal mouth to use and 1/2 an elastic-ed mouth to use. That might be a good way to practice!

#7 Post by **Miss Smiley** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:32 am

Mine break when I eat with them in so I take them out. I end up changing mine at the least 3 times a day because the break on their own. I was told full time wear on both sides. I have 2 packs of 100 for 3 weeks. We'll see if I need more.

#8 Post by **AngelOfLife** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:30 am

I never used to eat with my elastics in, took them out to eat, brushed my teeth and replaced with new ones.

The two packs I was given lasted the 6 weeks between my last adjustment and the brace removal.

#9 Post by **peach** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 6:40 am

I was told that I could take them out to eat and brush but to keep them in the rest of the time. I did eat with them in while at work. I just had to make sure everything was cut up into small bites.

#10 Post by **bracesafter40** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:37 pm

I'm gonna get elastics the next time I go which is on May 13. I've already been told that I have to wear them 24/7 including when eating, so that will be interesting... I will let you all know what gives then.

#11 Post by **Flaka** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 4:48 pm

I take them off to eat and put new ones when finished. Ichange them at least 4 times day. Have swallowed a couple by accident while putting them on and they pop out and go straight down my throat.

#12 Post by **Nervous** » Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:41 pm

I can hardly open my mouth with these elastics! I have to take them off when I eat

#13 Post by **Pixel Witch** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:54 am

I was told to wear mine 24 hours a day unless eating or brushing (and if I felt like leaving them in to eat, it was up to me) and to change them every 4 hours or so.

My first configuration was easy to eat with, the second and third(current) not so much, so I take them out.

I moved quite far from my Ortho, so I always ask for a handfull of bags and now I have quite the collection

#14 Post by **Tamiel34** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:32 am

I was told to take them out while I ate. They also wanted me to put new elastics on to keep them tight.

#15 Post by **Tamiel34** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 7:33 am

I was told to take them out while I ate. They also wanted me to put new elastics on to keep them tight.