Bite is really screwed up now - to be expected?

[Marigold]

I've been braced for almost 5 months now. My bite turbos were taken off last month and now I'm wearing elastics 12 hrs a day. The ortho said my bite would still feel off for awhile until it evened out. I wonder how long it will take. I'm having a hard time chewing food properly. I find myself chewing with my mouth open and sometimes food will just fall out as I'm chewing. Yeah, it's very attractive, LOL! When I try to keep my mouth closed I bite the insides of my cheeks. It's like my teeth aren't working together at all.

I will ask the ortho about it, but I don't go back until July and I'm trying to give it some time like he said. Just wondering if anyone else has these issues?

[pjacjac]

Mine is a constant disaster, it has switched sides several times since my braces were put on 3 and 1/2 months ago, my ortho says once he has control of my teeth(whatever that means) he will stabilize my jaw and my bite. I have elastics to look forward to in my future as well but haven't gotten to that point yet.

I guess we just have to adjust to the changes and try to be patient. I'm just waiting for the day i can eat raw vegetables without pain.

[catgyrl]

To quote my orthodontist (when I ask him how long ANYTHING is going to take to be fixed...): "A loooooooong time!" I suppose that's better than giving a definite timeframe, and then when nothing happens, having to change it. As long as your teeth are moving around, your bite will be off. There may be times when it feels perfect, but trust me... it will change again. I've been braced for 14 months, and though my bite is way better than it was before, it's still off.

[Crazy4Snow]

My bite has been non-existent since day one. Even now, nearly 2 months in, I still cannot touch any teeth together with the exception of my canines...my front teeth are what's causing the problem, the uppers are coming down onto the lower's brackets. PITA (pain in the ass). I will be so glad once this is fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Foxsong]

Yeah, my bite mostly went away after two weeks braced, and it shifts around every week or so! I can usually find some chewing action on the last molar or two on the right, but otherwise it's pretty random.

I completely get the chewing with your mouth open and dribbling food problem, though. My braces have pretty much killed any impulse I might have to eat in public.

[angryhead]

I had the same problem when I first got braces! Don't worry about it, you'll have your bite eventually!

[Marigold]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I'll try to be patient. It's weird to have my front teeth so far forward now. Before they slid against my bottom teeth. I guess it's going to take some time for everything to fit into place.

[JulieFL]

I'm so glad you asked this! I had been wondering the same thing. When I take off my elastics to eat, my jaw and bite feel weird. I'm basically chewing on one side using my bite turbo. I asked my husband who had braces as a kid, and he said the same as above - that as the teeth move the bite will keep changing.

[nifer237]

I'm glad you asked too. I noticed that happening to me, and while my bite is miles better (aesthetics wise) than it was, I can't chew for crap! Only on the left side do my teeth actually match up and break down food. I was thinking something wasn't right, but glad I know it's normal now. I have type II elastics as well, I wear them about 22 hours a day.