Hugely painful teeth with elastics?

[bushbaby]

I've just been given elastics to wear full time, which stretch from the middle of the bottom arch to the back of the top arch. I've woken up this morning feeling like I've been smacked in the face with a frying pan! How long is it likely to be this painful for and what can I do to minimise the pain?

Also the gap between the elastics makes it really hard to fit cutlery in my mouth to eat properly and I'm sure I'll be over protein shakes really soon - any suggestions of interesting but easy foods?

Thanks guys

[klobird]

Do you have to wear the elastics while you eat? Most people take them out when they eat because they can snap or break when you're eating and you end up swallowing them...not cool....

You will get used to the elastics fairly soon--I'm almost 6 months in mine, and all they are now is a pain in the *ss, not in my mouth!!

[bushbaby]

I *can* in theory take them out to eat but in practice they are stretched so far its quite difficult to get them in and out, and its certainly not something i want to faff around with when I'm at work. My teeth hurt WAY to much to try to eat anything solid at the moment anyway to be honest. Its like a constant painful throbbing that makes it impossible to think of anything OTHER than how much my teeth hurt

[Snowglobe32]

Do you have a heating pad? That is the only thing that took away my elastic pain (other than time). I suggest heating pads to everyone but I am not sure anyone takes my advice.

It really does help. I have two kinds, the kind that is filled with treated corn (or beans ?)..and I have the kind that is filled with gel, both are heated in the microwave.

You can and should take them out when eating. It usually takes 1 -2 weeks to get used to them. They work quickly and your ortho will know if you are not wearing them. Once the pain subsides, they are more of an annoyance than anything else.

Once you get use to the pain, don't stop and go on the elastic wear. Most of us, myself included, may tend to keep them out longer than usual (after we have been in elastics for some time)...when you do that, the teeth will ache again. So when you wear them, wear all day except for eating.


Good Luck!

[bushbaby]

Thanks for the tips, I will get a heat pad. I have been drinking copious amounts of tea as the warmth seems to help a bit. I must admit I am currently resorting to codeine to ease the pain, although I now feel sick and shaky instead LOL