When a sneeze is more than just a sneeze.....

[TMJJill]

Hi all,

So, today I decided to go to town to the Harvest Moon Festival. It was a beautiful sunny day out. High in the low 80's with a nice breeze. As I was driving along a straight stretch on a plateau, the wind went from breezy to very gusty. It must have stirred stuff up because all of the sudden I had an unexpected violent sneeze that snuck up on me quickly with no warning. I didn't even have a chance to get my hand all the way to my mouth to catch the sneeze. Next thing I know, I heard a funny sound. Turns out I had sneezed my 3 day old upper Essix retainer right out of my mouth and it had hit the dashboard and bounced who knows where. GROSS! When I got to town, I had to search the car for the retainer. It only covers my front 6 teeth so it is small. Turns out it actually made it under my seat. I got it all washed up and 5 minutes later promptly sneezed the thing out of my mouth again. At least this time it didn't go far. It bounced off my hand and hit the floor. I washed it up again and put it in it's place.

Now, I'm totally freaked out about losing my retainer someday. What if I sneeze and it goes so far I can't find it? It feels snug when I have it over my teeth. I have to 'pop' it off. It also makes me wonder about the possibility of it coming out when I sleep. At least the lower one is doing OK.

I'm waiting for a new sleep splint that should be arriving in the next week or so. I'm not sure if it will be an upper or lower splint right now. I do plan to have my dentist check on the retainer when I pick up the splint.

[Kipepeo]

That is odd and funny at the same time. I can tell you there is no way I could ever sneeze out my retainers. Mine fit so tight, and I have to ruin fingernails to pry them up.

[TMJJill]

Thanks kipepeo,

I agree about both the funny and odd. Only, I add the gross factor in as well.

I have to pry mine down too. I think it is because it only covers my front 6's. The feel isn't the same as the appliances I've had that cover my entire arch.

I've read that sneezes can be between 95mph and 650 mph. I guess it could be that my retainers just don't have a chance against that.

I had another incident this afternoon. I was loading laundry into the washer and had both hands full. When the sneeze hit, I turned my head. Big mistake. It took me at least 5 minutes and a flashlight to find my retainer this time. It had gone about 6 feet out, but blended in with the floor.

I'm definitely calling my Orthodontist tomorrow.

[Ciara]

Oh my goodness, this post should come with a warning! I almost choked on my coffee! Perhaps you should demonstrate this for your ortho to get the point home?

A few years ago I was teaching a community English class. One elderly man was having a terrible time trying to pronounce "th". He eventually did it but he put his tongue between his teeth and pronounced a "th" with such force that his false teeth shot out of his mouth and half way across the classroom. Well, everyone was in hysterics! He said that he had told his dentist that they felt a bit loose so we suggested he try to pronounce a "th" again to prove his point.

Anyway, thanks for the laugh and good luck getting this fixed.

[djspeece]

That is a great story, I confess I laughed out loud because I can see something like that happening to me some day. Although I would have a witness, and she would probably be busy fishing her phone out of her purse to take a picture or two, that is when she stopped laughing hysterically. Maybe we start documenting these things in terms of distance, context, aftermath, recovery, that sort of thing.
When you said violent sneezes, you weren't kidding. I hope you were able to sooth everything over with an adult beverage at the festival.

[TMJJill]

I got my retainers adjusted today and they 'tightened' them by building them a bit tighter on the inside. Now, the big question is.... Will they hold up to my next sneeze?

It has been quite windy here so lots of sneezing. I was getting pretty good at learning to catch it though over the last couple days... Had to cup the hand just so.

On the plus side, my dentist told me that sneezing is nature's way of helping us detoxify. I told him I'm a good sneezer. Guess that means I'm good at detoxing?

[TMJJill]

Wow.... 3 weeks out and I'm still sneezing out my retainer. I picked up a second upper one yesterday. It is pretty tight. Still doesn't hold up to sneezes, but I'm a bit less nervous about losing one when I sneeze. I've had to go hunting for the first one a few times. I've sneezed it out a couple times in meetings. Thankfully I caught those. It is hard to be discreet putting it back in though.

I really think it makes a difference having a retainer that is only covering my front teeth and isn't seated over those back molars.

I've given some people around me a good laugh a few times though.

I know I'll be happy after the change in season when the storms/winds die down. Maybe I won't sneeze so much then.

I go back in 8 days. I'm hoping to hear that I can move to wearing the retainers just at night. Wouldn't that be nice.....?