a sleeping related braces question

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#1 Post by **BraceUrself** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:24 pm

This may sound REALLY stupid but I am wondering about sleeping positions after the braces are on-For example, I sleep ALOT on my tummy so therefore, my head is turned to the side & so when I am doing that, after the braces are on, will I be ripping my inner cheeks up? Is it uncomfortable to sleep that way? Just curious. If you have any tips, stories or experiences to share, please share them with me ok? Has anybody had to change the way you lay or position themselves when you sleep? I hope I've explained this question well enough for everyone to explain cause now that I've typed it, it sounds kinda dumb but I really want to know LOL

TIA!

#2 Post by **Chris** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:30 pm

There are NO stupid questions on this forum.
We all have questions, we all need answers.

After you get use to the braces you can sleep anyway you want.
Personally, I'm a side sleeper and don't have any problems.

#3 Post by **swellen** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 9:23 pm

I'm a side and stomach sleeper (if I happen to roll over onto my back it actually wakes me up) and I never had any problems with the braces tearing my cheeks. I had a pokey wire at one point but I slapped wax on it and as soon as the teeth started moving it stopped poking. Other than that I didn't have any problems.

#4 Post by **Nikkiekoala** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 10:25 pm

I wondered the same thing before I got braces. I sleep the same way as you. No problems. I even sleep with my hand under my cheek and don't feel a thing. So no worries you will sleep fine.

#5 Post by **Ice** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:13 am

I'm a tummy sleeper too!

I found that when I first got braces, I could tell which side I had my head resting on the pillow - it would be very sore! but now it's fine!

#6 Post by **amychelle** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 6:48 am

Chances are, even if you are a tummy sleeper, you still don't lay on your face as far up as you think you do, makes for difficult breathing. Your braces (or mine at least) and teeth pretty much stop straight down from the edge of your eye. Put your finger on your cheek where your last tooth is and I bet it's not too much farther over than the edge of your eyebrow. So, unless you sleep with your face buried in your pillow too, you won't get as much pressure on them as you think.

My main problem with sleeping is the icky feeling when I wake up. They feel just like the rest of my mouth, slimy and gross or dry and puffy (my lips do feel a little puffy in the morning, not swollen, just "puffy".)

If you are concerned, wax up. My ortho told me that I should probably use the wax the first night, and I did as I was told. It went pretty well, and within a week or two (depending on how many appliances you have) you will be really close to being used to them. It's like someone who gets a peircing, tender at first, then you forget about it.

#7 Post by **bbsadmin** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:58 am

amychelle wrote: It's like someone who gets a peircing, tender at first, then you forget about it.

That's a good analogy!

#8 Post by SW » Thu Sep 08, 2005 5:26 pm

I sleep on my stomach too, the only problem I have had is with wearing elastics. The current configuration which is top 3-7 (third tooth to seventh tooth) and bottom 4-7 is pressing into the right side of my cheek which has been painful. It has taken several weeks but my cheek is starting to not feel so raw.

#9 Post by **ricardo2** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 7:15 pm

....I find sleeping with my mouth slightly open helps a lot

.... however - watch you don't drown in dribble!!!

(Towels on the pillow are a good idea!!)

Good luck!

Take care.

LUCY xx

#10 Post by **mtbrncofn** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 8:21 pm

I'm a side and tummy sleeper too and haven't had a problem to date.

#11 Post by **TuZZi** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:25 am

If you sleep on your stomach, your braces are the least of your worries. Unless you have the perfect configuration of mattress and pillow, you will be doing more harm to your spine than your face by sleeping on your stomach.

Fri Sep 09, 2005 5:18 am

I sleep on my stomach with my head turned to the right and I don't use a pillow. Even on my firm mattress, I've had no problems.

#13 Post by **BraceUrself** » Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:04 pm

Thanks for all the great words of wisdom & advice everyone! I'm glad to know that even if my mouth is hurting, I can get a good nights sleep through it all!

**BTW-I don't ALWAYS sleep on my tummy so I'm not too seriously worried about the perfect configuration of pillow & mattress-thanks though.

**