My appliance and Really bad habbit

[claudiofranck]

I have this nasty habit were I chew on almost anything I have in my hand mostly pens, lighters and remotes.
I even have my favorite or preferred pens to chew on, a highlighter, lol.

But it is bad and I don't want it anymore, that is why I have this appliance, I can't post pictures yet but I will try to describe it and as soon as I can I will post it. It is kinda like a hawley retainer but the acrylic goes over my molars all the to the canines the are completely covered in acrylic, I bit on the acrylic when I close my mouth, it has a very big tongue crib inside and and even bigger thing that looks like the tongue crib outside on the sides from the molar to the canine almost.
I try to wear it 24/7,sometimes I can't I have to remove it for important meetings and of course when I go out, I can't imagine a girl wanting to talk with some one with all that metal and plastic showing as well as very bad lisp.

That I the third appliance we have tried, as soon as I can post picture I will show them better with a better description.

So far it kinda works, I still reach for a pen to chew on but I can physically because of the appliance, remotes and lighters chewing has gone way down even when I cam not wearing, I think it helps a lot, but I am not sure about long term results.

The ortho is talking about a permanent appliance or combination of appliances, we are still trying to figure out what, the only sure thing would be a tongue crib and as long down my teeth as possible almost touching the inside of my when when i close my mouth. There are several options we are discussing, because I want braces to straighten my teeth so the appliance is no longer feasible but it was still necessary before the braces so at least the habit goes down a bit to prevent brackets from falling off, which happened the first round of braces I did way back then. I am not in a hurry I just want the best possible results.

[jfriend33]

Are your teeth sturdy enough to chew gum? Maybe that would help?

Are you grinding your teeth at night?

google Dental Chewies for Invisalign.

That is an object that you can chew that wont break your teeth. In fact some dentists encourage their patients to chew them even if they dont have invisalign. See if doc has some of these????

The funny thing is, as a culture we are eating more processed food. Soft food. Our faces are becoming longer too. We are not chewing enough on things like our ancestors had to. And its causing our teeth to become crooked.... but anyway....

You may find help from a psychologist. This is a behavioral habit and could be better to tackle it before braces?? Have you researched compulsive chewing????? I see things like Aspergers coming up and other diagnoses ..

[claudiofranck]

Ok it is not as grim as you put it, my teeth are extremely healthy and very hard, enamel is great (just a little yellowish because I smoke socially sometimes), I eat fairly healthy and natural.
I am tackling it before braces that is what the appliance is for and maybe some other appliance, as the ortho said it is trial and error to find the best balance between helping the habit and daily life, and I really like his approach, method and patience, she always keeping me on the loop, discusses ideas and we brainstorm to get there.
Actually it was a psychologist who suggested I try an orthodontist and see if that could help, it is just a very old habit that gets worse with stress, we know the triggers and everything. Tried relaxation techniques, Yoga, different therapies to no avail. The thing is that I am not a very stressed out person and I cope very well with stress after work, how can I put it, yes I feel stress as everybody does but I have so many outlets that it doesn’t accumulate. It is just the instant stress comes in that I start chewing, which I enjoy immensely. But without any stress triggers I will still do it just biting softer and I don’t even notice until somebody points it out.
As I said and the psychologist said it is just a very bad habit that I cannot kick, no further diagnosis or anything. That is why the psychologist suggested the ortho to find some way to physically block and stop me from chewing it, the appliance I have now even though bulky is comfortable I can speak fairly well with it even with the tongue crib, but I can still remove and sometimes I forget and even cheat (lol, sorry) and I don’t mind it very much. Well maybe if the ortho puts a non-removable tongue crib maybe, but apart from that it is good.
I will share pictures as soon as I am able.
I just wanted to put his out there, a different use and approach for orthodontics

[claudiofranck]

Ok, I cannot post pictures directly but here is a link with a picture of the appliance I will get more and better ones later

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4EndO ... sp=sharing

[claudiofranck]

Well I am done with the appliance, have been for a while. But now I need braces and a tongue crib.
I posted a new topic for that one.

[Nozzelnut]

You might be trading one habit for another but there is a large number of fidget toys or tools. At least you won't break your teeth; unless you chew on a metal finger spinner. Check out fidget toys fidget spinners, finger spinners... Prices are inexpensive to extravagant.

[claudiofranck]

It was kinda implied all along that I would get the tongue crib along with braces. As I have explained in more detail in a topic at least she is giving me the choice between tongue crib and tongue spurs. She still prefers the tongue crib.
I have not decided yet.

I am fidgety all the time, and after trying everything it was the appliance that finally broke the habit of chewing on pens and stuff. O had done it for as long as I can remember.

[Skortho]

Sometime i have the urge to grind my teeth. Kinda like chewing, but nothing to chew on. I don't know why though

[claudiofranck]

No grinding at all, triple checked by several doctors.