Metal Mouth Message Board

The receptionist at the dental clinic recommends swilling with water immediately after drinking tea, to prevent teeth staining. It probably helps ligs as well.

I don't want to come across as rude, and I have read the new article about DIY ligature changing, BUT I really cannot live with day-glo ligs long term (for work-related reasons)... so I have to take the risk and ask:

Does anyone know where you can buy clear ligs from in the UK??

Lucyloop I noticed you mentioned changing your own ligs in another post, do you know?

Thanks.

i just wanted to add that if you are making your own, you can make for example, curried lentils without the tumeric. i think it tastes just as good and it doesn't stain

Hey again everyone!

Thanks for your sympathy and sensible advice. I will certainly ask my ortho when I see her next about the replacement ligs, wire ties and neon clips (I did another thread about these titled 'neo-clips' to see if anyone has had any positive experience with them).

Lucy your idea of using a cktail stick is very good. In fact I have already been involved in a bit of Orthodontic DIY when two of my lingual brackets' ligs popped off. I couldn't get them back on at all myself but a friend managed to do it with my plaque remover in one hand and a very thin knitting needle in the other. I SERIOUSLY wouldn't recommend anyone try this lol just telling you cause it was quite a funny scene!

Right, well I'll have to wait as my Ortho has gone on her annual leave but I'll let you know what she says.

With the exception of when I first got my braces on, when I had ligs on the bottoms, I've always had upper and lower wire ties (at my request), the white teflon ones on top and SS on the bottom. I love them! There is no staining whatsoever. My ortho uses a tool to put them on and it is just as fast as having ligs put on. They twist the ends and tuck them under my archwire next to the brackets. I've never had a single problem with floss shredding because of them. An added bonus is that they do not lose elasticity like ligs can, so they apply a consistent force throughout the time period in between my adjustments (per my ortho, who said "it's good that you like those because they have this added benefit).

From the UK.
Just wanted to add that i was "trained" to do my own ligs too, and my ortho gives me the ligs. I had to ask for this tho. No problem, the ortho showed me what i need to do and even gave me a tool. It is one of those tweezers that lock, you can even get them at DIY stores. It is not hard to put them on. OK, it takes me maybe twice the time that it will take my ortho to do it but it is still good.