This is the place to post general questions and comments about all areas of orthodontic treatment. Before you post a question, use the forum's SEARCH tool to see if your question has already been answered!
New Members: YOU MUST MAKE A POST WITHIN 24 HOURS OF REGISTERING OR YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED. In other words, don't sign up unless you plan to actively participate in the message board immediately. This is necessary to keep out spammers and lurkers with bad intentions. Of course, you can read most forums on the board without registering.
DO NOT POST FULL-FACE PHOTOS or personal contact information on this website. We have had problems with people re-posting members' photos on fetish websites. Please only post photos of your teeth, not your whole face. Keep your email and your personal information private. Thank you.
Wax was my BEST FRIEND the first few days after getting the brackets on, as one whole side of my mouth was practically raw .... but after that I tried NOT to use wax, as my thought was that it would "toughen" up my mouth faster by letting it rub and form a thicker skin on the inside of my mouth.
I know there are several of you that swear by wax to make your mouth more comfortable, but is it only impeding your progress of getting your mouth used to the brackets? What do you guys think?
I don't think so. I used as much wax as I needed the first week- then I started to notice that I didnt need it as much and now I only use it on occasion ( like last night on the cleat on the inside of my molar bands that they just pulled out for elastics, it was totally rubbing my tongue raw, so I used wax. Today I am good,no wax, minimal irritation)
In my personal experience, letting your cheeks and inside of your mouth get raw and sore isn't helpful. Your mouth will get used to the brackets, or whatever offending object you have, going through unnecessary pain seems silly to me.
However, that is just my opinion, so take that with a grain of salt.
That makes perfect sense, and I'm so glad that you posted that Karen and KJM! I wish my ortho would have explained that a little better to me. My mouth hurts this morning pretty good, so I have my dentakit here with me at work now, so I will get some wax on right away!
I haven't used wax at all since i got my braces. Sometimes i get a bit of discomfort, but it's nothing worth putting wax on. Maybe my skin is a tough cookie to crack
-Noone can make you feel inferior without your consent-
My biggest advice for people getting braces is to use wax!!!
I was SO stubborn that I didn't use wax. The skin inside my cheek on the left side got so bad that I was bleeding every day. Talking and eating was hell because the wire would be getting into the cuts.
My ortho even gave me a little lecture on how important it is for me to use wax or come see him to get the ends cut because it was unnecessary for me to be in pain and so much discomfort.
I can now say that at this point, when my wires get long...it doesn't hurt as much...I guess my cheeks got used to it...but I have marks on the inside of my cheeks that refuse to go away...
I'm getting my lower teeth braced on monday and I'm planning on wearing wax as much as I will need to...
~~~~~~
Ceramic top braces: January 9th, 2006
Metal bottom braces: May 1st, 2006
I think that a little bit of irritation helps to build up scar tissue inside your mouth. But of course a lot of irritation that is constant and results in bleeding and inability to speak and eat correctly is not good. That could even result in infection!
You have to find a happy medium. Let the braces irritate your tissues a little bit, but then use the wax to make yourself comfortable.
I'm the owner/admin of this site. Had ceramic uppers, metal lowers ~3 years in my early 40's. Now in Hawley retainers at night!
.... but after that I tried NOT to use wax, as my thought was that it would "toughen" up my mouth faster by letting it rub and form a thicker skin on the inside of my mouth. 
