been braced!!

Message

#1 Post by **spacersarentfun** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:15 am

I have been fully braced. So far it feels really funky. I am not sure about this TPA device in the top of my mouth....

#2 Post by **chlorine23** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:07 am

What does TPA stand for anyway? That's what my ortho called the thing in my mouth.

#3 Post by **spacersarentfun** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:29 am

You know they told me but I forgot what it stands for. How do you eat?? I keep feeling like I am choking on the soft food!

#4 Post by **fitchick** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:21 pm

The TPA appliance is a Trans Palatal Arch. There is some info about it under the Popular Braces Topics on the Archwired Homepage. I have mine to maintain my arch width.

I know what you mean about almost choking, I've got some tomato skin and pasta wrapped round it before and thought I was going to choke. You will soon adjust and forget its even there. Honest!

Good Luck to all of you.

#5 Post by **chlorine23** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:59 am

Thanks for the info!

How do I eat? Carefully. Actually I'm to the point where I wonder what people think when I shake my head to one side trying to dislodge a piece of food from up there.

I almost choked on Ramen noodles my first night. I had a great plan since you really don't have to chew much when eating ramen. Well, when you swallow, your tongue automatically goes to the roof of your mouth. When I did that, it trapped the noodles between my tongue and appliance while the noodles hung down my throat. I really thought that was it. My life was going to be ended by ramen noodles.

I find myself fishing for lost food up there. I think the trick is to try to ignore it while you get a few bites in. That way you don't spend 5 minutes on one bite of food. You probably shouldn't try to suck food out of up there because when it comes free it can fly into your throat, and honestly choke you.

But I have to say, I've come a long way from the first day of eating with this thing, and I do ok. Like I said though, I'm still fishing for food up there and jerking my head to the side to try to "throw" the food off of it. Obviously I've still got some work to do. Just go slow for awhile. When in doubt, slow down, get some air, and try again.

I feel your pain!