Expander cleaning?

Message

#1 Post by **awillis42606** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:02 pm

I had my expander "installed" yesterday... and all I can say is OUCH!! It doesn't hurt now... but it hurt like crazy when they were putting it in...

My question is... Is there any "around-the-house" product that I can use to clean my expander? Or do I need to buy a special "tool" to do this. I ate won ton soup for lunch today, and did very well eating it... but the chewed up wont tons kept getting stuck on top of my expander... I'm sure that I will get used to it, but it was very annoying. I ended up using my travel sprial brush to get all the food out of there...

I was just wondering if there was an easier way to do this...

Thanks!!!

Amanda!

#2 Post by **Lisa65** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:11 pm

You might want to invest in a Waterpik. They are invaluable for cleaning gunk out from between brackets and under expanders. If you can't get one or don't want to, then something like a syringe is great for squirting water under the expander to dislodge bits of food.

I haven't got an expander but I've got a Nance/TPA and a lot of extra wires and springs, and it all attracts food like nobody's business. I find that having a glass of water with meals helps disperse some of that clogged up feeling. Straight after eating I head to the bathroom to swish and rinse with water.

hope the expander does its thing and you soon get used to it.
Lisa

#3 Post by **danielle80** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 2:27 pm

Yes, a Water Pik would be a great investment!!! I have had my expander for almost 3 months, don't know how I would of cleaned it properly without one. And a side note... I have noticed once you start expanding the food doesn't get stuck up there as much and comes out easier because there is a bigger gap in the expander. haha

#4 Post by **spaced*out** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 11:31 am

I myself use a small orthodontic brush that looks like a little mascara brush and my ortho. has bragged about how clean it is kept , but do what you think is best. I have only had my expander for about 3 weeks.

#5 Post by **samantha_lou** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:16 pm

The waterpik is definitely the best investment that you could make, but within a couple of months, I was doing pretty well at learning to eat without getting too much all smushed up there - you eventually do adapt!

#6 Post by **maia1orual** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 5:15 pm

hey, i agree about the little mascara brush thinger. . .i bought mine at wal-mart , it's a little container with about 200 for $3.00.

anyways, i love those things! good luck with your expander! =)

#7 Post by **NishaGh1** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:08 pm

I got my expander on March 19th and i feel like the dang thing hasn't worked at all! One side feels like it is expanding more than the other in the back of my mouth, but, appearance-wise, I don't notice a difference at all!

#8 Post by **NishaGh1** » Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:04 pm

I'm 19, about to be 20 in a month. I floss every night and brush twice a day and do a floride rinse every night. How do I know if my teeth are tipping and not expanding?