Metal Mouth Message Board

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

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

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.

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!

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! =)

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!

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?