Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi All

I've only had my braces for just over 2 months. At my last adjustment I had to have my lower archwire swung back into place....the sucker had moved, according to the Dr, because of 'teeth grinding or the way you eat'. The wire 'moved' by extending itself past the last tooth on the lower left hand side...so it poked my cheek. It only took the Dr a second to move it back into place.

My next adjustment is this week and....the archwire is again poking me in my cheek...I've tried moving it by gripping with my tweezers but no luck...will have to wait for my appointment to have it moved.

Is this common - do archwires routinely move like this?? have others had this problem?

Thanks Meryaten...might have to give your trick a go after my next adjustment....I say after because I just brushed my teeth and felt a little shifting happening with the wire....the last tooth on my right side is now no longer on the wire...and my cheek is getting lacerated on the left with the extra length that is now there.

Think I may have to see if I can get in earlier than my scheduled Saturday appointment.

I've also had the wandering archwire and when it starts poking out the back into your cheek it is not fun. I've usually been able to move it with tweezers. Make sure you try different places--it wouldn't move from some places but slid right over when I found the right spot. Let your ortho know it has been moving at your next appointment and they put on some stops like Meryaten said.

Stops - so that's what those things are! It was on my list of questions for my next ortho visit, but you've answered it for me. I noticed that I have a few of them in apparently random places, and I didn't know what they were or why I have them.

As for the archwire, my ortho's tech bends the ends of the archwire so they won't poke my cheek, and they allow some movement without causing problems. It works very nicely!

Meryaten, i read your tip this morning, and after eating and brushing i notice both lower and upper wires are protruding on the left (2nd time this happened)
i used the gum stimulator and push it back and it worked!
lol i guess if it happens again i'll give my ortho a call and see if they use the "stops" i doubt they do though