Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello everyone. I have a question for anyone that might be able to help. I've done tons of research and can't find any answers.

I've had braces for 8 months now, for the past three months I've been wearing an elastic to fix a cross bite, but today when I went in for an adjustment my ortho told me to stop wearing the elastic and start doing this bite exercise. It seems kind of weird to me. He told me to bite down as hard as I could for 10 seconds every minute, everyday till my next adjustment. This seems lucrative to me. Every minute? How does he actually expect me to do this?

So my question is: Did anyone else have to this? Or does anyone know why I have to do this? Meaning, what is it going to correct. He explained it quickly and I didn't understand.

You should phone his office and ask him to clarify.

I've seen this same question come up a few times on the board so apparently your ortho is not the only one out there telling patients to do this. I can only speculate on why. My guess is that he is trying to settle your bite--make your molars come together properly when you chew. As for clenching every minute of every day, I agree, that's a bit much to remember, so how about chewing gum as much as possible? (Yup, people with braces can chew gum--the sugarless stuff that does not stick.) At least then you have something to actually bite down on.

Thank you for your response. I think I'm gonna try the gum. I feel better to know other people were told to do the same thing. I searched on the boards but couldn't find any, I'll search again now. Thanks so much again!

Here's one of the threads: viewtopic.php?t=30970&highlight=

well its been 3 appointments and im stlil clecnhing as hard as i can
4 hours a day
i think its cuz my top jaw looks like its more out than my bottom so he wants to close that range

he said he still sees a small gap and wants me to keep clenching