Tongue Trainer/Tongue Basket

[SinisterShortcake]

Do any of you guys have experience with a tongue trainer/tongue basket? I'm having one placed tomorrow and I'm a bit apprehensive.

Silly question: Is this a removable or fixed appliance?

I'm worried about what eating will be like with this appliance in place. It seems like it would impede proper chewing.

[SinisterShortcake]

Well I got the tongue trainer today & I despise it. It impedes my tongue function with both speaking & chewing. :0/

[klobird]

I read your blog last night and didn't want to say anything. Kinda figured it was going to be awful. Not too many people here have the tongue thrusting issue--not that I've read anyway...

I surely hope you get used to it soon!

[SinisterShortcake]

Thanks, klobird. My speech being affected is what's bugging me the most. I work HR for a retailer & we are knee-deep in holiday hiring season. I sound very unprofessional now when I speak to applicants. :0(

[redwine]

Working in HR, you'll be the poster child for EOE! Sorry, don't mean to make light of the situation. I'm getting a RPE installed next month and my ortho today reminded me that I would sound pretty silly for quite awhile. Not looking forward to that, as I have to talk with clients, banks and lots of others during the course of the day. Trying to see the bright side is all.

[klobird]

Even with braces alone, I have had times at work in which I have been on the phone talking like Daffy Duck!! Ya, It's embarrasing alright!! Even with that, people have been very understanding...probably just thought I had a speech impediment or something...well, I guess I did!!

Good luck to both of you!!

[Joye30]

I have tongue tamers for my tongue thrust and the first week was awful. The bright side is that they are meant to re-train your tongue and it seems to be working for me bc they don't hurt me anymore and I have figured out a new way to place my tongue. I do still sound funny and I'm on phones all day. I just apologize sometimes when I know I sound bad and say, sorry-I know I'm hard to understand lol

[plugnickel69]

SinisterShortcake, how are you making out?

[SinisterShortcake]

Thanks to all of you for sharing! My speech has gotten notably better. But the appliance has bent and pushed itself closer to the roof of my mouth, so something tells me when I go in for my next follow up that my ortho will bend it right back into that all-in-the-way spot she had it in originally. Ha! It does still bug me sometimes when I chew, depending upon what I'm eating. Can't believe what a whiner I sounded like in that second post! Sorry! I get the need for it; it's just so darn obtrusive. A couple years from now it will all have been worth it.

[19withbraces]

I got the tongue trainer a few months ago and it definitely took some getting used to...like a few months. It's worth is though because with it on I know that my teeth are able to get straight without my tongue getting in the way. It is a pain at first but once you get used to it it is worth it! Good luck!!