Help -- Molar Band Edges Are Shredding My Tongue

[candle1112]

I have 4 molar bands on right now,and I'm five days into braces. The bottom 2 molar bands are making mincemeat of my tongue.

Surprisingly, it's not the lingual hooks that are the problem, but instead, it seems to be the top and bottom edges of the band that are acting like little razor blades. My tongue is kind of big naturally, and I definitely can't move it out of the way of those 2 bottom bands so every time I swallow, talk or chew or smile, the band edges slice my tongue. Oh by the way, lucky me is getting 4 more bands on the teeth right next to my molars on Thursday. Yikes!!!!

Has anyone else had this problem should the top and bottom edges of the bands cause such sores. Does this happen with all molar bands or only if they aren't fitted and seated properly. There's got to be something my ortho can do about this.

Any suggestions would really, really, really, really help.

[Timetoshine]

Hi
Unfortunately it is normal :/ your mouth will get used to them (even though it doesn't feel like it for the first week!)
I got my molar bands on about 3-4 months into treatment and found the edges of those metal bands have been the worst issue on my tongue and feels since starting treatment. I had trouble swallowing and there was no way of avoiding the pain everytime I swallowed or even talked sometimes- those edges are SO sharp at the start! I found using heaps of wax on the edges that are sharp helped, and I kept on doing this until my mouth got used to it all. Also salt water rinses using warm water was soothing.
I have 4 molar bands at the moment and getting 2 more fitted in a month- oh joy :/
But - the results are SO worth it.
Hope this helps, even if it doesn't take away all the pain. Use ibuprofen or Panadol for the pain in the meantime- as life doesn't and shouldn't stop just because you have braces on.

[Timetoshine]

Oh- forgot to mention....
If they are really causing probs let your ortho know- maybe he/she can use some of the material (they use to build up the molar surface) around the sharp edges to prevent them cutting into you and make things more comfortable??
just an idea- my molars have blue build-up stuff on them to build them up a bit, and also around molar bands a bit too, so no reason why they couldn't spread some around a bit further?!

[candle1112]

Timetoshine, it does help to know there are others out there going through the same thing. How long did it take your tongue to get used to them. I'm afraid mine never will because they feel so sharp, even when I rub my fingers against them to check.
I will definitely ask about the blue material when I get the other bands this Thursday. I will be so happy to get rid of these 8 spacers so I don't have them grinding into my gums everytime I chew.

[JumpTheDitch]

You could let your ortho know that the cleats are causing you trouble; if they're not going to be utilised in your treatment, your ortho might be willing to either grind them down, bend them flat(ish), or apply adhesive to smooth them over. If they're going to be used, or if you have an ortho like my first one (who didn't use my cleats, never planned on involving them, but flat out refused to make them less nasty), you'll just have to tough it out. I didn't believe I'd ever get used to them; amazingly, your tongue quickly toughens up. Really. Soon you won't notice them at all. Promise.

Good luck

[candle1112]

[quote="JumpTheDitch"]You could let your ortho know that the cleats are causing you trouble; if they're not going to be utilised in your treatment, your ortho might be willing to either grind them down, bend them flat(ish), or apply adhesive to smooth them over. If they're going to be used, or if you have an ortho like my first one (who didn't use my cleats, never planned on involving them, but flat out refused to make them less nasty), you'll just have to tough it out. I didn't believe I'd ever get used to them; amazingly, your tongue quickly toughens up. Really. Soon you won't notice them at all. Promise.

Good luck :D[/quote]
Wow, you were so correct. I now have 4 molar bands on top and 2 on the bottom (they kept the spacers around 2 of the bottom molars to make more room to put the final bands on) and my tongue feels 100% better since my initial post about 2 weeks ago. I would never have believed that my tongue wouldn't feel raw constantly. I don't think it toughened up that much. I think I've just trained my tongue to stay in the middle of my mouth and avoid those sharp molar band edges. Regardless, it is still sore, but not unbearable. Now my lower and top lips are the issue, but I'll tough it out and see how it goes. Thanks so much everyone for encouraging words.

[klobird]

Tell your ortho every little thing that is bugging you!! They can do sooooo many things that you are not aware can be done. If they are not going to use the lingual cleats, they may very well grind them down. Mine did. What a relief!!

Also, you really need to let the ortho know about the sharp molar band edges. They can grind on them to make them more comfortable. REALLY!

Bottom line---they won't do anything unless you tell them what you are feeling....

I'm 57yrs old--braces at 55--braces off last April--and have been throught it all!!! And it was worth every minute of raw tongue and ulcered cheeks and dry lips--the reward is AMAZING!!!

[HJS]

put a wax to cover it