Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi. I've had my braces for about 8 months, now. My teeth look and feel awesome, but before, my teeth were spread out, because I sucked my fingers, since I was a baby. I don't know what you call that. But, before, my tongue fit just right in the roof of my mouth. And, at night, I sleep with my mouth open and my tongue either at my bottom teeth ( at which it fit) or at the roof of my mouth. Now, that my spaces are all closed, my tongue pushes on the back of my top teeth. It sits on the top of my bottom of my bottom teeth. I am worried, that after I get my braces off, My tongue will eventually push my teeth back out! Anyone think of this? This is making me nervous. I will be getting permanent retainers on top and bottom, is it going to be ok? Thank you in advance.

It's perfectly normal for the tongue to rest against the back surface of the teeth at rest. There is something called a "tongue thrust", and it's characterized by the tongue going out between the teeth (and I believe usually touching the lips) before swallowing. (Wikipedia has a decent description.) A tongue thrust would mess up your treatment, but what you described doesn't sound like one.

I think you just aren't used to your tongue touching your teeth all the time; now that they've been pulled back in, you are just getting used to the sensation.

I second sirwired's comments. What you described sounds about the same as where my tongue has always rested. As long as you don't have a thrusting problem, this should be fine.

OMG I could have written this post! Same boat. So afraid that I'm gonna mess up my overbite because my tongue doesn't "fit" in my mouth anymore lol