Metal Mouth Message Board

In January I hit my 12 month mark with braces. Originally I was given a treatment time of 12 months. So my ortho is open to trying anything and everything, as long as I am open, to tame my tongue thrust and close my bite. At this point, I am open to just about anything! At my appointment on Monday, my ortho discussed options with me regarding tongue guards. He suggested based on my swallow and tongue position that we try a lower tongue guard first. He said this is done over 3 appointments. On Monday I had spacers put in for the bands. Ouch! I don't remember my bottom teeth hurting this much in the beginning. Friday morning I go back in to have my bands placed and then in a week or so I will go back for the appliance. A little nervous about it but I am willing to do whatever it takes to get done! The one nice thing is that my ortho is not trying to rush me along. He also did not sugar coat the fact that it is going to be uncomfortable and a bit hard on me. I told him I was good to go.

I had a couple of questions that I wanted to see if anyone on here could answer because my internet research is hitting a wall.
1. How long does it typically take to change a tongue thrust habit?
2. Has anyone ever had a tongue guard or crib installed on the bottom teeth? I keep finding only things about the top.
3. How has it been with speaking and eatting?
4. Were you able to kiss your significant other?
5. Can you lick your lips? I tend to do this a lot but that may be due to the tongue thrust.

Any answers you could provide would be greatly appreciated!!!

[quote="sara2280"]
2. Has anyone ever had a tongue guard or crib installed on the bottom teeth? I keep finding only things about the top.

Any answers you could provide would be greatly appreciated!!![/quote]

Crickets ... anyone??? I'd really like to know too

My dentist says I thrust my tongue into the grooves behind my lower front teeth :-(

andrea83 wrote:

sara2280 wrote: 2. Has anyone ever had a tongue guard or crib installed on the bottom teeth? I keep finding only things about the top.

Any answers you could provide would be greatly appreciated!!!

Crickets ... anyone??? I'd really like to know too

My dentist says I thrust my tongue into the grooves behind my lower front teeth

Yup. I had a lower lingual holding arch, that was modified with spikes. You can see photos of it in my open bite thread. They eventually filed down the spikes, and then removed the arch when intrusion was finished.

If you are having teeth position issues relating to tongue posture, you really should look for a Speech Language Pathologist, Dentist, or Dental Hygienist that is a Certified Oral Myologist.

http://www.iaom.com/pdf/memberDirectory.pdf

@jfriend33

I have seen pictures of the spikes ... it sounds barbaric ... and no offense but that looks dreadful

I'm glad you got yours filed down now.

My sister's friend is a speech therapist I was thinking I should talk to her ... no she's not on the list but maybe she knows something about all this. It doesn't look like there is an orthodontist in my area who is on that list unfortunately.

Thanks so much for the info!