Metal Mouth Message Board

Dear New BFF Elastics,

I read about you, before our unexpected introduction today, on the wonderful ArchWired forum. I have to admit though, I never thought we would personally meet especially since I had a chain saw and steel ties put on at my last visit. In our short time together so far (a whole..........four hours) I do feel you will and have had an interesting impact on my life. When I first found out we were becoming friends my immediate thought was "There goes all my snacking." As such I appreciate your unwavering support for me to lose weight.

Second, I wondered how you will impact my yawn (and other activities that involve opening the mouth like talking and wide mouth laughter) and I have found out quite a bit. I kinda talk now like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz before he received oil.

Third, since we are permitted to separate ONLY when I am eating the idea of us coming back together without me brushing my teeth is gross. Although my dental hygiene was pretty good before we became BFFs I thank you for taking me from pretty good to excellent.

Finally, as a true BFF I have to give you feedback. I really did not appreciate it when you popped me inside my cheek when I tried re-uniting us after my dinner (and after I had brushed, flossed and used mouthwash). From the sting however I did learn my lesson to be more careful.

I am looking forward to us spending the next month together as I know it is part of the path to a great smile however, please know at the end of our time together I will not miss you for the reasons cited above.

Regards,

Ceramic Braces Wearer

Dear Ceramic Braces Wearer,
BFF? Please. I know you are using me. Oh sure, you sweet talk me now and promise oral hygiene and we'll be together so much, and on and on. You don't think I notice how you fling me away, discarding me into the nearest waste receptacle as you skip off to a meal, that most likely includes food that your orthodontist disapproves of? And then you complain because I stung you once? I hate to have to say this, but you ain't seen nothing yet, sweetheart. Ever have an elastic break in the middle of a yawn and you think no one will notice but they will? Or, perhaps in the middle of a conversation I'll decide to say goodbye to my mooring and take a speed ride around your mouth?
OK BFF, listen up. Treat me nice. I have a friend, powerchain, who will make me look like Prince Valiant. Yeah, go ahead and ask your ortho about him. You can't do a thing with powerchain except endure. Me, you can replace. You can flush me away, drop me onto the cold wet ground whenever the fancy strikes, but there will be others. We're in this for the long haul. And the haul gets longer if you don't make nice with me.
So you're only keeping me around for a month? OK, whatever. Use me, throw me away, get that perfect smile. But you'll never be able to forget your BFF.
~ Elastics

One of the best exchanges ever!

This place is the best.

P.S. If it's any consolation, I've been wearing elastics every day for 17 months and I've broken a total of three from yawning.

Lol this is great. I've had to wear elastics since day one, and I think I'll be wearing them until the end. After they stopped cutting up my cheeks though I got used to them pretty fast

I've gotten used to mine as well. To the point that when my ortho switched me to one side at night only I kept felt like I was forgetting something during the day and feel like my teeth aren't doing anything unless I have those little suckers in. I do notice my teeth are more sore now that I wear only at night. Weird but true. I kind of miss them all day. I better not say that too loud..I have a midline to fix and I'm sure some weird configuration is down the road.

About the speech impact : wearing elastics didn't change anything in my case, I still kept my lisp lol.

djspeece wrote:Dear Ceramic Braces Wearer,
BFF? Please. I know you are using me. Oh sure, you sweet talk me now and promise oral hygiene and we'll be together so much, and on and on. You don't think I notice how you fling me away, discarding me into the nearest waste receptacle as you skip off to a meal, that most likely includes food that your orthodontist disapproves of? And then you complain because I stung you once? I hate to have to say this, but you ain't seen nothing yet, sweetheart. Ever have an elastic break in the middle of a yawn and you think no one will notice but they will? Or, perhaps in the middle of a conversation I'll decide to say goodbye to my mooring and take a speed ride around your mouth?
OK BFF, listen up. Treat me nice. I have a friend, powerchain, who will make me look like Prince Valiant. Yeah, go ahead and ask your ortho about him. You can't do a thing with powerchain except endure. Me, you can replace. You can flush me away, drop me onto the cold wet ground whenever the fancy strikes, but there will be others. We're in this for the long haul. And the haul gets longer if you don't make nice with me.
So you're only keeping me around for a month? OK, whatever. Use me, throw me away, get that perfect smile. But you'll never be able to forget your BFF.
~ Elastics

This had me cracking up at work! Well written.

P.S. Yes, I am shamelessly using you for my own personal benefit and have no regard for you when I discard you after every meal. There is a slight joy until I remember that without you I will forever have an overbite. You'll be glad to know I further thought of you today as I was at work (rather than the privacy of my home) trying to reunite us after lunch. The looks from my co-workers were priceless as I fought with the tiny hook and tiny elastic with my normal size hands at my desk during a conference call. Simultaneously I wondered how many wrinkles will all this extra cheek pulling cause.

Dear CBW,
I think you'll find that I have some skills that most do not appreciate. For example, you've already experienced my ability to shrink and to elude hooks in the presence of witnesses. I do congratulate you on providing entertainment value to your colleagues at work. You are of course aware that cell phones come with cameras? And that hopefully your coworkers would never stoop to record these performances? Also, I'd recommend you place the phone on "mute" during these skirmishes. I've been known to let obscenities fly from time to time, and it sounds just like it came from you.
Stretching the Envelope,
~Elastics

Does anyone have a really hard time opening their mouth with the elastics in? Also - does it feel like your canine tooth (if attached there) is being pulled out??
I am 2 days into a tighter elastic (Japan) and am STRUGGLING big time.....HELP

amp wrote:Does anyone have a really hard time opening their mouth with the elastics in? Also - does it feel like your canine tooth (if attached there) is being pulled out??
I am 2 days into a tighter elastic (Japan) and am STRUGGLING big time.....HELP

Yes I felt the same thing in the beginning of my treatment. It was also hard for me to open my mouth the first week. Don't worry, it will probably be OK in one week.

Just got elastics on Wednesday... along with new wires AND power chains on top AND bottom. Triple whammy. My mouth is all sorts of angry, but this made me smile. :)