Wax

[amychelle]

I've had braces for about 3 days now and am extremly fond of my wax! I wear it on all of my braces a majority of the time because I'm afraid of cutting up my lips. I don't plan on wearing it this frequently forever, but it sure does help for now.

I have a few questions:

The places that hurt my mouth the most is the bare wire where they skipped a tooth on each side and the spacer spring. The spring I cover with wax and am ok, but the wire is unbeatable. It's working on my cheeks pretty hard. Any suggestions?

Does anyone know of drawbacks of wax, at least until I can get a little more used to them?

And finally, any tips on removing wax? I love my electric toothbrush for this, but it's messy.

Thanks for any comments.

[BraceMD]

It's strange- I used wax for the first time a few days ago (i've been braced for three months and never needed it before). I wondered how I was going to get it off the braces... but I never had to get it off because it just disappeared. I must have swallowed it. Then I put some silicone waxy stuff on, and yep I swallowed that too. I bet there's no drawbacks to wax... obviously it's non-toxic!

[jennielee81]

Use more wax...a bigger ball of it on the bare wire. I had that on one bottom side and it would just cut into my lip at night and almost become part of it . Use a bigger "chunk" anywhere you need it.

If you use more, it'll actually be EASIER to remove. Just grab it with your fingernails or clean tweezers and lift it off.

No draw backs to using it that I've experienced in my 5 months.

BRACEMD, funny you should say that you didn't need wax until recently, my daugher never used it for 2 years in braces. Then just 2 weeks before they were removed she was begging me for it and used it ever day until they were removed.

She used to laugh at me...

[HollyDontSpend]

I use wax everyday on my top archwire. It's braided and the ends splinter out. I use a large ball of wax on them and never have a problem. Also, just like Jennilee says, the bigger the wax ball the better it stays on (and comes off). Good luck!

[jaws]

I hate when my wax comes off with my electric toothbrush! You're right amychelle, it's messy! I often use a toothpick to take my wax off (I actually use the dental toothpick that came with the Denta-Kit!). Then it just all comes off in one clump.

As others mentioned, using more on those tough spots is key--put on a huge glob of the stuff!

The only drawback I can think of to wearing wax is that if you use it constantly, your cheeks might not "toughen up" and you'll need to keep using it. Obviously sometimes it's totally necessary and you gotta do what you gotta do! Just try decreasing the amount gradually over time and see what happens.

[spragers]

My ortho put a little plastic tube over the wire where my extraction gaps were. Maybe you can ask your ortho for something like that, until the spaces close up more?

[tkais]

[quote="BraceMD"]It's strange- I used wax for the first time a few days ago (i've been braced for three months and never needed it before).

I've had my braces for over a year and have had to use wax only once or twice. Never had a problem with my braces rubbing.

[starrynight]

I got my braces on yesterday afternoon and have since discovered wax is your friend! I gave my self a scare this morning with it though. I forgot it was on there and my Sonicare brushed it off in large chunks and sent them rolling around in my mouth. My first thought was OH NO did I just break off three brackets!! Then the intelligent rational part of my brain caught up with me and said well even if you did they wouldn't be able to float around in your mouth. The are strung on a wire like beads remember! A quick inspection revealed only wax.

By the way, whoever said that a Sonicare feels great on sore braced teeth was not kidding. I have a renewed appreciation for mine. Thanks so much to all who helped me through picking an orthodontist. Mine is great and so far so good. I wasn't sore until late last night and this morning (braced at 1:30pm). So far not as sore as wisdom teeth but harder to eat solid stuff (it took me two hours, but I ate a huge corndog at a racing event a few hours after my wisdom teeth were removed). Don't laugh, at least I didn't eat steak like my mom did! Hamburger next day though. A girl has to eat right?

Anyway, thanks to all. Here goes my first full day in braces!

[amychelle]

I forgot it was on there and my Sonicare brushed it off in large chunks and sent them rolling around in my mouth.

You aren't kidding! I now have to brush before I brush, first to remove wax, then with toothpaste. I look like a rabbid dog foaming at the mouth when I'm working on the wax. Wax and slobber everywhere.

I bought an OralB electric brush b/c my ortho recomeneded it. I used it a few times before I got braced. I also have to remember to NOT TURN IT ON when it's NOT IN MY MOUTH. Either that or brush my teeth sans shirt. Those boogers can send some toothpaste (and/or wax) flying!

[amychelle]

Opps. I forgot to end the quote.

[TuZZi]

Wax..... how I love thee.... let me count the ways....

1) Upper molar bands, are constantly digging into my tongue, which I was having enough problems with before I got braced.

2) Bottom molar bands have lovely hooks on them which like the added security and warmth of my cheeks.

3) My front tooth sticks out like a sumbitch, so of course the bracket is going to be even worse! Which leads to:

4) My front tooth and canines form a triangle of madness and also try to bury their hooks into the safety of my flesh.

5) It's cool to carry wax in your pocket. People that don't have braces expect you to have some on you at all times.