Metal Mouth Message Board

Has anyone noticed other benefits from braces? I have had migraines for years and since becoming braced, have not had a migraine! AWESOME!!!

I've been in orthodontic treatment for TMJD. I've been able to siginificantly reduce severe facial muscle spasming that was causing me major ear pain, ear stuffiness and hearing loss.

I've had some imbalance in my facial symmetry for years. I hadn't realized that it had progressed so much over recent years. In my follow-up appointment this week, my orthodontist pointed out how much my symmetry has been improving. I'm now looking forward to the end of treatment to see how much my facial appearance and function have improved.

Congrats on the improvement of your migraines.

This is only a silly benefit, but to me its pretty cool. I used to bite my lips all the time, Iwouldnt realise I was doing it until I tasted blood. Now I cant bite them as I have all this junk stopping me actually being able to. Not that I get much benefit from it as my lips are going through the horiible "we are gong to be dry and cracked unless you wear a years worth of lip balm" phase

The other benefit, is more of a by product, but I have smoked for 14 years, Iv tried to stop millions of times but hadnt been able to. My ortho told me Id need o quit and I kept trying and trying and just couldnt, until it suddenly clicked in my head.... as soon as those bracekets go on, smoking is gunna stain around them and make them terrible when they come off (yes i know the health implications too but that knowledge never helped me quit) Now im 8 days smoke free, no nicotine replacement therapy, I just stopped 2 days before getting the brackets. I know for a fact, I woud still be smoking if I ddnt have my brace.

Great news, purpleandteal!

Keep up the good work!

TMJJill: Thanks! Isn't it great knowing you're going to come out with more than just a dazzling smile?

Benefits?

Here's some of mine (:
- I smile alot more, so my cheek bones are becoming more noticable. (I've always wanted sharp cheek bones)
- I'm about, 90 times happier now and am becoming more confident.
- I brush and floss my teeth religiously.
- I don't eat hard foods, candy or drink soda anymore, so my diet is improving.

[quote="marybee"]I have had migraines for years and since becoming braced, have not had a migraine![/quote]

That is great to hear, Marybee. I get migraines, too, and I'm dreading the possibility that I might get more migraines from the tension of a tight adjustment. But maybe I'll get lucky like you! {{fingers crossed!!}}

Really? No more migraines!! Sign me up now!! All kidding aside, I'm pretty sure that I have TMJ due to an under bite and have been getting lots of migraines, neck and ear pain. I have yet to get the whole ball rolling on a treatment plan. I have picked my ortho, the same ortho that treated my daughter. I need to get a couple of fillings and a crown replaced and then my journey will begin hopefully by spring of 2013!!

I had sinus problems before I got braces. Now I rarely have any problems.

I can no longer bite my nails! I've been a nail biter for as long as I can remember but because my front teeth are shifting all around they no long meet the same way. HUGE BENEFIT for me *pretty hands*:D Hope I can keep it up once these babies come off.

I quit smoking when I knew for sure I was going to deal with braces, dentist told me that smoking with braces is horrible for your mouth. I have quit many times before, but this was the last time. Quit in early July or last week of June.. Don't really know. I become Metal Mouth Aug 28, right before age 33.

I have stopped soda and juice drinking, acid is not good for brackets. I have stopped chewing gum (hardest).

I brush and floss as LOT more. I'm eating less and that kicked me off on going out for walks twice a day. Also, I think they look awesome so I smile all the time.

Amazing, isn't it? Who would have thought the benefits outweigh a few months.......okay, maybe a year or more of having braces can also improve more than just teeth!

marybee wrote:Amazing, isn't it? Who would have thought the benefits outweigh a few months.......okay, maybe a year or more of having braces can also improve more than just teeth!

I always thought that but I also always thought braces. Are. AWESOME!! (Yo Gabba Gabba reference)

My clicky jaw has improved. I was worried it would worsen with braces as I had read it can be a possibility.
The left side of my jaw has clicked for years and actually got worse and worse. It clicked every time I opened my mouth, when I chewed my food and sometimes when when I would talk. But now when I open my mouth it doesn't click and neither does it when I chew my food. There are times when it does click after I wake up in the morning but within a few hours it disappears, I would say this happens maybe once every couple of weeks. My jaw no longer aches which is great because before my jaw would ache really bad and I would get ear pain from it too. So this is a bonus because I didn't get braces because of this problem and it wasn't the plan to try and improve it. I just thought it would be something I would have to live with or get a bite plate for

Being able to smile in photos with some teeth showing and not be embarrassed is the best thing ever. I do still want to whiten my teeth after braces and that will be the icing on the cake I think.

My lips look a little fuller now. Some of that has been due to the aligning of my teeth but some because of the brackets themselves so I hope it doesn't decrease too much once the braces are removed.

I no longer eat chewy or hard boiled sweets! I miss them though

I am another nail biter. I have tried to give so many times and managed a few months before I was nibbling again. I cant get at them now and I only have the bottoms ones on as yet and my nails look alot better already