Metal Mouth Message Board

Im 27 y/o and Ill be getting lingual braces (top and bottom) at the beginning of October.

Anyway, I am super nervous about the process. Ive been reading the message boards pretty regularly and it seems like those of you that get lingual braces end up with speaking impediments, usually lisps. I am also going to be getting 4 teeth (2 lower and 2 upper) extracted which also scares me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do during those first few days after extraction and getting the braces put in?

Ill start posting my "before" pics soon so that you can all see the changes Ill be going through.

Hi shopbop & welcome.

I can understand your excitement/nervousness leading up to your big day. This was pretty much the same for most of us.

I've got linguals on my upper arch (ceramic/metal on the bottom). It took me a few weeks to get used to the placement of the linguals, but once this happens it's all fine. I have no problems with speech either.

Thanks guys! Im concerned that the lisp might be problematic. Ive read elsewhere on this blog that practice swallowing without tongue thrusts helps as well as word pronounciation exercises.

Ill take some pics so that everyone can see what my starting point looks like.

Hi Shopbob, and congratulations!

I don't have linguals, but here's the "Rainbow Passage" that's published elsewhere hear in numerous places. I'm told its very useful in getting your mouth acclimated to your braces and practicing your speech:

The Rainbow Passage

When the sunlight strikes raindrops in the air, they act like a prism and form a rainbow. The rainbow is a division of white light into many beautiful colours. These take the shape of a long round arch, with its path high above, and its two ends apparently beyond the horizon. There is, according to legend, a boiling pot of gold at one end. People look, but no one ever finds it. When a man looks for something beyond his reach, his friends say he is looking for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

So I got my linguals put in last Friday. Getting them on wasnt too tough- took 2 hours or so because the braces are behind the teeth.

Anyway, its been almost a week and so far:

I cant eat anything besides baby food.
I cant speak properly
I broke one bracket.
My tongue is totally torn up.
And i still havent learned how to floss with these things on.

BUT i am very optimistic that things will get better once I get more used to them.

ill try and post pics soon.