Day 1 with bottom braces fitted

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#1 Post by **sad sam** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:58 am

I have had my top braces fitted for about 5 weeks and was just getting used to them but then had to have the bottom ones fitted yesterday !! the bottom of my tongue is hurting so much and I have already got 3 sores come up and I am working from home today so am not even talking that much. Any advice on how to get rid of the sores quickly or do I just have to wait until the underside of my tongue is used to the brackets!

Thanks

Sam

#2 Post by **xTc** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:38 am

Gargle salt water? Apply the wax and practice speaking? Just think back to how it was when you had the uppers on!

I've got my appointment with the ortho tomorrow

How did you find the Uppers? Are they Incognito? (iBraces)

#3 Post by **saps** » Tue Sep 30, 2008 7:28 pm

Sam,
I had both upper and lowers down at the same time and I admit that I was miserable (mostly because of the underside and back of the tongue) during the first days. I know you've heard it all before but wax, soft foods, Orajel (for me) was what got me through.

Hang in there. It gets much better and the time goes fast. I know that's cold comfort right now but best wishes!!

#4 Post by **sad sam** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:52 am

xTc - I was worst with the uppers (ibraces) but I think that was because I was just not aware of how the braces would feel! and was only on soups and smoothies for the first few days so lack of food did not help either. I did not have any speach problems though and no one has noticed.

The few friends I have told have been amazed and one of my friends is now even now thinking of getting them but has never had the courage before!!

I am actually feeling more positive now and it is only day 2 with the lowers. It took me about a week to get through the miserable stage with the uppers !!

I have now been wearing wax and gargling with Salt water all day and eating bonjela gel like it is going out of fashion which has helped and feel better than I did yesterday.

Saps - you are right about the underside and back of tongue. It was back of my tongue with the uppers and now underside with the lowers. Not sure I would have wanted that all at once but then you do get used to it quicker and I have had to go through that beginning stage twice!

I know that the time will go fast and there has already been movement in my top teeth which is good.

all the best
Sam

#5 Post by **anniev2** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:07 pm

Sam -

The first few days are really difficult. When I got my iBraces applied i talked only when necessary after I realized that too much talking was what made my tongue raw.

HERE IS MY ADVICE ON PAIN: Talk as much as you would normally, UNTIL you start to notice the sores or pain....then let your tongue heal by applying wax to the problem areas and talk less until healed. (And I had to be honest with myself, putting metal in my mouth on the lingual side was going to cause some pain so I had to be ready for it. )

SPEECH: In the beginning, like i said, I only used wax when absolutely necessary so that my tongue would get used to things. I didn't even worry about my speech during this time b/c I couldn't work on pain and speech at the same time. Eventually, to help with my speech I ended up putting wax behind my front teeth so that I could make the 'S' and 'T' sound better. THen I removed that all together.

HTH!

#6 Post by **EBSESQ** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:18 pm

Use silicone wax on your lowers. I've had I-Braces now for 6 months and still use silicone when I have external meetings for work or if a sore comes up.

Drink lots of water to stay hydrated--I prefer hot water to cold.

Other than that, it will take about 10-14 days to get used to the lowers and then you should be fine.