Newbie struggling

Discussions relating to Lingual Braces (behind-the-teeth) only, such as iBraces and LingualCare.

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Bracedballerina
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:49 am

Newbie struggling

#1 Post by Bracedballerina »

Hi

I'm a 31 year old woman who finally bit the bullet after years of indecision and got braced on 15.2.10.

I have ordinary linguals (no fancy ibraces for me!) and I am having a hard time.

The worst thing is my speech! It's definitely off and although I think it has improved over the week I am still really self conscious about it :( Please tell me it gets better soon! I am a primary school teacher and although my students have been absolutely lovely, I hate reading aloud to them now (it used to be my favourite part of the day).

Also, I am still having major problems eating - all liquids and mashed potato so far. I'm a vegetarian so that's a little restrictive too. Not that I mind the resulting weight loss - I've just dipped below the 100lb mark :D

The downside being that due to lack of food I fainted in church this morning (in front of around 300 people :oops: )

The pain is definitely better and I've now gone 2 days without wax, so my tongue is toughening up, but when oh when will I speak normally and eat???

All encouragement and words of wisdom appreciated!

Thanks :D

drrick
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Joined: Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:10 am
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#2 Post by drrick »

I have used regular lingual braces for many years and have treated several elementary school teachers so I understand the concerns for reading aloud to the students. I suggest you somply practice reading out loud at home (I actually rec this to all of my lingual pts) This helps tremendously. It has been less than a week and teh first few weeks are teh hardest with soreness etc(whether tehy be lingual or regular outside braces) It will get better.
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rolo
Posts: 407
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:41 am

#3 Post by rolo »

Try warm salt water rinses (1/8 teaspoon salt in a glass of warm water). Yoghurts /cold deserts might help on the food front. For me soreness soreness was a temporary thing and as bad / worse with regular ceramic braces on the bottom and lingual uppers. Good luck, hope things improve soon

linguallover
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:42 pm

#4 Post by linguallover »

It will get better soon!

I've got incognito lingual braces which I've had for around 7 months now. The orthodontist warned me that it would effect my speech and make my tongue sore but what surprised me most was how much my teeth hurt just after they were fitted. He didn't give me much warning about that and I couldn't eat food of normal consistancy for a couple of weeks.

I've not done much looking around the forum so I don't know if anyone else has done the same but I also found that I had to adapt my eating technique! You kind of have to get used to not being able to completely clear your mouth of food before taking your next bite, and get used to the feeling of food dangling from your braces on the inside of your mouth lol. I don't move my tongue about my mouth whilst I'm eating, I keep it still (harder than it sounds) and kinda suck the remainder into the middle of my mouth to chew again and swallow lol. It sounds megga complicated but it's just now the way I naturally eat. So as far as the eating goes, once the pain subsides and you can bite down again I'm sure you'll be fine.

I did a lot of research before getting my braces and everyone said that I would lisp and for some weird reason I thought that wouldn't effect me, it did! I also read people saying that i'd adapt after a couple of weeks and my lisp would go...which I didn't believe. In my mind I thought...how is it possible for it to go? If I lisp, i lisp! But again I adapted and now speak like a normal person lol. Noone ever notices it as much as you do. My lisp is gone but I don't pronouce my S in the way you do without braces. It isn't in fact possible because of the obstruction. Some people recommend blocking the gap with wax but I found that made mine 10 times worse. My S's are whistles instead of lisps which when pronounced sounds totally normal. I've heard myself on tape and I sound just the same as before the braces...basically it won't go, it will just change and you will sound normal again. I felt like I had to explain myself to people when I first got them but noone ever noticed unless I pointed it out. The only time it becomes a problem is in a veeeeeeery noisey place when I have to speak really loud...I can't not lisp then!

I noticed my teeth change so fast and as they move sometimes new areas rub and get sore but other than that I forget that I have them most of the time. I got used to them mostly after a couple of weeks when I mastered speech again but to get used to them to the point where I totally forget them took about 5 months. I have a spring behind one tooth at the moment pushing the ones either side outwards to make room and that one is horrible. I have to avoid putting my tongue there at all as it pinches my tongue and its the most cringey feeling EVER but again...I adapted to it and now its fine.

Oh...the other thing I'll say which I'm wondering if other people have experienced also is...I dribble a hell of a lot more in my sleep! Pretty weird lol.

Anyways hope my experience has helped you. I promise you it will get better even if you don't feel like it will. Your teeth are constantly changing and as they do every day it gets a bit easier :) xx

P.S Try experimenting with your speech by saying the following:

Suzie suzie sitting in a shoe shine shop. She sits and shines and shines and sits, she sits and shines and shines and sits. Suzie suzie sitting in a shoe shine shop! ;)

Bracedballerina
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:49 am

#5 Post by Bracedballerina »

Thanks everyone - greatly appreciated!

Eating and pain are much better, so I'll just hang in there with the speaking and keep practising at home :D

Cheers!

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