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And how come no one ever tells you how much it truly sucks?! I mean this is the suckiest thing ever! It probably doesn't help that my mouth is SO small to begin with but man!!! there is so much saliva in my mouth I sound like a total freak trying to suck it back all day, I choke on nearly everything I eat and drink and food is constantly stuck up there. Thank god I bought a waterpik I can't wait til it gets here!!
Anyone have advise or tips for these things?! I'll try to post a pic but man it's hard to take one of the inside of your mouth!
It does get easier and you'll adjust quickly. Your saliva will reduce to normal in about a week (but that varies). You'll probably find the most annoyance is the damage it will do to your tongue initially before your tongue toughens.
Sorry to say this, but you got off easy. Some folks have it way worse. The type I have are complete acrylic appliances top and bottom, top was fixed for 15 months and the bottom was fixed for 13 months. When food got stuck under those, it was very hard to get out. During that time, I had my upper appliance out only twice for cleaning and the bottom out once. I still have to wear them, to retain my arch while in the long bite closing/midline adjustment phase (read: lots of elastics for a long time). The good thing is that I can now taken them out to eat and clean, but still have to wear them 24/7 otherwise, along with my collection of elastics.
Here's my thread from nearly a year ago (wow time does fly!)...
Good to hear you are surviving. I am done now so only call in this site occasionally.
will you post some up to date pics?
Jem
Sectional brace with Damon clear brackets fitted to front 6 upper teeth 3 January 2012
Brackets added to premolars 2 April 2012
Estimated treatment time originally 6-9 months. Brace removed on 22 July 2013 after 18 months and 19 days
Now enjoying bonded upper retainer plus part time essix/hawley( I have both)
Really the only advise that I can give is that it gets better as time goes on. I've had mine in for two months now and it's a lot easier for me now. Sure, I still sound stupid and, yes, cutting food up into tiny pieces is a pain, but the result from an expander is SO worth it.
There are good days and there are bad days, just try to focus on the positives and think of how great your teeth will look after all this.
I have been told that it does get better within 2-3 months so I guess all you can do is just hang in there and be patient. How long will you have them for and when will you be getting your braces?
I was fortunate enough to only have to have the "W" appliance expander, and I hated that thing with a passion. Tore my tongue up pretty good, I was never so glad to have that off than the day he replaced it with a cross-pallet support wire. I know it's all for the better in the end, and part of the process. I don't know how you guys do it with those adjustable ones honestly. Just keep telling yourself, the end result is worth it! That's what I did!
sanda wrote:Does an expander ALWAYS give you a gap in your 2 front teeth?
No. I have my expander, and I never got the gap. Some people say that if you don't get one, "it's not working properly," but that is not true in all cases. Mine worked properly and I saw someone else that didn't get the gap either and her expander worked. Everyone is different.
there is so much saliva in my mouth I sound like a total freak trying to suck it back all day, I choke on nearly everything I eat and drink and food is constantly stuck up there. Thank god I bought a waterpik I can't wait til it gets here!! 
