New to forum, eating with Bluegrass Appliance???

[jennyH]

Hi everyone...I'm so happy to have found this place!

I'm on my 20th month of braces...started with damons for 6 months before my wedding (May 2008) to close gaps for photos...took them off for wedding and honeymoon and now have clear brackets.

Last night they placed the Bluegrass Appliance to correct my tongue thrusting problem and I'm finding it soooo hard to talk and impossible to eat anything solid...anyone have tips???? How long will it take to get used to it?

Thanks

[Sunny]

Hi Jenny, my orhto made an appliance very similar to the bluegrass to help with my tongue thrust and it did an awesome job.

I think it took me a week or two to get used to my tongue having to go to a different area to make some speaking sounds, and this was a bit of a challenge ... but eventually it happened without me having to think about it ... which is the best part.

I never had any problems eating with my one, so not sure why that's happening to you. Hopefully with plenty of practise, you'll quickly adjust. Try cutting your food into small pieces, then do as much or as little chewing as you can and drink plenty of water.

Good luck and remember that if your tongue thrust isn't retrained, any ortho work will be undo by that powerful muscle ... so this is a really good thing to do!

[jennyH]

Thanks Sunny,
I don't know why either...my appliance isn't "exactly" like the one shown. I find there is a big gap between the ball and the roof of my mouth...so the food passes both over it and under it and my tongue gets confused.

I hope the speaking gets better fast...with the school year fast approaching I need to be able to speak for interviews (I'm a teacher but don't have a job yet for this year!)