Jaw becoming smaller, tongue getting bitten!!

[braces15]

I've been on my braces for about a year now. What's nagging at me is that I've plucked out 4 of my teeth for this braces treatment and my lower jaw seems to have become more constricted and closed.

My tongue feels uncomfortable in this position and lately I've been seeing 'bite marks' on my teeth, like I've been applying pressure to them and there are sort of indents on my tongue when I open my mouth.

Before I had my braces my tongue did not feel like very 'present', but now the tongue and teeth/jaw contact is getting irritating and I cannot close my mouth properly without having to sqeeze my tongue into the place.

I have told my orthodontist about this feeling but she told me to just tolerate it. I am 15 now and I do not want to have this tongue stuck in mouth constricted feeling for the rest of my life.

Please tell me, is this considered normal in braces treatment?

It seems that my orthodontist is negligent as the gums around my teeth are also receding and it's only after 8 months of feeling on tenterhooks and being told to brush properly (well, I had two -- one left the clinic, and they both told me the same thing: BRUSH properly but other than that one was saying that I brushed rather well.) that I finally put my foot down and visited a gum specialist who told me that the gum shrinking not because of my brushing style.

The gums have shrunk down 1.5mm (I estimate) in my lower front teeth and I feel real conscious about that.

I've been thinking if it was the right choice to do braces, after all. But the people said it would take one year more for me. So please advise. I really need your help.

[xyz2008]

I am suffering the same pain that you have. with that tongue constricted in the tight little space of the smaller jaw. At one point, the tongue hurt so much that I could barely eat. After that went away, the sides of my tongue have tingling, burning pain and numbness. I am hoping it can go away. I really made a bad choice by going through all this. How are you doing now? Is it better?

Regarding your gum shrinking issue, I think it is a cleaning issue. You need to have your teeth cleaned by your general dentist's office often, at least 2 to 3 times a year. And every day, you need to spend considerable time brushing and flossing your teeth, and using a mouth rinse. In my case, I spend 30 minutes in cleaning the teeth every night. And I brush my teeth after each meal. So, my gums are doing OK. The hygienist was actually impressed. So, believe me, as long as you are diligent in cleaning, your gum tissue would be all right.