Spacers

[AK710]

I will be getting my spacers next month and I want to know how bad do they really hurt?
The nurse at my ortho's office said that it is the worst part of having braces.

Also, I get cancer sores pretty easily when I accidentally bite the inside of my mouth. Will I end up having sores until I get my braces off?

[Sunny]

Where I work, we don't use molar bands any more, but instead use molar brackets, which don't need spacers. The ortho's regularly refer to spacers as being the most difficult part of treatment. The reasons being that they're are 'forcing' teeth to move apart quickly ... much more quickly than the archwires will do. Also these teeth are being forced to move at a time when they've not even become a little loose ... like the usual process of orthodontics. These two factors can mean discomfort for many people ... but not everyone and some adjust very quickly.

I used to get mouth sores every month and was very concerned about this when consulting with ortho's prior to beginning treatment. The ortho I chose recommended I rinse at least twice a day with warm salt water for the length of my treatment. He also asked me to rinse more often if my mouth was sore. I've done this ... and I've not had any mouth sores in the past 5 1/2 years. It's amazing, as it was considered my my doctor that my mouth sores were the result of hormonal changes every month. When my treatment is over ... the warm salt water rinses will not be.

Another important way to keep mouth sores away is to make sure you use generous amounts of wax on any brackets from the second you feel them rub. It's important to allow your mouth to toughen with the wax over your brackets, rather than to let sores develop and then the new cells have to form and the healing/toughening process has to begin again.

Wax ... salt water rinses ... mean no mouth sores for most people!

Good luck!

[moonie]

awesome advice Sunny, I will remember that!!

[AK710]

Wow thanks. A lot of my sores were/are hormonal related so this is great advice for me. I noticed that when I would get that 1 sore (which wasn't every month unless I bit the inside of my jaw), brushing more frequently helped. I think it is because it cut down on the bacteria in the mouth and got the circulation going again. That plus orajel and a mouthwash worked. I plan on asking the ortho if he can put wax on my brackets while he is putting the braces on.

[Sunny]

I plan on asking the ortho if he can put wax on my brackets while he is putting the braces on.

AK I recommend you do this, as it can take some people a while to get the idea of how to do it. The best way is to mould a small amount in your hand ... maybe the size of a pea, then add more and more, until it sits just fine. If it tries to slide off, put some more wax on and mould it more around the bracket. Some wax can take a little longer than other kinds ... but it will still work and you'll get used to the type you can get.

[lileepers]

Sunny's advice is pretty spot on!

When I got my spacers, they really weren't all that bad. I was sore for a couple of days, and chewing was weird because they got in the way, but that was pretty much it.

[AK710]

Ok I will ask just that. I've read that it takes some ppl 45 mins to have their braces put on. I love my ortho and he is so patient and has a wonderful staff. I hope I can get the wax applied asap and then take some pain meds just in case (2 hour appt) b/c I want to eat when I'm done. I can't afford to lose any weight whatsoever so I want to try to be up and chewing a little bit of something before the discomfort hits me.

[Sunny]

We recommend our patients wait four hours to make sure the bonding has completed curing, and then sugggest they get back to eating their usual diet asap. If you're feeling a bit anxious about chewing, cut foods into smaller pieces. This way you can chew some foods and not others ... and swallowing them will be good. You may eat a little slower for the first day or two, but there's no reason why you can't eat what you usually do and there's no reason why you should loose weight. Many people gain weight during the first few weeks, due to drinking higher calorie foods, due to not wanting to chew.

Seriously ... about the wax ... you really should do it yourself in front of your ortho or one of his assistance, so you can work out if you're doing it the best and easiest way. The sooner you learn that, the better for you and your mouth!

Good luck and here's to you having no or minimal discomfort!

[moonie]

Chewing isn't comfortable, but eating so far seems manageable. I can't wait to get back to normal though.. I've been eating pasta, soup, and english muffins (those are soft)..

Wax is awesome. I am using it all the time right now. It's not the inside of my mouth, but the sides of my mouth (lips) that get bothered by the brackets.

[lileepers]

YES I was on an english muffin / soup / mashed potatoes diet for my first week!

Trust me, it gets better Keep pushing yourself, and keep using that wax.

Also, salt water rinses (and/or a product like Peroxyl will help to heal up those irritations.

[tigerfan88]

How painful the spacers are kinda depends on how crowded your teeth are, at least as far as I've heard. My teeth were extremely crowded, so when I got my spacers last year, it was incredibly painful. For the two weeks that I had the spacers and the first two weeks of my braces treatment, I basically could not eat anything that required chewing. Things like Advil, macaroni and cheese, and pasta become your best friend.

The only advice I'd give would be to follow the orthodontist's instructions to a T. Also, use that wax once you get the braces--it will greatly help with preventing/making sores feel better. After a few weeks, though, your mouth becomes used to the braces and you don't have those irritating sores anymore.