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Reply With QuoteHmmm I can't say if my headaches have been caused purely by elastics, but I wouldn't be surprised if the two were positively correlated. I've noticed more jaw pain/ tension actually.
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Although I've been wearing elastics for the most part of 16 months I took a break for 12 weeks. Now I'm back in elastics but in a new configuration with a triangle on one side and Class II on the other.
My question is, have any of you experienced headaches with a new elastics configuration? I have been getting these headaches for the past week, and I noticed it's been happening since my adjustment. It could also be from me grinding my teeth... because I seem to unconsciously do it. *shrug*
Any feedback is appreciated! :)
Senior Member
Hmmm I can't say if my headaches have been caused purely by elastics, but I wouldn't be surprised if the two were positively correlated. I've noticed more jaw pain/ tension actually.
Senior Member
OMG yes!!
I actually wrote this exact same thing in a post somewhere on here last week. I hadn't been having any major pains with my Elastics until he switched me 3 weeks ago to the smaller ones and doubled me up. Since then, I've been having non-stop headaches and jaw aches. I can only assume they're to blame. On the flipside though, I swear my overjet has been minimized by like 50mm's LOL
I think I need to take a pic. If that's the case, then yes- they're on the move big time.
I've also been keeping mine on during meals when I used to remove them. The new 24/7 schedule is probably contributing too. Hang in there. You can see that checkered flag!!!
Senior Member
Well, confirmed. Just took my overjet pic and my teeth are definitely on the move with these new elastics.
new elastics progress 6wk.jpg
The headaches, honestly, have been pretty tough on me. I rarely get them and being that it's been a steady 3 wks of them- I'm gettin uneasy. I noticed mine about a week into them, and it's been non-stop ever since. Fortunately for us- our appointments are 4 wks in between, so hopefully you won't have to deal with it for much longer. ;(
Not saying you *should* but, at my last appointment when he was testing the strengths of my (then) current elastics, to the new ones- I made a joke saying "want me to wear them both at the same time"? *chuckle* He looked for a minute and goes "ya know what, I do. It won't hurt to double up. {using only the new smaller ones}. Lookin at my pic above, mixed with the hella head pain, makes me realize it's done a WORLD of difference. I was seeing such little progress on my Overjet in the Zebra Elastics, that my ortho kept explaining the importance of them to me at my checkups. I was like, I know. I promise. I'm wearing them 23 hours a day except to eat (his orders). I then also started do ing the jaw exercises he told me to try that I blogged about. It was almost overnight too last week. I went to bed, woke up, and was like like WHOA- my bottom teeth are touching my top ones!! I guess it makes the pain worth it. Hang in there!!
Last edited by BlondeAddiction; 07-18-2012 at 06:50 AM.
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Wow BlondeAddiction your teeth really are moving!! That's awesome. I have not been in elastics yet, and I gotta tell ya, I am terrified of the thought. My mouth is rather small, and my fingers are big, and I am afraid that I won't be able to wear elastics like the ortho tells me too. That I won't be able to put them in right, is what I should say. Have you had much difficulty when you change yours? lightskinnnn38 please feel free to weigh in too, because you are one of the more experienced blogger/posters on here. Thanks ladies :)
Senior Member
When I first got my rubberbands they are SO small. I mean they are the size of a pencil eraser. My rubberbands come with a hook and I used the hook for the first couple weeks. But eventually I just stretched the rubberbands with my fingers and put them around my brackets. After a while you don't even need the mirror to put them in because you can just know what bracket to attach them to without looking. I have a small mouth too and I can wear rubberbands with no problem. It takes a couple weeks to get used to them but omg they do a hell of a job at moving your teeth!!Originally Posted by mrsleighty
Senior Member
Wow! Your teeth have definitely been moving! I wish I took a picture of my overjet before I had braces :-( I had a HUGE overbite where my upper teeth completely covered my lowers and I also had a large overjet. Rubberbands worked WONDERS!
Senior Member
Oh also I do think my headaches are caused by my rubberbands. When I took them out to eat breakfast I was fine. I put them back in and 5 minutes later... headache *sigh* It's only been 2 weeks with this configuration but I wish my mouth would hurry up and get used to this pressure already! lol
Senior Member
HAHA! I remember being horribly afraid of when I was gonna get mine too! I actually wrote a in-depth blog here about it. I had Powerchains on like 16 teeth AND my elastics put on all in the same appointment. I thought I was going to DIE! The pain, the clenching, the aches..I remember that day -er, week- so well. LOL. As for sizing... yeah, you're gonna have issues learning how to do this (another thing I covered in that Blog LOL) about how you'll miss and snap yourself in the mouth numerous times. I wasn't fortunate enough to get one of the hook helper things that my Ortho uses (and lightskinnnn38 got -jealous- haha) so I even tried using Tweezers to no avail. The only time it's been challenging to attach was last month when I had a Powerchain on the teeth that had the hook, and I was having to put two bands on that same hook on TOP of the powerchain. It slipped off a lot til I figured out the way to get it to stay.
Don't be worried, my mouth is tiny and I always have super long nails and I still manage to do it with no issues. The most annoying part to me, is that I have to wear 4 total, 3 times a day- so putting in and taking out 12 bands is bleh. And also like lightskinnnn38 stated, you'll be a pro in no time and won't even need a mirror :)
Last edited by BlondeAddiction; 07-19-2012 at 06:26 AM.
Senior Member
I agree! It's so weird how regular ole rubber bands can do such crazy work! I remember seeing some of your old posts and your overbite. I remember being shocked when I read that you had already had Invisalign before and was left that way. Kudos to you for switching to Metal and correcting your bite because your teeth are so beautiful now!!!
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