Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi felicia!

Essex retainers affected my speech every so slightly. My "s" sounded like "sh" for a few days. You do have to get used to them. Like tumbledrylow says, only you yourself notices it.

Hi ranita!

The same thing happened to me. Small gaps were starting to re-open during the week I had to wait for my retainer. Once the retainer was in my mouth, the gaps started to close in a few hours.

It is totally normal for this to happen.

Hope this helps!

Hi macgirl4ever!

My Essix retainers are always tight at first, but feel better after a few minutes. Definitely raise your concerns with your ortho at your retainer check.

Hope this helps!

Okay, I've had my retainers now for 3 weeks and I still hate them. Do you?

I would just put your retainers on when you get home from the festivities. If it makes you feel better, try to wear them before you head out for the night. It is hard not to obsess wearing the retainers because we obsessed over the braces. Don't worry and have a wonderful time! I'm usually in bed be...

My molars don't touch on the left side in the back. This is because my bite was so off, that I wore down all my teeth improperly on that side of my mouth. Even though they don't touch, I can still chew food properly. Hope this helps!

I've been instructed to wear my retainers 12 hours a day. Like haywire, I hate my Essix too. They are a pain to get in and out of my mouth

Haywire, your teeth look amazing! Great results! I rinse my retainers with water and use a toothbrush without toothpaste to clean them. The toothpaste can scratch the retainer and make it look cloudy. My retainers make me lisp really bad! I love how my teeth look without them too, but we have to do ...

Congratulations Haywire! Welcome to the club! When I first got my Essix retainers, the ortho had to take them out for me twice. He reassured me that after a few days, it won't be so painful and easier to get off. Like LB suggested, pull with your fingernails in the back to loosen the retainer and th...

Congratulations on the progress! You have such nicely shaped teeth!

Congratulations! The time is going to fly by very fast for you. Please post some pictures when you are finished!

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to say how happy I am to be a new member of this forum! It is very exciting to be free of braces.

Are any of you still brushing alot? Just as much as when you were in braces? I am constantly brushing my teeth and am wondering if this is normal.

Thanks!!!!

Hi pinkfrost! I got my braces off the day after you! My ortho told me my teeth my shift a little during the week long wait for my retainer. The retainer will put your teeth right back where they belong. I was also afraid of this as well. Do you catch yourself staring at your teeth to see if they mov...

Congrats on your debanding date! It is an amazing feeling to be free of braces. I'd like to address the "perfect teeth" question. My ortho told me that nobody ever has the "perfect" teeth. He said the most important thing is that the roots are straight and your bite is good. Bein...

I always ate with elastics in. Just be sure to change them after you eat!