61 yr old metal mouth - lips/mouth allergic????

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#1 Post by **ourfab5** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:56 am

Hi...first time posting but for awhile I have been a grateful "lurker" to this very helpful forum.

I am a proud grandma who decided to get braces at this age basically for pure vanity. Doing the accelerated (6-8 mos) method on top teeth only. Basically for the social 6. Teeth have responded very well and the change was amazing very quickly and I know it will be worth it. BUT......

I have had nothing but problems and pain with my lips from the very beginning - I've had them almost 7 mos. and if one more person tells me I won't even notice them after a couple of weeks

.....

I have had swelling, burning, sores, cracked lips, cracked corners of my mouth - you name it. I have tried 3 different types of wax, including silicone, I have tried no wax, a lot of wax, a tiny bit of wax. I have tried Biotene, salt water, Ambesol, orajel, Ora-base, etc. A few days ago when I awoke my upper lip was swollen to twice the normal size - that has slowly gone down a bit but this morning I now have anothe sore inside my upperlip that is red and swollen and just looke like a tiny little hoe was punched in my lip.

I can't eat anything spicy or salty (both things I love) without burning. Also, the worst times are usually when I am in a situation where I have to talk a lot and it gets better when I can have a few days of not talking

Hopefully, they will removed soon, but just decided to post and see if anyone else has had similar issues. I'm thinking I am just wierd or possibly have some kind of allergy to the metal. Never allergic to anything else that I know of.

Thanks for listening! Sorry this is so long.

#2 Post by **ourfab5** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:05 pm

I forgot to mention that I have, of course, also tried Carmex as well as some other lip moisturizers. In fact, I am probably addicted at this point...

#3 Post by **snashe** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:02 pm

nickel alergies happends quite "often"
and braces containt a lot of nickel

you could make a try with some kind of nickel jewel, a ring for example
may be this is not allergie thought

#4 Post by **ourfab5** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:16 pm

Thanks! I suppose you can develop allergies that you weren't aware of as you age but I don't remember ever having a problem with jewelry that contained nickel. In fact, I recently wore a "fashion ring" for awhile that was probably nickel. Of course, the lips and mucous membranes are a whole different animal. I will be SOOOOO glad when these are gone!!!

My dentist and the staff have just always said things like "they shouldn't be bothering you that much" or they have suggested things like "wax"

. They are really nice but I think they just don't take it very seriously because it is not my teeth or gums hurting and the braces have done such a great job with the straightening.

#5 Post by **bstars** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 8:32 pm

Hi ourfab5,
I had exact same symptoms for first 3 weeks in braces. Since then I am using Aquaphor on my lips, its normal now. But i have to keep using it 5-6 times a day.

#6 Post by **bbsadmin** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 10:01 pm

I agree that it could be an allergy to nickle, or to the latex in your elastic ligatures.

Allergies can develop at any time in a person's life, totally "out of the blue."

First I would have the orthodontist change your ligatures to non-latex and see if this makes a difference. If not, you might suggest the nickle allergy and have him change your brackets. Also, make sure that the arch wire doesn't contain nickle.

Braces can make your mouth and lips sore, but shouldn't cause the type of swelling you describe.

#7 Post by **rolo** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 12:48 am

I have a nickle allergy, my ortho knew it was that not latex, because my upper linguals weren't bothering me. He used a coated wire, which helped a bit, and then when I changed to stainless steel wires, the problems stopped.

I had the same symptoms as you and nobody could understand why I had so many ulcers and only affecting the bottom of my mouth.

#8 Post by **ourfab5** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:37 am

Thanks so much! I have no latex ligatures - all metal (self-ligating) - so maybe the nickel. I have an appt in one hour so I will do some major whining and see what happens. I have not heard of Aquaphor so will check into it.

About 4 years ago I broke several bones in my leg and ankle and went through months and months of surgery, pain, wheelchair, intense P.T. etc. and I still have pain and some restrictions because of that and probably will have for the rest of my life and I think I handled all of that better than I am handling having my lips like this all the time. I really thought I was tougher than this and if I got through that I could handle a little discomfort in my mouth....

Anyway, must get ready and go to my appt. Thanks so much. Will check in later.

#9 Post by **ourfab5** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:59 am

Woo Hoo!!!! Braces coming off in 2 weeks. Had impressions done for retainer. Ortho doesn't think I have a metal allergy - probably just my mouth very sensitive to the roughness of the metal - I'm not a teenager, after all.

Also bought some Aquaphor while I was out and some soothing beach theme Yankee candles.

#10 Post by **bbsadmin** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:02 am

That's great news! One additional thing you can try is Rincinol PRN mouth rinse. It forms a protective shield on sores to help them heal. It might help a lot if you concentrate it on your lips.

#11 Post by **ourfab5** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:09 am

Thanks! I'll check out that mouthwash. Tha Aquaphor is VERY soothing on my lips and the corners of my mouth, but still have a painful sore on the inside of my mouth and I have decided to drive to my granddaughter's dance recital tomorrow (12 hrs roundtrip) so something to soothe that one raw sore would be great. Oragel and Ambesol only helps for about....uh....2 minutes.

I think the pain is better already just because I know I have an actual date for brace removal. So, I know I will be doing lots of smiling when I see the grandkids tomorrow even if it does hurt.