Metal Mouth Message Board

My lower back back bracket has put a divit/scar in my cheek from constant rubbing.

I had a regular dental appointment and had a "fill in" dentist who asked me about it. He asked about wax and I told him I wore it occassionally, but with the location it flares my tmj and is hard to keep in place so I opt not to wear it. He said, "well, maybe it will callus over". I've had the bracket for 10 months. If it was going to callus, wouldn't it have callused over by now?

Anyone else have "holes" in their cheeks that coorespond to a specific bracket? Did it ever go away?

Yes. The bracket on my right side molar band kept snagging the inside of my cheek I used wax and gargled with warm salt water. After about 1 week it completely healed over. When I run my tongue over the area now you wouldn't even know that the inside of cheek was ever hurt.

Yeah, I usually have indents in my cheek where the brackets have been rubbing and because of that, my cheeks tend to become sore around the area. Just have to salt water rinse and that tends to do the trick.

Totally. The brackets, hooks, and stuff need to dig out a spot to fit in and wax can slow the process down. After 2 years in braces my cheeks are pretty much immune to the hardware. Try to only use wax as a very last resort and you will be better off in the long run.

My 4 lower front brackets dig into my lower lip (inside) and have left not only indentations but little tags of skin (best way I can describe it). I don't bother with wax as I find it a pain in the butt. I did once put wax on those 4 brackets and kept it up for a few days and the indentations and 'tags' disappeared.

I had a checkup at my dentist the other month and he commented on them too, he asked why I don't wear wax there... he didn't seem that impressed.

Guess I "replied"it up now I got a tear inside lip in left side from a hook. Oh well, guess it goes with the territory . Break out the warm salt water again

Yes, I have a dent inside my cheek around an area which gets caught between my bite sometimes. I tried wax but really could not be bothered with that, its not sore just annoying when I feel it with my tongue. I suppose when my bite improves it will go away.

same here. i got a dent inside my right cheek because of the hook on the molar band and it has been there for 6 months already... it never gets stronger / tougher even though i put so much wax on it everyday. i guess its normal.

I've gone through the ringer with my braces... they've caused me SO many calluses in my cheeks, inside my lips. Super painful. I tried the wax time and time again but it always just slides off I find.. I just find you have to keep trying until you get it to stick eventually and the callus will heal over in a couple days.

Happens ALL the time.

I've come to expect them now all part of the program to a great smile in the end.