Holy Zebra!!!! Elastics are so irritating this round.

[TheKT]

Time for some whine... or maybe some wine based on how painful these Zebra elastics are. Had an adjustment last Wednesday morning (5 days ago) and moved to 24/7 Zebra elastics (5/16" 4-1/2 oz.) and my entire mouth (tongue cheeks, lips, etc.) is so irritated I can barely stand it. I liken the pain and sensation to getting your mouth burnt or eating/sucking on an extra large jaw breaker for days (come on, you guys remember that!). In addition, these elastics are digging ridges deep into the sides of my gum and lips. I also had both wires changed. The teeth pain isn't too bad, it's the inside of mouth and lips. My lips and cheeks look so swollen too.

Not sure if this is relevant or related but I started with Parrots, moved to Dolphins, went back to Parrots and then was given Zebras this round. Out of the three, Parrots are the lightest weight, then Dolphins, then Zebras. So, I went from the Parrot to the Zebra, this time.

Any suggestions on how to get some relief from the irritation I am experiencing from the forum here are greatly appreciated. Have any of you experienced the same? What course of action did you take?

Yes, I'd like some cheese with my whine.

[AlexO890]

Braces newbie question: What are these animal names about? Haha.

[TheKT]

The elastics come in varying sizes and have animal names associated with each size.

[AlexO890]

Thanks for clarifying TheKT!

[djspeece]

I think my ortho is a vegan or something, as mine are "watermelons." I'd love to be in the meeting with all the marketing geniuses as they figure out how to assign names to elastics, probably arguing that zebras can kill a lion so they should be stronger, someone else objecting that elephants have tusks which are almost like teeth so they should be for the bestest ever elastics, and so forth, and then take a break for another round of drinks.

[kids041]

I think my ortho is a vegan or something, as mine are "watermelons." I'd love to be in the meeting with all the marketing geniuses as they figure out how to assign names to elastics, probably arguing that zebras can kill a lion so they should be stronger, someone else objecting that elephants have tusks which are almost like teeth so they should be for the bestest ever elastics, and so forth, and then take a break for another round of drinks.

I have Tortoise... I wonder where those fall in the pecking order?

[djspeece]

I think my ortho is a vegan or something, as mine are "watermelons." I'd love to be in the meeting with all the marketing geniuses as they figure out how to assign names to elastics, probably arguing that zebras can kill a lion so they should be stronger, someone else objecting that elephants have tusks which are almost like teeth so they should be for the bestest ever elastics, and so forth, and then take a break for another round of drinks.

I have Tortoise... I wonder where those fall in the pecking order?

You'll win the race (a la "Tortise and the Hare") and your progress will be slow but steady!

[kathydell]

I feel very left out - my elastics were all colors. I would have preferred the animals LOL. In terms of the irritation from the rubber bands, I had really good luck with Kanka Softbrush Gel. It looks like a pen with a soft brush on the end so you can put the medicine wherever you want it. It numbs and heals. Doesn't taste all that great but I didn't care because the rubber bands really irritated my lips and cheeks for a good two weeks at every configuration change.