Expander KILLING MY toungue

[masonpc]

I recently got an expander and after a few days I noted that the expander is making an impression on my tongue i have heard things about using wax and band aids but am a little scared because if it the wax or bandaid fell out and got stuck in my mouth i was also wondering if you had any suggestions for preventing food from getting under the expander thanks
Mason

[Ridingboots]

Hi Mason

I to have just had expander installed and as my tongue is so gets caught up on sides of expander I am eating very soft foods as tongue is very rubbed. I hope in few days time this will improve and so far can honestly say I prefer braces to the horrid expander

Sorry not much help but at least you know your not suffering alone. What type of expander do you have ? I have a quadhelix

Sharon

[dantocanada]

Yah, I wish I could tell you it gets a lot better, but it only gets a little bit better. I'm 8 weeks in and my tongue is still irritated, although admittedly not as bad. Eating does become easier as your mouth adapts (you just can't eat as fast), but I actually found that as I "expanded" the Expander, because the bar that contacts my tongue grew wider, my lisp became more pronounced. Now that it is fully open, I have a permanent lisp that is noticeable. If I talk a lot, my tongue starts to hurt as it is rubbing against the bar and I have trouble pronouncing words that use my palate, e.g. SH words. So, in short, this is unfortunately one of those grin and bear it kind of things that you're just going to have to live with for a few months.

[Ridingboots]

Yah, I wish I could tell you it gets a lot better, but it only gets a little bit better. I'm 8 weeks in and my tongue is still irritated, although admittedly not as bad. Eating does become easier as your mouth adapts (you just can't eat as fast), but I actually found that as I "expanded" the Expander, because the bar that contacts my tongue grew wider, my lisp became more pronounced. Now that it is fully open, I have a permanent lisp that is noticeable. If I talk a lot, my tongue starts to hurt as it is rubbing against the bar and I have trouble pronouncing words that use my palate, e.g. SH words. So, in short, this is unfortunately one of those grin and bear it kind of things that you're just going to have to live with for a few months.

What sort of expander do you have as there is one with key the Rapid Maxillary Expander and the other one which is quad helix. Did you have sarpe?

[dantocanada]

I had Wilckodontics as an alternative to SARPE, but the goal was the same...to expand my upper palate. Not sure exactly what kind of expander it is, but it is bonded and has a key to open it. Two bands attached to my second molar on either side. I turned it 28 times (7mm), and now it will stay in (I'm told) until May / June.

[Featheryy1221]

I wouldn't use a band aid, use wax instead if it's hurting you. Wax isn't a big deal if you swallow it, it happens.

There isn't much you can do while eating to prevent food from sticking unfortunately. After a while you get sick of the soft food diet. I was over that diet after 1 or 2 weeks and then I ate whatever I wanted (including cut up spaghetti, which is probably the worst food ever to have with an expander haha). Invest in a waterpik or be prepared to swish a lot of water and use proxabrushes (Christmas tree brushes) to get the food out.

Hang in there, expander people. Been there, done that. It's the worst, but you will be very, very happy with your results. So just focus on the end result whenever you have a bad day or get really frustrated with it.

[RandomUsernameLOL]

I got an expander about a month ago and it still hurts now and then. Try using warm water with salt in it, it helps.