Update

My orthodontist is currently working hard to get my upper arch to widen. He has put lots of bend into it and it takes considerable effort to get it into place.

He has not changed my lower wire but reset it into place - basically taken it off and put the same wire on again. Despite it being the same wire you can really feel it having an impact. He needed to put this one on again as the canine which has just been connected isn't quite ready for the next wire yet.

I'm going to see him again next week - I anticipate an upgrade on lower wire with a view to putting cross elastics in. The cross elastics will be applied when the lower wire is on a stainless steel one like the top. These will pull back my overbite and allow widening to happen.

I went to see my hygienist for a scale and polish. Unfortunately I had a very uncomfortable appointment. She did a fantastic job of cleaning my teeth but my teeth bled and it tasted awful as she dislodged all the muck from in between my teeth and my brace. She said that she could see that I'm trying hard to keep it clean. I noticed that she was far more thorough with interdental sticks than I normally am - using them in between my teeth, rather than just in the gaps of my brace like I do. Perhaps I need to be a bit braver and use them in this way myself. I am going to continue to see her every 3 months for a really deep clean.


I continue with normal dental check ups every six months. My dentist is always interested in my brace. When I first got it I remember she surprised the life out of me by grabbing hold of my tongue and giving it a thorough inspection! Haha!


To make a pro-active move towards cleaner teeth and a more effective dental routine, I have now purchased water flosser (Waterpik). I am filming a product review of this and will upload it soon.


Link to YouTube Video: Updates, Close Ups and Questions Answered

Wire and Cleaning Tips

Hello! I just just had my wire tightened, which has been painful for about three days. As I've said before, it's quite nice when it does hurt as you know it's really working, and unbelieveably, the gap I had in my teeth closed in just ONE day!

My teeth have been bleeding slightly - it's not painful but another indication that they are moving.

Wire Tip:

When you're at the orthodontist, check using your finger that your wire is not cutting into your tongue at all. As your mouth is open and your tongue uncomfortable and disorientated from the appointment, it's not the best judge of this. Checking using a clean finger is the best way and avoids irritating trips back to see your orth to get it sorted. I have made this mistake a number of times now. My orthodontist is always kind and patient with me but it's costs a lot in petrol as I live around 10 miles from the surgery! If you mention the problem whilst you're still there, before you leave that seat, your orth can bend it out of the way, tuck in sharp edges and even grind down any sharpness with a motorised file.

There is a slight error in my video about the wire. I talk about it having a memory which is why you can't bend the ends out of the way. Actually, I've since learnt that before the wire is put into your mouth, the ends are heated with a flame to remove this quality so that they can indeed be bent out of the way. The point I'm making is that it's hard to bend them back out of the way yourself - which is still true. You can have a go with bathroom tweezers but be careful - I've tried this and ended up in more pain! Ouch!

Mouthwash Tips:

I have been using the Listerine Total which I mentioned in previous posts. As the alcohol content is so high on this brand it does really clean away the bacteria which is good, but can really sting your mouth. You can water it down to reduce this and it still works well (and lasts longer, too!).

Keeping this type of brace clean is a big challenge - remember to use an electric toothbrush, interdental sticks and mouthwash, and clean them after every meal. If you have any cuts or abrasions in your mouth, use mouthwash regularly to keep bacteria to a minimum and speed up healing time.

Link to YouTube Video: Wire and Cleaning Tips

Celebrity Lingual Brace Wearers!

Wow! Everyone's talking about Myleene Klass' brace! She was presenting This Morning and was snapped with her mouth wide open! Look!


There's clearly a lingual appliance on her lower arch. Here's a link to a full article about it on the Daily Mail Website. After they had been spotted, she actually opened her mouth to point them out properly.

The article cites other celebrities who have worn them:

Steve Jones before Incognito...
...and after...

Sadie Frost before:

...and after...































Some pretty impressive results. Allegedly Kelly Brook has also had one, however there is no way of telling as she looks fabulous in every picture I could find of her!

Canine Connected and Stainless Steel Wire on Upper Arch

Yay! I've finally had my lower canine connected so those wires can start to catch up with my top set. I've just had my first stainless steel wire attached to my upper arch - these are the thickest and strongest. With lots of arch re-shaping to do these are the ones I've been waiting for! Here is where Incognito comes into it's own and outstrips Invisalign - the orthodontist can put tailored bends into the wire to enable it to achieve the exact desired shape.

I am in some pain but can still eat normally. I'm expecting the canine to be especially tender. When your teeth hurt in this way it's a good kind of pain as you know it's progress. It's actually pretty disppointing when they don't hurt!

I've also just had a new puppy! Here's a picture of her. She was born on 1st June so is just 11 weeks old. She is a border terrier, though her grandad was a jack russell. We've called her Snicker! ♥

Quick Update and Mini Mouthwash!

I'm back from a great holiday! Whilst I was away a big gap has appeared around my lower canine so hopefully it can be connected!? Fingers crossed!! I'm off to see Mr. Orth in a few days and will update you again then as to brace progress!

I bought a baby bottle of mouthwash from Superdrug. Just 95ml. It was only about £1 and a great size for your bag! Remember you can always dilute Listerine a little as it's powerful stuff. I think you're better rinsing for longer with it slightly diluted rather than having to stop after 10 seconds as it's burning! Alternatively you can buy small refillable bottles from a chemist and pour a little of your mouthwash of choice into them.

Awww! Isn't it cute!?

After Appointment

After chatting to the orth about my wonky incisors, he investigated the probelm and discovered that something had come loose which is why they had not stayed together in that neat block. He set about correcting it immediately and re-attached another wire behind the teeth to bring them back together. As he did this, he used his fingers to exert pressure on the teeth to push them back into place. Since the appointment these have not been painful and hopefully they will start to come together neatly.

Unfortunately, there still wasn't enough space to connect my lower canine, so I had to have a third spring put into place. He obviously meant business this time as the pain was incredible - even work me up at night and I have noticed a gap appear! This is great news but kind of frustrating - I normally visit the orth every month but this time it's going to be six weeks until my next appointment as I am going on holiday. I would have liked my canine to have been connected but never mind!

These things can't be rushed. You have to be a patient patient!

Link to YouTube Video: After Appointment

Orth tomorrow....

I'm going to see my orth tomorrow. Despite having the wire in a figure of eight behind my front incisors keeping them together, they seem to have come out of position and the neat line that was there is gone - they're looking quite wonky again :-( I'll chat to my orth about this tomorrow and get it sorted.

I've had no pain or obvious progress this month which feels a little disheartening to be honest, but it's a work in progress so I must be patient!