Week 7: no more sore cheeks

Hello, I'm conscious that it's a very long time since I updated this blog. My appliances came off last year and I now have discreet fixed retainers. More on that later.

In the meantime... I sorted out the problem of the wires and brackets cutting into my cheeks. It sounds strange, but believe me, it works!

1. Get some cotton cosmetic cleansing pads. NB: they must be cotton and not poly-cotton; I discovered these don't work. If you can get the larger, oval ones, they are more economical.
2. Cut the pads into strips about 5-7mm wide and about 15-20mm long. You'll get to know the best size.
3. Place a strip on your right forefinger if placing the strip in the left side of your mouth, or left forefinger for the right side of your mouth.
4. Carefully hold it under a gently running the cold tap and wet the strip.
5. Next, suck the water out of the strip (best not to be wearing lipstick when you're doing this!)
6. Move your tongue around your mouth to get some saliva produced and press the strip onto your tongue to absorb some of the saliva on both sides.
7. Carefully press your finger over the wire and brackets then lift your finger away - hopefully leaving the strip in place.
8. Close your mouth and suck hard which should pull the strip tighter over wire and brackets.

It takes a bit of getting used to but I can promise that I never swallowed one once, even at night, but do remember to remove them before eating food and replace them after your meal.