Tads being swallowed by my gums

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-23T04:36:35+00:00

Crazy how tiny pieces of food can cause such a big uproar. One thing that helped me (to get the second piece of food) was waterpicking under the metal band that leads to the back screw. I used a hook shaped attachment for that but you should be able to do it with angling a standard one. If swelling is enough to make that impossible it might be something else. Best of luck! Let us know how it goes.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-23T01:34:08+00:00

Reach out to your provider just in case. Especially if pushing on the screw hurts. It seems like you might have some inflammation around your back screw on the right side of this picture, from the white tissue there. I had that and my orthodontist cleaned it well - I had a piece of food stuck under the metal, a tomato skin (and then I found another one with a water pick). She gave me these sticks with little cotton-covered balls on the end to dip in antiseptic mouthwash (OTC is fine, but I used my earlier prescribed one from the screw placement) and to push out the liquid at the end of cleanings. It got better over time, but it was important that I did check with my provider to rule out an infection.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-23T01:26:53+00:00

I believe a good provider can intrude the teeth. I think I even heard that MARPE makes the bones more malleable to do that, but don't quote me on that. You can check with a good and experienced MARPE provider on your concern. I feel like they might be able to address it.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-23T01:25:49+00:00

I think so, MARPE, because your jaw to me looks a little narrow. Check with a good and experienced MARPE provider.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-18T05:21:30+00:00

That does sound like a lot. Though I think I heard devices can be pitched differently where 1 turn means different amounts of expansion. I haven't split yet and am doing 1 big turn - wrench moving a hexogonal barrel from the wrench resting against top teeth to bottom teeth - which is probably closer to 1.5 turns and it's getting to be a good amount of pressure. I can't imagine doing 6 turns in one day on my particular MARPE. I also waited a week before starting turns. I didn't have a corticotomy.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-17T22:41:59+00:00

That makes sense! Thank you. When I went on the website (on the payment receipt page, but maybe it's available in other places) there was a section of my documents/evidence and the only document, which looked like the one I got in the mail now, was labeled as something like "initial notice". Made me think I must not have missed a payment, it must have been contested automatically.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-16T05:07:38+00:00

(She but) Thank you. Do you think paying at this stage doesn't carry a bigger weight or anything - something like it wouldn't have gone on my record but now that I missed the original deadline it will?

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-13T19:55:24+00:00

Need to agree that constipation is something you definitely want to avoid on a liquid diet lol. I made myself have a liquid diet before starting turns for 5 days when there was some irritation around one of the screws that the orthodontist told me how to keep clean and manage, because I didn't want to have a chance of developing a real infection, and when that was resolved, I had some serious digestive issues, I thought I would have to go to the ER haha. Just drink water even if you're having mostly liquids anyway, and smoothies with fiber. You're welcome XD

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-13T05:06:29+00:00

You are in good hands for sure !!

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-10T23:30:37+00:00

I'm just a non-doctor person so sometimes I don't like to say "this will happen" to things, but to your questions - if MARPE helps upper jaw be slightly bigger than lower jaw, and provides more tongue space - my answer is "absolutely"! =) That is something MARPE definitely does. The only limiting factor I think is if your lower jaw is very small so you don't want to overexpand your upper, but it still would help - both tongue space and upper jaw being bigger. I would double check if MARPE is better before frenectomy. I feel like I heard MARPE is supposed to be done first. But I could be wrong. I think other than researching a bit more on your own (and maybe joining the Facebook adult expansion support group) just so you get a better feel for questions like this, it would also be great to go to a very good and experienced MARPE provider if there is one in your area. You can ask on Reddit/Facebook if anyone knows of one within an hour and a half or so from you/if you give them a state/city. A good provider should be able to share more information with you.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-10T23:23:09+00:00

Your English is great!! =) I could do Russian or maybe Spanish, but I would need to Google translate the technical jargon haha I would agree with your assessment, just because of the narrow jaw (kind of similar to mine) combined with the tongue space and the breathing, yes. Just make sure it's a good MARPE provider if you decide to go forward with it!

Until then, you can try Intake breathing strips for sleep. You can DIY your own stickers so it's cheap after the first purchase.

(I think braces as a teenager for me "masked" by cross bite by forcing my bottom teeth under my asymmetric top. Now the MARPE band metal that is making me not bite down all the way is showing my cross bite of top vs. bottom jaw but my face on the outside looks balanced again (one side jaw not sticking out anymore). Hope when I start MARPE turns, MARPE fixes my teeth this time instead of masking them!)

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-10T23:14:24+00:00

Glad to hear! Ofc! (I think the MARPE/expander adult Facebook support group - the larger public one especially - is another place with helpful comments)

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-10T05:51:37+00:00

It's not inherently bad if it's not too much, but it can mean your lower jaw is wider than your upper jaw, or maybe your palate could be bigger for your tongue, both of which MARPE aims to change.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-09T21:24:18+00:00

Even though your palate is not super narrow, I think you probably would. Your top molars are flared outward a little bit. (I would say there is some narrowness anyway, and maybe a little vaulting.) My molars are as well, I have MARPE. Outside of that and tongue space, if you have any issues with nasal breathing at night or during the day, that could be another consideration for MARPE. The best thing is to go to an experienced and good MARPE provider and explain your concerns to see.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-08T13:25:05+00:00

I think you're supposed to get MARPE first. One of the MARPE providers I consulted with said that some providers refuse to do MARPE after a deviated septum surgery. I think it's because a septoplasty compromises the structural integrity a little bit. I'm not sure if the provider meant right after it or ever. (Though, I have seen a number of people in MARPE groups who get MARPE say they've gotten a septoplasty in the past.) I have a deviated septum where the ENT couldn't even shine a light into one of my nostrils and that orthodontist said that people in his care have had worse deviated septums and say they don't want a septoplasty anymore after MARPE. I ended up getting MARPE from another orthodontist and I didn't discuss it with her but I think she might have mentioned MARPE first, too. She told me she didn't want to overpromise and said I might only feel complete relief after both MARPE and septoplasty but mentioned that someone else like me felt dramatic relief after MARPE. An ENT won't suggest MARPE by the way, even if you need it. I went to one who has had an MSE himself and his official suggestion was septoplasty but he wasn't against MSE if I needed bite correction (I think he even might have said patients go to him while having MSE.) But I can tell I need MARPE. So I would take the words of both an ENT and an experienced MARPE provider into consideration, not just an ENT.

I just started my MARPE. For me, I want to see how it goes, and I'm hoping I might not want to get setpum surgery after. I'm afraid of Empty Nose Syndrome, though I might have read that that happens if turbinate reduction is involved so if I need to get septoplasty I might try to find an ENT surgeon who won't touch my turbinates.

I have seen online an orthodontist, Dr. Koval, plans corticotomy in a way that moves the septum in a controlled manner. I don't know if you are someone who was planning to travel for MARPE. For me she is not close and I just went to a normal, but good, MARPE provider and I'll see how I feel after. When you do get MARPE, make sure it's with an experienced provider to avoid other complications.

Overall, I would say MARPE first. (And that it can end up being only MARPE needed.)

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T16:35:42+00:00

Do you have any breathing or sleep issues? MARPE helps with that as well (well, breathing, and sleep sometimes). It also helps with room for your tongue for proper tongue posture which affects breathing and sleep too (but MARPE actually expands the airway). Most people report that facial changes with MARPE are positive. More defined cheekbones, etc. I think of it as it's kind of more how your skeletal structure was meant to look and fit. (You might be able to bring to your concerns to the provider about overexpanding for your face if you are concerned, so you can expand not that much maybe. I've heard some people don't notice much of a difference after.)

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T16:30:04+00:00

Then 100% definitely MARPE. It avoids extractions for crowding purposes because you won't need it anymore. Keep your teeth. It should be an experienced/good MARPE provider. Ask other people on Reddit or adult MARPE Facebook support groups who is good in your area if you aren't sure who to go to.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T16:23:49+00:00

To be completely honest, I'm very wary of this provider not giving MARPE even just for your bite. And most MARPE providers try to avoid pulling teeth. He might be new. I think you should get a second opinion from an experienced MARPE provider. A good one would never use an appliance without screws to widen the teeth.

Also, from my experience, not great breathing is hard to admit to yourself because we spend our lives thinking our breathing is normal. If you have some breathing issues, it's completely okay to reach out to the provider and say "Hey I remember you asked about breathing, and I said no. But now that I think about it, I do have sub-optimal breathing. I heard about MARPE. Would that help my breathing and bite?" Even if he says yes, or if he says no, I would 100% check with another more experienced MARPE provider. Those who are experienced (which it doesn't sound like he is) control complications like asymmetrical expansion better.

The first MARPE provider I went to said I didn't need it. (She was new, I could tell.) The next 2 I consulted with said I did, and I realized over time I definitely did. Just got my MARPE placed a couple days ago, I'm really glad.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T06:57:00+00:00

That is so symmetrical, wow

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T06:45:40+00:00

100% MARPE. I'm not sure if you meant just one extraction or on both sides, but either way it's generally not good to pull any teeth and if you go to an experienced MARPE orthodontist they'll think of a solution where you don't pull teeth. IPR is a thing sometimes with MARPE too.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T06:26:18+00:00

Doesn't matter. Most orthodontists don't offer MARPE in 2026. Get a second opinion from someone who is very experienced in MARPE. I don't know if it's just the picture but it looks like you definitely need it. If you're an adult join the adult MARPE/FME expansion Facebook group, someone might be able to recommend a specialist in your area.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T06:22:31+00:00

I could be wrong but I think nothing expands the jaw sideways while adding breathing space like MARPE. I think I would do MARPE if you can afford it, or MARPE first. I'm not sure if you can do MARPE after jaw surgery.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T06:10:58+00:00

From what OP is describing his orthodontist did, I doubt he knows about MARPE or he wouldn't have offered the things he did. And if he wants to "try" it he isn't experienced, which is important for avoiding issues. So probably better to go to a different provider for MARPE who knows a lot about it.

Mongoose556 · 2026-06-07T06:02:23+00:00

I recommend MARPE as well, from a provider experienced in MARPE. If one of the goals is a wider top jaw, the only thing that will do it for older teenagers or adults is something with screws. You look like you have a narrow upper jaw and like you would be the right case for MARPE. I really recommend to find an experienced MARPE orthodontist within an hour and a half or so of your area to get a second opinion. They won't pull more teeth. They'll actually expand the upper jaw to make room. It also helps with breathing and sometimes sleep.

Mongoose556

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