Hi there,
Thank you for your enquiry.
There are some possibilities for you feeling this way.
For some patients with a deeper bite, there may be a need to place some cement bite raisers at the back teeth to raise the bite, as this prevents them from biting or breaking off the braces on the bottom. This would then prop open your bite more, and could contribute to you sleeping with your mouth open.
Braces also take up ore space in your mouth, and make cause some mild irritation when they rub against the lips and cheeks. This could possibly cause symptoms of dry mouth with reduced saliva production.
Another possibility could be that the braces may cause your teeth to ache, especially after a review visit with your orthodontist. You may then bite down or grind less at night. Or you could just be breathing differently now that the braces are in, especially if this is in conjunction with a bout of flu or sinus problems.
It would be best to keep hydrated during your orthodontic treatment, and use lip balm regularly to keep your lips moist. It would be best to consult your orthodontist with regards to this, I'm sure he or she will be able to assist you better with your concerns and help you feel more comfortable.
Hope this helps.
Warm regards,
Dr Geraldine Lee
Orthodontist
