Braces and the Eucharist

[datingtrappists]

The next couple of months, I’ll be fitted for braces (the old fashioned kind with brackets and wires, etc…). It just occured to me that I need to be very careful about not getting Jesus stuck in my brackets… actually I think I may be scrupulously worried about this. So my question is this: can anyone with braces (or used to have them) give me any pointers and tips to prevent this from happening once I get fitted with mine? I am horrified at the thought of having Our Lord caught in the brackets and wires!

If it matters, I don’t receive the Precious Blood.

Thanks!
E

 

[passus]

Allow the host to soften on your tongue before swallowing. Nobody should really ever get Jesus caught in their teeth or braces or dentures because chewing isn’t necessary.

 

[edward_george]

You shouldn’t have a problem with the Eucharist getting stuck in your braces so long as you don’t attempt to chew the host–just take it on your tongue and let it dissolve, and then swallow it. The real trouble comes when (and if) you get retainers–make sure you take your retainer out before receiving Communion, otherwise you end up with the Sacred Host stuck to the plastic-lined roof of your mouth. I didn’t quite have the understanding of the Eucharist that I do now when I had retainers, so I didn’t realize that this wasn’t the best thing.

-ACEGC

 

[Newbie2]

Yep, just do your best and don’t worry about it. The Lord understands.

 

[lizaanne]

Allow the host to soften on your tongue before swallowing. Nobody should really ever get Jesus caught in their teeth or braces or dentures because chewing isn’t necessary.

You shouldn’t have a problem with the Eucharist getting stuck in your braces so long as you don’t attempt to chew the host–just take it on your tongue and let it dissolve, and then swallow it.

Yep - what they said.

I never chew Jesus - it just does not feel right to me to do that. I know this is not necessary, but I never chew - I just allow the Eucharist to dissolve, then swallow, sadly, because I know that closeness with Him is gone until the next time.

~Liza

 

[HyeDetroit]

You could get invisalign if you’re a good candidate for it-

 

[Claire_from_DE]

It may also help to unobtrusively bring a water bottle to mass and drink a sip shortly after receiving communion. I got this idea from attending mass at the nursing my mother was in. Some people have difficulty swallowing the host and this is permissible.

 

[datingtrappists]

Thanks to everyone for the great advise! I am not nearly as worried now as I was. As far as the water goes, luckily I sing with the Schola at the EF, so everyone sitting with me has a small bottle of water and I’m in the choir loft after receiving. I have a bit of problem with dry mouth, so I guess I could take a small sip right before receiving (as disolving is difficult at best if I don’t wet my mouth beforehand) and one right after.

Invisalign isn’t an option for me, as not only are my teeth crooked, my bite is not aligned at all. I bite harder on my right side than on my left, and will need, as an early estimate, at least 18 months of braces. I will know more at the end of this month how long and to what extent I’ll need them.

Again, thanks for the advise!

E

 

[bpbasilphx]

Allow the host to soften on your tongue before swallowing. Nobody should really ever get Jesus caught in their teeth or braces or dentures because chewing isn’t necessary.

Chewing is indeed necessary in those churches that use leavened bread.

 

[passus]

Chewing is indeed necessary in those churches that use leavened bread.

Surely.

However, the “Religion” field on the OP’s profile reads “Latin Rite Catholic…” I always try to make my advice on matters like these as personal as possible and with that in mind, I said what I did knowing that in the Latin Rite, the altar breads would always be un-leavened.

 

[Lorrie]

I never chew Jesus - it just does not feel right to me to do that. I know this is not necessary, but I never chew - I just allow the Eucharist to dissolve, then swallow, sadly, because I know that closeness with Him is gone until the next time.
~Liza

I feel this way, too.

 

[Joe_Brown]

I had the exact same problem. Yes let him soften in your mouth then swallow don’t chew it! ( that’s how he gets stuck)

God Bless

 

[datingtrappists]

Surely.

However, the “Religion” field on the OP’s profile reads “Latin Rite Catholic…” I always try to make my advice on matters like these as personal as possible and with that in mind, I said what I did knowing that in the Latin Rite, the altar breads would always be un-leavened.

To be fair, though, the “discerning” with the UGCC is in reference to my starting and growing love of the Ukrainian Greek Catholics, so that kind of is relavant. So, bpbasilphx, do you have any advise or tips on perhaps making it easier to prevent getting leavened Jesus stuck in the brackets when I attend Divine Liturgy?

 

[Spirithound]

The next couple of months, I’ll be fitted for braces (the old fashioned kind with brackets and wires, etc…). It just occured to me that I need to be very careful about not getting Jesus stuck in my brackets… actually I think I may be scrupulously worried about this. So my question is this: can anyone with braces (or used to have them) give me any pointers and tips to prevent this from happening once I get fitted with mine? I am horrified at the thought of having Our Lord caught in the brackets and wires!

If it matters, I don’t receive the Precious Blood.

Thanks!
E

Braces go on the outside of the teeth, visible to the world, right? (I enjoyed picking colours for the elastics…made the whole thing…just a little bit better ) Host goes on the inside, never to be near the braces. Carry on as you usually do, my friend!

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

Enth on letting the Host soften in your mouth, which is what I do myself; I had braces (with metal bands, no less :: Winces with the memory:: ) for several years and never once had trouble with pieces getting caught in them.

 

[AJV]

Braces go on the outside of the teeth, visible to the world, right? (I enjoyed picking colours for the elastics…made the whole thing…just a little bit better ) Host goes on the inside, never to be near the braces. Carry on as you usually do, my friend!

Elastic (shudder). If you do get the rubber-bands on your teeth, and can’t remove them before Holy Communion, then watch out for those as well, since sometimes a tiny bit might get caught without you chewing. Though the best solution for me was what another poster recommended - rinsing your mouth well with water after Mass, and swallowing that. Since the Hosts used in my church were very thin, they would dissolve with saliva, but the water ensured that. In SOME Eastern Catholic churches (don’t know about your area), they might offer you a purification after Holy Communion.

 

[Spirithound]

Elastic (shudder). If you do get the rubber-bands on your teeth, and can’t remove them before Holy Communion…

What? No, no no…the elastics are very tiny things that hold the wire to the brackets that are cemented to the outside of the teeth. Even chewing the Blessed Sacrament could not get a fragment stuck between the teeth and the lips unless you stick it there first.

 

[AJV]

What? No, no no…the elastics are very tiny things that hold the wire to the brackets that are cemented to the outside of the teeth. Even chewing the Blessed Sacrament could not get a fragment stuck between the teeth and the lips unless you stick it there first.

I know. That’s why I tried to distinguish them (unsuccessfully ) from the rubber bands. I had rubber bands as well, from the top to the bottom - in my case, to correct misalignment of the canines. I’ve seen them in quite a few other people who’ve had this orthodontic treatment.Because they run from the top to the bottom, the Host can touch them while It is being swallowed.