Struggling to lose weight? A new device that wires your jaw together could help

[midian182]

In context: Things that were popular in the 80s often make a comeback—fashions, He-Man, retro consoles—but some are less welcome than others, such as the threat of global nuclear war. Something else that was surprisingly common during the decade was wiring people’s jaws shut so they could lose weight, and now it’s back, albeit in a much less horrifying form.

Researchers from the University of Otago and the UK have partnered on a weight-loss device called the DentalSlim Diet Control, which keeps wearers on a liquid-only diet by preventing them from opening their mouths wider than 2 mm (0.07 inches).

Unlike the old-fashioned method of wires attached to implants or braces, which is still occasionally used today for dieting purposing as well as fractures, DentalSlim features “magnetic devices and custom-manufactured locking bolts.” It is attached to the first molars with orthodontic cement by a professional, and wearers get cheek protectors made from silicone to stop their mouths being cut to pieces while it’s in place, which is good.

Researchers say the DentalSlim doesn’t interfere with a wearer’s breathing or speech and is less invasive and dangerous than the previous method of jaw wiring, which often led to gum disease, permanent jaw movement restrictions, and even psychiatric conditions.

One of the worst elements of the previous method of jaw wiring was the choking risk if a user vomited. The DentalSlim avoids this danger by providing users with an unlocking tool they carry with them at all times. It may seem an easy way for wearers to cheat, but no participant from a recent study reported having used this key. Those taking part in the trial lost an average of 6.36kg (14 pounds) in two weeks.

The traditional way of jaw wiring

“The beauty of it is that once patients are fitted with the device, after two or three weeks they can have the magnets disengaged. They could then have a period with a less restricted diet and then go back into treatment,” said Lead researcher, University of Otago Health Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Brunton.

“It is a non-invasive, reversible, economical and attractive alternative to surgical procedures.”

Thanks, New Atlas

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/90219-struggling-lose-weight-new-device-wires-jaw-together.html

 

[m4a4]

I know some politicians who could use this for other reasons...

 

[Hexic]

The French Revolution called - they want their torture device back.

 

[arrowflash]

I never knew this ever existed. It's insane. Looks like something straight out of some dystopic sci-fi.

 

[Geralt]

Absolutely scary. You have to be really lost to wear this horrible device in your mouth.

 

[stewi0001]

I'm good thanks.

 

[VitalyT]

And to set the right mood, it comes with an arse flute.

 

[Ludak021]

Stop eating bread and drinking beer, in a year you will loose most of excess weight. But if you love bread and everything dough, well, stay fat or put implants in you mouth, making profit for some shady company that will not exist in a month.

 

[arrowflash]

But if you love bread and everything dough, well, stay fat or put implants in you mouth.

There's a third option: exercise.

 

[Plutoisaplanet]

There's a third option: exercise.

Who tf are you to suggest something so outdated and inhumane?! Get with the times!

 

[BadThad]

You have got to be kidding?!

If this helps you, then you have MUCH bigger problems.

 

[Lew Zealand]

There's a third option: exercise.

The problem with exercise for weight loss is that it's really easy to eat enough calories which you need 3 (or however many) hours of vigorous exercise every day to burn off. That's a big price to pay in time.

For the lazy/busy people out there, eating less is simply a better use of time. It's what I'm doing.

 

[DukeJukem]

You could also realize that your metabolism isn't as good as other peoples' and that you actually have to practice good dieting and get off your fat *** every once in a while in order to not transform into a blimp with heart problems and type 2 diabetes. People who say they don't have time to exercise are the same people who choose not to get up 1 hour earlier or stay up an extra hour to get on a treadmill or go for a jog. This device is literally an excuse to continue having first world problems like this. Nice teeth btw. What is toothpaste?

 

[arrowflash]

The problem with exercise for weight loss is that it's really easy to eat enough calories which you need 3 (or however many) hours of vigorous exercise every day to burn off. That's a big price to pay in time.

For the lazy/busy people out there, eating less is simply a better use of time. It's what I'm doing.

True, if you priority is losing weight rather than actually becoming healthier... people who are too flabby usually gain some weight once they start exercising seriously, since muscle mass is denser than fatty tissue. We all know the unhealthy extents people will go to lose weight.

 

[Hexic]

There's a third option: exercise.

I sleep, feel, and act better being in the habit of hitting the gym for awhile now. Exercise has so many mental benefits in addition to burning calories to reduce your weight.

Control your diet, don't eat $h** food or go overboard with splurging every once in a bit, and have a goal of what you are trying to achieve. It's incredible how hard consistency is with a lot of people. Hiding behind the 'busy' mantra is cheap.

 

[Abaidor]

I am 46 and I workout on average 5 times a week while working a lot (Digital Marketing & Web Development, E-Commerce) and also having two kids (divorced but they live with me 40% of the time)..................but then again I always worked out since I was 16 and you know what? I never had to go on diet but I don't like eating junk either.

There is always time for becoming the best version of yourself.........sure I don't have time for gaming anymore or hours and hours on Netflix, but who cares.......I feel great, I look great and I am full of energy and stress free...........get off your fat asses and start training......it is a life changer!

 

[Bl00dyMinded]

Do you want to play a game?

 

[Wereweeb]

Exercising won't make you lose weight, eating healthy food and eating less calories than you use will.

Exercising is positive for other reasons, but not everyone has the privilege of being able to exercise.

 

[Ludak021]

There's a third option: exercise.

That always works right? Especially when you have a family and **** to do all day...

edit: bread IS junk food. Beer IS junk food.
edit1: it's harder to drop junk food and eat properly than exercise. Try it for a month if you think I'm wrong. I exercised all my life and I was still kinda fat.

 

[RudyBob]

Next up more stupidity. Imagine if we had the national discourse on obesity that we have on ______, or _________, etc. But it is not allowed

 

[Geralt]

I'm good thanks.

You have already problems to eat with your stormtrooper helmet

 

[mrtraver]

When I was a teenager I had surgery and my jaws were wired shut for six weeks. I actually gained weight. My liquid diet was so bland that I was consuming more calories just trying to get some flavor.

The choking risk from vomiting is overblown. As my surgeon said, "liquid in, liquid out." As long as I kept my wits about me and tilted my head forward, the puke would just run out of my mouth.

What I don't see addressed by this is that your cannot brush the top or inner surfaces of your teeth. I had to use a foul, powerful prescription mouthwash to prevent tooth decay and reduce Godzilla breath to mere dragon breath.

It also does not address the jaw muscle degradation when they are not used regularly. When I finally got my wires removed, I could not open my mouth more than a quarter of an inch, and chewing was painful and exhausting. It took me over an hour to eat two pieces of a medium thin crust pepperoni pizza that day, and about a week to regain full functionality.

 

[Knot Schure]

Come to my boxing club, and I can have you on the road to a 'wired jaw' in a single round!

 

[JamesBlond]

Well, I would think this is something Hitler would use and S&M would use for pleasure...

 

[viperfl]

When I was a teenager I had surgery and my jaws were wired shut for six weeks. I actually gained weight. My liquid diet was so bland that I was consuming more calories just trying to get some flavor.

The choking risk from vomiting is overblown. As my surgeon said, "liquid in, liquid out." As long as I kept my wits about me and tilted my head forward, the puke would just run out of my mouth.

What I don't see addressed by this is that your cannot brush the top or inner surfaces of your teeth. I had to use a foul, powerful prescription mouthwash to prevent tooth decay and reduce Godzilla breath to mere dragon breath.

It also does not address the jaw muscle degradation when they are not used regularly. When I finally got my wires removed, I could not open my mouth more than a quarter of an inch, and chewing was painful and exhausting. It took me over an hour to eat two pieces of a medium thin crust pepperoni pizza that day, and about a week to regain full functionality.

I had my jaw wired shut twice. I had small wire cutters around my neck at all times just in case I got sick. Though it's easy for a surgeon to say liquid in, liquid out. A lot of people will get that anxiety when it does happen.