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first day and not sure how to cope
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 11:40 am
by sad sam
I had my top braces fitted last night and have coped well all day but now my tongue really hurts and I am not sure about using the wax, how much to use and can I eat with the wax on? even though I really do not feel like eating now. Any help, advice appreciated as my boyfriend is away at the moment and I just feel like crying and and just keep thinking have I done the right thing!
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:20 pm
by Sara
Congrants for joining the club-
The first week is the worst- but honestly it gets better- and better and when you seeing changes it makes it all worth it.
Use the wax- its a must!- tear about a pea size amount on your fingers- rub it to make it very soft- then squish it on the bracket/wire where it rubs.
if you need to put it on the back of the linguals make a sausage shape out of the wax then try to place it onto the brackets hopefully covering two to three brackets. I personally found covering the back three brackets in the first month was necessary every day - it also helps you speak better because if your toungue is sore you will find it difficult to speak.
You can swollow wax if you want- sometimes this is easier if your at work and dont want to make a scene taking it out- it often just comes off on its own when eating anyway.
I try to reuse mine sometimes- take it out before eating then put it back in I do this a few times before throwing it away.
Eating take a while to get used to- just eat very sloppy foods- pleny of sauce/pasta/soup.... chocoloate mousse is great.
It only takes a week or so then you will be back onto pizza chips etc.
However there are some foods I still cant chew at all like chocolate bars and crisps.....
Always swish your mouth out with water every time you eat- and drink plenty of water- it does help keeping your mouth moist as if it drys out the brace rubs....
Honestly it does get better.....I promise ..... I felt exactly the same as you in the first week....
keep in touch...... xx
Sara
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:18 pm
by sad sam
Thanks Sara
I have been trying to cover each bracket individually with the wax but will try to make a sausage and do it that way as that sounds much better.
I know I have done the right thing and should have done this years ago so am determined to get through this first week. And I agree about the chocolate mousse - had one from pret at lunch time!
all the best
Samantha
xx
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 1:30 pm
by saps
Sad Sam,
Hang in there. As most people will tell you, the first week is TOUGH. I was miserable and was really questioning if I did the right think or not but it IS worth it.
Use wax. Use a LOT of wax.
I found Oragel very useful when the tongue got shredded (that DOES get better). For the first week, I ate a lot of soup and things that went down easy (smoothies) but then I was back to eating anything I liked. I still avoid nuts and popcorn (and anything REALLY sticky - taffy, caramel, etc) but just about everything else is the same. I also found martinis useful (but I am of age -ha!)
It seems like just yesterday I was in your shoes and was kicking myself for making a stupid decision and now I'll be getting mine off in a couple of weeks. Hang in there. It DOES get better!!! My smile is great and my teeth moved very fast. I'll be glad to get them off and you'll be there before you know it....
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:13 pm
by sad sam
Saps - Thanks for the encouragement - I have spent the last hour on this site reading people's stories and it is encouraging to hear everyone say that it gets better. I know I have worst to come as yet and hope that I can get through it.
I have spend the last 20 years wishing my teeth was straight and only now at the age of 40 and having some money have I plucked up the courage to do something about it.
My journey to straight teeth and a nice smile seems such a long way off at the moment but I am going hang in there - no pain no gain!!
all the best
Samantha
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:22 pm
by saps
Sad (soon to be happy) Sam,
I am 40 as well. Like you, I wish I'd done something about it sooner. I felt silly getting braces at my advanced age
I'm nearing the end of the road (a couple more weeks) and am SO happy I did it. It's tough sometimes but it DOES get easier. I never completely got over my lisp but I think I hear it more than others (according to everyone).
They say 40 is the new 20 but that's not good for me because at 20 I was broke....
Seriously, hang in there. The first is tough but it DOES get better. One thing that helped me is that I have NO problem asking my ortho questions (i.e. can you lower those bite pads?, there's a wire poking me can you trim it?, etc). Maybe I'm a pain but we're paying them a lot of money.
If you're like me you avoided smiling (or spent a lot of time with your hand in front of your mouth)...now I smile all the time and it's great.
Hang in there and good luck to you!!!!
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:51 pm
by Jeannie
Hi saps, I have a wire poking me at the back but when I saw the dentist about it a couple of days after my braces were put in he said that he couldn't trim the wire any shorter and I would have to persevere. I find the wax hard to apply - it doesn't seem to stick very well however much I squish it or at whatever size. Bit of a pain when it takes ages to apply and falls off very easily. Any tips?
Had my braces in a week and I'm sure I can see gaps between lower teeth already (and have noticed difference when cleaning inbetween them), am hoping my teeth move quite fast so I can get braces out sooner rather than later! javascript:emoticon('
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Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 3:53 pm
by saps
Jeannie,
I know the pain of the pokey wires. I'm sorry your ortho said he couldn't trim it any better. I kept asking many times and eventually they did (a couple of different times).
As far as wax, it can take some "playing" to get it right. For me (and everyone is different), I found rolling to make it warm and then kinda sucking air in to dry the area before applying it helped the most. I also bought different kinds of wax and found the stuff at the local drugstore was better than the stuff they gave me at the ortho. Maybe try another kind?
Good luck! Hang in there. Your mouth will adjust and it'll get easier.
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 3:02 am
by lingualslady
Jeannie
Same issues with the wire and the wax - Ive just bought some Brace-Eze which is a bit better.. yet to find a miracle cure though!