PLEASE HELP ME depressed,crying in PAIN I want them off

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#1 Post by **britt27** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:48 pm

I just got my braces on this morning and I am extremley depressed!! I can't stop crying I'm in soooo much pain. I'm really considering calling the Ortho- tomorrow and getting them taken off!!!! has anyone ever done this before? I really don't think I can bear 2 1/2 + years like this. I know I keep telling myself to look at the future and the end result and I will regret it if I don't go through with it. But I seriously can't take another minute in these. One major issue for me is that I have a high gum line from brushing too hard all my life. And now with the braces on and the difficulty to have to brush above the archwire and below and everything, it is putting me in tears and MAJOR pain like bringing me to my knees pain, to brush them above the archwire. and my orhto said that if I dont brush consistantly and GOOD enough then I will damage my teeth badly and I saw pictures from patients who did poor brushing and they have holes and huge stains on their teeth from decay. I dont want this to happen to my teeth because it hurts to bad to brush!! I know i sould call them tomorrow and tell them the situation, see what they say to help me along this "journey" but what I really want is to get them off!!!! I need help BAD! I know everyone probaby thinks I'm crazy and should stick to it and you all have great success stories and aren't crying about it like I am but I just want to feel "normal" for myself again. The reason I went through this to begin with was because I have 1 impacted tooth and the only way to bring it down into place was through braces. I was in fear that if I didn't get it down soon it would cause me to loose my front to teeth incase it moved into the roots of them. I could be wrong maybe without treatment I wouldnt have this problem anyway but I was scared. Does anyone know about impacted teeth and what happens if you leave them alone???? PLEASE HeLp me anyone I am seriously about to have a nervous breakdown.........Thank you for listening to me I can't stop crying

#2 Post by **cwatt1** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:09 pm

Britt, I really feel badly for you -- so sorry you're so uncomfortable.

First of all, take some OTC painkillers this evening so you can get a good night's sleep. Sleep itself is very recuperative. Secondly, FREQUENT rinses with warm salt water (5-6 times per day while your mouth remains irritated) should really help in easing that gum irritation. Thirdly, make sure you have a SOFT toothbrush and brush your gumline area VERY gently; it won't hurt to go extra easy on the gumline until the gums heal a little bit.

Certainly if you're still in this much discomfort tomorrow I'd recommend calling your ortho and asking for suggestions.

Best of luck -- doesn't sound like its very much fun right now!

Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:28 pm

Hi Britt27-

I really wanted mine taken off too at first. I couldn't stand them! I was so miserable and uncomfortable I didn't know what to do with myself. I called my ortho's office and asked about getting them taken off. Of course, they told me to wait awhile to see if things get better, then, we could discuss removing them. I am so glad I stuck it out in the beginning because I've had them on for four months and my teeth are aligning wonderfully. It really did take me a solid 3-4 weeks before I was myself again.

I brushed hard to and I still do occasionally. Give yourself a little more time to get used to them. In the meantime- try to focus on the final result. Hope things get better very soon!

#4 Post by **PARR** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:55 pm

Truly you should not be in pain. Take a recommended dose of over the counter pain med like acetominaphyn or Ibuprophen...it really does work.

Make sure you eat. You can't heal without nutrition. If chewing hurts or is awkward, drink a protein shake or smoothy. Have soup or pasta.

THe warm salt water rinses do really help a lot! If you can brush, rinse well, use a small interdental brush to get at what you can stand, get the super floss...it's easy to use just like sewing ... don't dig at your gums, gently massage them. Use a sensitive teeth toothpaste ... they really work.

And of course get rest, and call the ortho in the morning for suggestions. TIme will help you adjust. Everyone is a little different, but you are not alone in your journey.

#5 Post by **onny** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:09 pm

britt27: First: Dont get them off !
Second: Stop brushing to hard with hard brushes, it doesn't clean better, it just damages more. And why do you brush above and below your archwire? You can brush as before, over your brackets and wire.
Go to your doc tomorow and explain the situation, asking for suggestions of how to brush with soft brushes propperly. There are special brushes on the market for you gum situation too, which you can use a while to get things healed.
And about your sadness, depression and nervous breakdown danger a painkiller wouldn't help much, more like a diazepam, but I doubt u got such in your house. And tomorrow hopefully everything looks better already. I and all other feel really with you, hoping the best for you, but follow rule one for at least some days and think about it not just twice but ten times before getting them removed, ok? The first day is hard for many, and some really thought about removing them, I even read about some in this board who did have them removed short after getting them. But those you don't really want to follow right?

#6 Post by **britt27** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:05 pm

Thanks for replying guys Iam just feeling truly miserale right now! And about the brushing I am using a soft toothbrush I also tried using the one they gave me with my kit. And I tried 3 diff. kinds of toothpaste including the sensitive kind. I also have been brushing very very gently.I even watched a how to video and have picture cards to along with it! In fact when I just go to put the toothpaste on the brush then barley touch my teeth with the toothpaste (not even the brush yet) it hurts soooooo badly!! The toothpaste feels like when they blow cold air on your teeth for a long peroid of time and it gets so sensitive it's unbareable!!! I have tried brushing and rinsing about 7-8 times and I can't take the pain! I have also taken 4 aleeve since this morning! My whole thing is I don't want to be in misery for a long time. I'm trying to bare with it and see what happens. I am going to call my dentist tomorrow and figure out some things. I just want to be better! i don't feel like myself right now and I am so unhappy! I just don't know what to do right now

#7 Post by **onny** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 10:53 pm

But if britt just touches the teeth with the paste, not even the brush, then it sounds for me like something is really wrong. Sounds like when one gets braces and a way to strong wire the first day. But thats impossible except your orthodontist was on drugs. Did the teeth hurt the same also before you got the braces?

#8 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:01 pm

Hi Britt,

Try to hang in there; it does get better. What exactly is causing you pain - is it the force that the braces are putting on your teeth? That should settle down in a few days. Your teeth are not going to rot in the next few days, so don't obsess too much about brushing. Do the best you can, and I am willing to bet that once the inital discomfort goes away, you'll have a much better time brushing. If the braces are rubbing against your mouth, try some wax. If you are still having a rough time after a week or so, I would go back and see your ortho. Maybe there is some adjustment they can do, like changing the wire or something.

#9 Post by **britt27** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:06 pm

My mouth is not in bad shape in fact i take excellent care of my teeth! I have had sensitive teeth for the past few years (my dentist says from brushing too hard growning up) but thats it. It pushed my gumline up a bit. I think i have something like receeding gumline. Anyway, I have always used soft bristle brushes ever since and I use sensitive toothpaste alot. But this is the 1st real pain I have had like this! I don't get it.

#10 Post by **onny** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:09 pm

I never heard of such amount of pain for any first day braces, dunno how to help anymore :<

#11 Post by **ohmyjaw** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:31 pm

Ok - so your mouth is generally healthy but you have sensitive teeth and bit of gum recession. That is not unusual and is probably has nothing to do with the pain you're having. It is normal for your teeth to be sore when braces are first put on, and for a few days after each adjustment, but you shouldn't be in agony. The pain should be easily controlled with non-prescription painkillers and shouldn't affect your ability to work, study, or whatever you normally do. If it is more serious than that, I would call your ortho and tell them what's going on.

#12 Post by **dagwoman** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:33 pm

Two weeks ago, I was in your position exactly. I was in a lot of pain, felt really ugly and young looking and I couldn't eat. I didn't understand why anyone thought it was worth being unable to chew, talk, brush their teeth effectively, smile or even close their teeth together without pain to have straight teeth. I was so angry and upset.

It's been two weeks since then. I'm now eating fine, I've relearned how to smile without feeling awkward, and I can close my teeth together without agony (in fact, without any pain). I found that my teeth stopped hurting gradually by position in my mouth, and the pain subsided first in my back teeth and the relief spread gradually forward. All the scratches in my mouth are gone. I really, truly, barely notice them. I have clear braces on the top, and no one else notices them most of the time, either. Things really started to improve from the one week mark.

I promise you, it DOES get better. You just have to ride through the next week or so.

#13 Post by **onny** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:51 pm

Really that much pain? Strange how much the sensibility of peoples teeth differs, my first day in braces was like without braces. And how could a wire as thin as a hair do any pain (that first one twisted dentaflex .012)? Only time was after I got a stronger one, that eating was hurting slightly.

But sooner or later everyone got over these pains, also you will britt. and probably different docs use different strengths as first wires, which would explain alot.

#14 Post by **TeresaTX** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:31 am

Hopefully today is better but if not, give yourself a bit of a break.

You most probably aren't eating much, if anything, if it hurts that much so stop trying so hard to brush your teeth today. I've had several adjustments that were painful...not uncomfortable...painful so I get what you are saying but instead of plowing ahead, try easing back a bit. Those pictures your ortho showed you of someones teeth rotting out did not happen in a day. It's very normal for me to brush my teeth twice before going to an adjustment then that evening I don't even try if it hurts. I rinse with both ACT and saltwater take an OTC painkiller then by the next morning I do a complete clean and floss and life goes on as normal.

I'll be honest...if I knew what it was really like (for ME who seems to be particularly mouth sensitive) before I got braces Im not sure I would have done it but now that they are on it doesn't seem logical not to just finish it.

#15 Post by **ghostmyimag3** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 6:56 pm

I never had bad pain the first day, now the second day omg i thought maybe someone ripping my jaw off would be fantastic. Then it got better but the full sensation in my mouth made me want to just take them out for a minute and put them back in. It does get better, and after awhile you won't notice them at all. Just stick with it.