New here.. new to braces.. *sigh*

[AmandaMS]

Thanks everyone!

The tips for wax seem very helpful. I will definitely give them a try. Hopefully I can survive through the weekend. I'm going to try and take some Advil and eat dinner. Wish me luck!!

[sherria2z]

You get better with the wax, also. I use a tissue to dry off the bracket after I have warmed up a little piece of wax. If your fingers are dry and the bracket is dry, it sticks on there really well! It was really hard at first, but I can do it pretty quick now and it hasn't even been two weeks.

And the Glide Threader Floss is a life saver -- don't think I could floss without it!

[$urge337]

Thanks everyone so much for your input and making me feel tons better!!

My braces went on 8/22/07 and today is 8/27/07 and i feel a bit better. I noticed that during the day, i only need wax on 2 of my teeth on the top. But at night i need to use wax on the back of my top row of teeth as well because it seems to pull my inside cheeks and it keeps waiting me up. Anyhow, like many has said my teeth don't hurt much. It was just a tad sore the second day or so but that was it. The metal was/is more annoying but im ok now.

Can't wait til my extractions, etc just because i will be a step closer to the final result.

$uRgE

[dublingal]

New to the site - got my top braces on 6 days ago but have bottom braces on 6 mths now. Have to say little bit depressed because top braces are pretty noticeable and my top lip is sticking out a bit because of braces. Ortho said i'll be wearing braces for approx 10 mths so its not that bad I suppose.
Just not feeling as sexy with the braces now

[Miss Smiley]

Does anyone else remember their molars hurting into the second week?? Is this normal??? I feel too stupid to call my ortho, plus it is Friday afternoon and they are gone.

My molars still hurt on and off. The wire doesn't just affect the "crooked looking" teeth, it tortures them all.

[ldowns99]

As others have shared, it will get better and you'll get used to them over time. I remember that my first couple weeks were really hard and I wondered how I could ever eat anything again with these things on! But now I'm used to them and can eat most things that I could before.

I've been lucky with my mouth not getting torn up too badly, but when it's happened I used the salt water rinse solution and usually my sore spot is gone in a couple days.

I had a tooth extracted and I went with a combination of novocaine and laughing gas and everything went fine - it was over before I knew it and I had a fast recovery. It's easy to say "don't worry," but don't worry!

Most people I've encountered and know either don't notice the braces at all or ask me whay I decided to get them, what it's like, etc., and think it's cool. Best wishes to you and good luck!