I'm a newbie to braces, they've been on for about 36 hours. I'm attempting to be positive and keep reminding myself that I've never heard anyone say they were upset they got braces, so that right now is what I'm holding onto. I'm a 35 year old wife, and mother of one. Currently I feel insane or silly, with braces, wrinkles, the occasional zit and gray hair. Not a pretty picture, luckily I'm not the one stuck looking at myself much. My teeth are a mess. Prior to braces, I had one tooth extracted-hard to say good bye to a perfectly healthy tooth, but I have severe crowding and it needed to be done. (If I can figure out how to make my photos small, I will post one for your entertainment) I had spacers for 2 weeks prior to being braced. The spacers were irritating, but not too painful. They did the trick and the brackets were put on with out much effort. Luckily I was blessed with VICODEN for the extraction and that has been a huge help with the mouth pain. Right now, my mouth is sore! My lips feel like they are always sticking out and my diet consists of pudding, yogurt, applesauce and ice cream. The inside of my mouth feels like a cheese grater has run thru there. I'm not sure about using the wax. Part of me feels like not using it- toughing things up since I'm looking at wearing braces for 2.5 years so I might as well get used to it, but the other part of me wants the relief the wax can provide. I feel like I talk funny now, and I know this will sound silly, but my teeth look more messed up with the braces on. Maybe it is that I've added something shiny to them so it forces you to look at them- or because you can see the wires go up and down and out and in. So far I do not regret doing this and will be SO thrilled when I start to see results. I have my first appointment (adjustments I think) in 6 weeks....so, I'm looking forward to that! I have not asked if I will need to wear headgear for fear that I would stop the whole thing if I did. I'm hoping that since I haven't been told I needed it, I won't......ignorance is bliss they say. If I need headgear, I'm hoping I can wear it at night. I already feel like everyone is staring at me at work- people who I've never talked to spoke to me for the first time today, so I automatically think they did it because they want to talk about me around the water cooler.....I know it is all in my head, but I feel very self concious right now.
I'm so glad I found this website- I LOVE reading the updates and seeing the progress pictures. So much info in one place!
Braced for 36 hours
Moderator: bbsadmin
Hi tingrin, welcome to AW! I love your intro - especially the part about braces, wrinkles, the occasional zit and gray hair! I can sooooooo relate to that! All I can say is that it really helps to have a good sense of humor about these things. 
Have you tried the wax yet? I'm definitely NOT into pain, so I use it whenever I feel a problem. I found that the wax allowed the irritated area to heal faster, then I could take the wax off and have no problem. Anytime I tried avoiding wax to "toughen up", all I did was keep chewing up my cheeks worse and worse.
I hope you post pics! We all like looking at pics, and sharing each other's progress along the way!
Have you tried the wax yet? I'm definitely NOT into pain, so I use it whenever I feel a problem. I found that the wax allowed the irritated area to heal faster, then I could take the wax off and have no problem. Anytime I tried avoiding wax to "toughen up", all I did was keep chewing up my cheeks worse and worse.
I hope you post pics! We all like looking at pics, and sharing each other's progress along the way!
Click on WWW to see my braces story.
August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom
August 16, 2007 - Braced on top
January 3, 2008 - Braced on bottom
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newsboysgrl777
- Posts: 241
- Joined: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:40 pm
- Location: NY
- Contact:
Hi tingrin!! Well...welcome to the wonderful world of braces..LOL!! I completely sympathize and understand SEVERAL of your concerns, so I'll address them one by one.
1) Yogurt, pudding, applesauce, ice cream diet. Yep. I'm there with you. I've had the top brackets on for 8 months, but the lower ones for only 2 weeks, and it's been extremely hard for me to eat with them. I can't bite down because I have things preventing me from doing so (bite turbos, glue build-ups on my molars) so I don't risk biting a bracket. Anyway, just wanted to say that the next phase is pasta...very well cooked, of course...so that it's nice and soft. Even soup will be great, too. I remembered when I first got the top brackets, the day I actually ate a WARM/HOT meal, even if it was mushy and not very appetizing, was wonderful because it felt like I was eating REAL food that was NOURISHING! Not just the processed/sugary type stuff (as mentioned above). So give that a try!! You may notice an INSTANT lift in your mood; I know I did!
2) USE WAX!! It's your friend. I totally understand what you mean about wanting to toughen up your cheeks, but actually, the wax will do that for you. It's hard enough and bulky enough to help your mouth build up a tolerance (almost like callouses, but not...), but without causing the pain and the cuts, etc. I suggest you wax EVERYWHERE you need to to prevent the rubbing/grating and also rinse like crazy with warm salt water (OR, try peroxyl mouthwash (made by crest) which has peroxide in it that REALLY helps your mouth heal fast!! I love the stuff..and the taste is 100x better than salt water...LOL). Another thing that I found was from http://www.dentakit.com (the admin/creator of archwired runs it) and it's the 'comfort cover.' You slide it over your brackets and it keeps the brackets from rubbing against the inside of your mouth. I still use this on my lower brackets...only when I'm sleeping, though. I find that's why my teeth press into my bottom lip the most.
3) I remember how surprised I was when I saw the braces for the first time. I was like "but why isn't the wire straight?" Well, I'd never really thought about the fact that they place the brackets where they need to to get them to move to where the wire and brackets WILL be straight! So, when you say your teeth look even WORSE with the brackets, you're probably right in thinking it's because it's totally highlighting how 'off' your teeth really are initially. (Who wants to see a zig-zag arch wire, right??!) But don't worry!! This straightens out rather quickly! That's why they use the lightest wire to begin with. Apparently it is very good for what is called the 'alignment phase' which is the phase we all start out in when we get our brackets on. It helps move our teeth to where they need to be before all the major work gets done. This is ALSO (I think) why a lot of people say you notice more improvement in the very beginning...because this part isn't exactly moving your roots around too much...it's just aligning your teeth up or down (as far as I know).
4) I know you're going to be devastated when you read this next part...but it must be said. I'm afraid that you're just TOO OLD for headgear. (Please try not to cry! I know you wanted to wear that contraption ever-so much...especially all day long at work!! LOL) Headgear is for jaw growth...very, very simplified, it will basically help your jaw grow forward, or will stilt your jaw's growth. (Again, this is VERY over-simplified) And, as an adult, your jaw is done growing...so nothing other than surgery will make your jaw move forward or back. So, while you may have had to have headgear when you were a child, there'd be no point in having you use it now as an adult. So...wipe your tears and pick up your chin and try to be glad you won't be in headgear.
5) As for the folks at the water cooler...if they really WERE to discuss your braces, it would prove how shallow they are and what empty, meaningless lives they live. I'm SURE there is work they should be doing at their desks, instead of standing around talking about someone who is brave enough to do something about a problem with her teeth instead of being a baby about it and gossiping with others.
6) ME TOO!! Which is why YOU MUST take progress pics yourself and make a collage of them (even if you don't ever show anyone). It's always so encouraging when you look back to where you started, and see where you're currently at. Even if you find you have NO MOVEMENT for a long time, you can look back to where you started and realize that there HAS been improvement, and there will be in the future!! YAY!!
Again, welcome to the world of braces and congratulations on taking such a brave step forward!!
1) Yogurt, pudding, applesauce, ice cream diet. Yep. I'm there with you. I've had the top brackets on for 8 months, but the lower ones for only 2 weeks, and it's been extremely hard for me to eat with them. I can't bite down because I have things preventing me from doing so (bite turbos, glue build-ups on my molars) so I don't risk biting a bracket. Anyway, just wanted to say that the next phase is pasta...very well cooked, of course...so that it's nice and soft. Even soup will be great, too. I remembered when I first got the top brackets, the day I actually ate a WARM/HOT meal, even if it was mushy and not very appetizing, was wonderful because it felt like I was eating REAL food that was NOURISHING! Not just the processed/sugary type stuff (as mentioned above). So give that a try!! You may notice an INSTANT lift in your mood; I know I did!
2) USE WAX!! It's your friend. I totally understand what you mean about wanting to toughen up your cheeks, but actually, the wax will do that for you.
It's hard enough and bulky enough to help your mouth build up a tolerance (almost like callouses, but not...), but without causing the pain and the cuts, etc. I suggest you wax EVERYWHERE you need to to prevent the rubbing/grating and also rinse like crazy with warm salt water (OR, try peroxyl mouthwash (made by crest) which has peroxide in it that REALLY helps your mouth heal fast!! I love the stuff..and the taste is 100x better than salt water...LOL). Another thing that I found was from http://www.dentakit.com (the admin/creator of archwired runs it) and it's the 'comfort cover.' You slide it over your brackets and it keeps the brackets from rubbing against the inside of your mouth. I still use this on my lower brackets...only when I'm sleeping, though. I find that's why my teeth press into my bottom lip the most.3) I remember how surprised I was when I saw the braces for the first time. I was like "but why isn't the wire straight?" Well, I'd never really thought about the fact that they place the brackets where they need to to get them to move to where the wire and brackets WILL be straight! So, when you say your teeth look even WORSE with the brackets, you're probably right in thinking it's because it's totally highlighting how 'off' your teeth really are initially. (Who wants to see a zig-zag arch wire, right??!) But don't worry!! This straightens out rather quickly! That's why they use the lightest wire to begin with. Apparently it is very good for what is called the 'alignment phase' which is the phase we all start out in when we get our brackets on. It helps move our teeth to where they need to be before all the major work gets done. This is ALSO (I think) why a lot of people say you notice more improvement in the very beginning...because this part isn't exactly moving your roots around too much...it's just aligning your teeth up or down (as far as I know).
4) I know you're going to be devastated when you read this next part...but it must be said. I'm afraid that you're just TOO OLD for headgear. (Please try not to cry! I know you wanted to wear that contraption ever-so much...especially all day long at work!! LOL) Headgear is for jaw growth...very, very simplified, it will basically help your jaw grow forward, or will stilt your jaw's growth. (Again, this is VERY over-simplified) And, as an adult, your jaw is done growing...so nothing other than surgery will make your jaw move forward or back. So, while you may have had to have headgear when you were a child, there'd be no point in having you use it now as an adult. So...wipe your tears and pick up your chin and try to be glad you won't be in headgear.
5) As for the folks at the water cooler...if they really WERE to discuss your braces, it would prove how shallow they are and what empty, meaningless lives they live. I'm SURE there is work they should be doing at their desks, instead of standing around talking about someone who is brave enough to do something about a problem with her teeth instead of being a baby about it and gossiping with others.
6) ME TOO!! Which is why YOU MUST take progress pics yourself and make a collage of them (even if you don't ever show anyone). It's always so encouraging when you look back to where you started, and see where you're currently at. Even if you find you have NO MOVEMENT for a long time, you can look back to where you started and realize that there HAS been improvement, and there will be in the future!! YAY!!
Again, welcome to the world of braces and congratulations on taking such a brave step forward!!
Welcome to AW!
Im fairly new here as well - joined the day I got braces and its been 2 weeks. 2 quite eventuful weeks, when it comes to wax, I definitely agree with newsboysgrl - use it!
Ive posted this elsewhere too but, my first week I went through the whole case of wax and my ortho only gave me 2 I figured I'll be buying my own wax since I went through one little case so quickly.
But, after the first week, one morning I didnt put the wax on and I didnt even notice that I didnt do that until I was eating
so ever since I figured who cares! I dont think I need the wax so I have my 2nd case of wax at home still sitting there in case of "some kind of emergency"
About headgear - Ignorance is bliss - I figured my ortho would have said something and well I am hoping I am too old for that too
If not then we might have issues..
anyways.. GOOD LUCK!
Im fairly new here as well - joined the day I got braces and its been 2 weeks. 2 quite eventuful weeks, when it comes to wax, I definitely agree with newsboysgrl - use it!
Ive posted this elsewhere too but, my first week I went through the whole case of wax and my ortho only gave me 2 I figured I'll be buying my own wax since I went through one little case so quickly.
But, after the first week, one morning I didnt put the wax on and I didnt even notice that I didnt do that until I was eating
so ever since I figured who cares! I dont think I need the wax so I have my 2nd case of wax at home still sitting there in case of "some kind of emergency"
About headgear - Ignorance is bliss - I figured my ortho would have said something and well I am hoping I am too old for that too
If not then we might have issues..
anyways.. GOOD LUCK!
Spacers: 8 - 4 top, 4 bottom on 04.04.09
Braced on: 04.09.09
Sentence: 18-24 Months
Braced on: 04.09.09
Sentence: 18-24 Months
Congrats
First and foremost, huge congrats to you! Getting braces is a great thing that you are doing for yourself!! Give yourself a big pat on the back.
I've had mine for 1-1/2 years. I was 39 when I got mine. I was so scared, and I have to tell you that I've found things to have gone so much more smoothly than I expected. It really does get alot better.
The first few weeks are a big adjustment. It's really a shock to your system, so give yourself time to adjust. You'll be doing much better in no time. After a week, eating got better and I remember a month later eating pretty much all normal foods and munching away on chips : )
I remember my inside gums feeling so scratched up initially : ) This too does go away fairly soon as they get used to the braces. Go ahead and used the wax on any areas that are digging in a little too deep. And go ahead and take advil too if things are feeling uncomfortable, everybody adjusts at a different pace, but yours will be here soon - you have the worst over with now.
I remember wondering how people would react at work. However, I found I was so proud of myself and my braces that I flashed them with a big smile and talked about it with everyone. They shared in my happiness about them. I have not received a single negative reaction, but I've gotten tons of positive ones. In fact, my smile has grown larger and people love seeing it. I think the reactions will be a reflection of your own. Go ahead and be proud and positive - you have every right to be! And, I know that people will be eager to share that with you.
Don't hesitate to post your questions on this forum. Everyone is so kind and very helpful. We look forward to hearing more about your journey! Best wishes
I've had mine for 1-1/2 years. I was 39 when I got mine. I was so scared, and I have to tell you that I've found things to have gone so much more smoothly than I expected. It really does get alot better.
The first few weeks are a big adjustment. It's really a shock to your system, so give yourself time to adjust. You'll be doing much better in no time. After a week, eating got better and I remember a month later eating pretty much all normal foods and munching away on chips : )
I remember my inside gums feeling so scratched up initially : ) This too does go away fairly soon as they get used to the braces. Go ahead and used the wax on any areas that are digging in a little too deep. And go ahead and take advil too if things are feeling uncomfortable, everybody adjusts at a different pace, but yours will be here soon - you have the worst over with now.
I remember wondering how people would react at work. However, I found I was so proud of myself and my braces that I flashed them with a big smile and talked about it with everyone. They shared in my happiness about them. I have not received a single negative reaction, but I've gotten tons of positive ones. In fact, my smile has grown larger and people love seeing it. I think the reactions will be a reflection of your own. Go ahead and be proud and positive - you have every right to be! And, I know that people will be eager to share that with you.
Don't hesitate to post your questions on this forum. Everyone is so kind and very helpful. We look forward to hearing more about your journey! Best wishes
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tingrin in OR
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:35 pm
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kristi1003
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:08 pm
i get braced on tuesday! i am really nervous. i am 28 yrs old and this is my 2nd time in braces. check out my blog. with before pics. then after tuesday i will post pics with them on. best of luck to u!
http://allwiredup2009.blogspot.com/
http://allwiredup2009.blogspot.com/
Tingrin
Welcome to AW - I'm just like you - a 35 year old mother. I have had my lower jaw braces on for 2.5 weeks only and it already feels like they are an old friend/nemesis!
As regards nosy colleagues, I am smiling as much as possible to normalise it. I think if you look like you are embarrassed then it becomes an issue. I also have to remind myself regularly not to apologize for my braces and not to feel like I have to give a long-winded explanation. I just say "I am getting work done on my teeth. I have braces temporarily"...
Having said all of that, I think I will find it a lot harder when I get my upper teeth brackets on later this year. I hope I will just hold my head up high and be proud of the decision.
Welcome to AW - I'm just like you - a 35 year old mother. I have had my lower jaw braces on for 2.5 weeks only and it already feels like they are an old friend/nemesis!
As regards nosy colleagues, I am smiling as much as possible to normalise it. I think if you look like you are embarrassed then it becomes an issue. I also have to remind myself regularly not to apologize for my braces and not to feel like I have to give a long-winded explanation. I just say "I am getting work done on my teeth. I have braces temporarily"...
Having said all of that, I think I will find it a lot harder when I get my upper teeth brackets on later this year. I hope I will just hold my head up high and be proud of the decision.
Hi Tingrin!
Welcome to Archwired. I am a 34 year-old wife and professional. At first, I also thought everyone was staring at me. Funny thing is, a few people still haven't noticed my braces. (They probably wonder why I'm in the bathroom brushing my teeth all the time
)
Be proud of your decsision to fix your teeth. So many adults would love to wear braces, but don't have the courage too. You do. Be proud! My husband is always telling me how brave I am for getting braces.
It is frustrating at first, but it does get easier. Just use plenty of wax and take pain relievers as needed. Before you know it, you will forget about them.
Wishing you all the best!
Welcome to Archwired. I am a 34 year-old wife and professional. At first, I also thought everyone was staring at me. Funny thing is, a few people still haven't noticed my braces. (They probably wonder why I'm in the bathroom brushing my teeth all the time
)Be proud of your decsision to fix your teeth. So many adults would love to wear braces, but don't have the courage too. You do. Be proud! My husband is always telling me how brave I am for getting braces.
It is frustrating at first, but it does get easier. Just use plenty of wax and take pain relievers as needed. Before you know it, you will forget about them.
Wishing you all the best!
