The start of my 2 year journey with braces

Message

#1 Post by **Sarah London** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:42 am

Ive hated my teeth my whole life!
I had a removable brace as a child but didnt wear it properley and when i was 18 my dentist told me my teeth could only be corrected with jaw surgery, which petrified me!!! now 12 years on I couldnt live with my teeth anymore they made me so miserable so went private and after being told at the first consultataton that they could eb corrected by wearing a fixed top and bottom brace and using elastics i was overjoyed!
I have had my brace on for a week now, the pain only lasted about 3 days and ive got a little rubbing on my lips and a wire poking inside the back of my cheek but nothing i cant live with!
its the whole feeling of it inside my mouth tht i cant get used to , my lips aren't big enough to go over it and im so paraniod that people are looking at me! it makes it worse that im single and like to go out! although i see 2 other ladys of the dame age wearing braces at the weekend in a bar and they made me feel so much more positive when they told me how much there teeth were improving already only after a couple of months!
I guess i just have to look at the end picture and how happy im going to be when i have the perfect smile!
Im also cleaning m y teeth and using mouth wash at least 20 times a day is this normal? [/b]

#2 Post by **Ladybird** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:37 am

Congratulations on getting braced!

20 times is way excessive. My ortho recently told me that mouth wash causes stains on your teeth too and that you should dilute it with water.

Unless you meant 2?

I wouldn't brush anymore than 3 times, just make sure you're not snacking between meals or drinking sugary drinks/coffee all day.

x

#3 Post by **Sarah London** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:34 am

No I do actually mean 20 times literally! im paraniod that there is food in my brace or ive got smelly breath!

I acually feel really good today though my teeth have moved already and its only been a week!

#4 Post by **Jewles** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:45 am

Brushing too often wears away your tooth enamel, 3 times a day is plenty!

#5 Post by **stokie66** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:02 pm

Hi sarah good luck wish i had mine on now the quicker get them on quicker can get the bloody things off i got my consultation end of the month how long did u have wait after your consultation to get your braces on. I have not told any1 yet im having them nd im petrified of the stick ill get but every time i think of changing me mind i look at them in the mirror which makes me want get them done even more. I also go out up town and that a lot so maybe we can go through it together lol. Oh and yea dont brush too much will do more harm than good honestly same with the mouth wash. x

#6 Post by **switchblades** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:14 pm

Hi Sarah,

Good luck, it's rough at first getting used to the braces, but you will be SO GLAD you did it! I get mine off this week and I am so happy with the result! I was supposed to go for surgery but opted out, due to a total lack of professionalism from the surgical firm. But I now have night, straight teeth and a smile I am happy with, which is more important to me right now.

I hope you will find the board an informative and encouraging place, I know I have!

Jen