New braces.

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#1 Post by **sadface** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:14 am

I don't really have a question. just feeling blue.

I had braces put on like 3 hours ago.

A Ceramic attached to the top, and a standard metal attached to the bottom.

Sadly. When I look in the mirror and relax my mouth it looks.... bigger/wider? And when I speak it appears as if my lips are moving oddly.

Is this normal and will pass? I think it's the bottom brace causing the issue.

I'm 25 and this is going to be a long 18-24 months.

Thanks.

#2 Post by **Danny91!** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:43 am

Same happened to me, I got my braces fitted yesterday and I noticed my mouth looks wider. There's nothing to worry about, the two main reasons why this is happening are 1. The braces (by nature) stick out which can cause your cheeks to widen a little bit, over the space of two years your mouth can subtly change shape, from what I've read anyway.

And 2. I've noticed my mouth is slightly swollen because of the pain. This could be causing an inflammation (excuse the doctor speak, my step dad and mum both work for the NHS and you kinda pick it up!)

It could be either of them, I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.

Hope I've helped

#3 Post by **signingsunflower** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:51 am

I promise it gets better!!! The first few weeks are the worse. I remember looking in the mirror the first time and thinking....oh my gosh....what have I just done??!!! A year later....I am sooo glad I did this and I don't even notice my braces anymore....nor does anyone else really.

#4 Post by **sadface** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:21 am

Thanks for the assurance

I'll give it a few days and hopefully when I feel a bit more used to them that my lips will act normally when I speak.

And hopefully they will stop feeling like I borrowed them from Leslie Ash.

#5 Post by **sadface** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:25 am

Just a new quick worry.

One of my teeth on the top is fairly crooked (hence a brace right?)

It's only been on for like 5 hours, but it already feels like its moving (good) but i'm worried cos it feels quite loose? and just gently touching my toothbrush on it makes it bleed.

Standard?

I'm starting to wonder if I have some more deep routed worrying issues

#6 Post by **catsteeth** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:32 am

I just got my braces last week and I thought my face looked swollen after. I look better today but I notice that my lips stick out more because of the braces. Surprisingly, few people have notice. I thought I sounded really weird but the only one who cares is me.

Cat

#7 Post by **sadface** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:36 am

Thanks for the replies

I'm looking forward to the day when I don't even feel it's there, and hope it's not too far away.

I'm a bit self concious atm, as being in my 20's and male, i feel like a minority. especially in britain too.

#8 Post by **electrokitty** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:32 pm

Hi sadface, congrats on getting braced! I'm in the UK too and it does feel like adults with braces are a bit of a rarity here, I haven't seen another adult with braces the whole time I've been in mine.

You're bound to feel self-conscious at first, but honestly most people don't even notice you're in braces and those that do don't give it a second thought.
I know it seems that your lips are sticking out and look ridiculous because that's exactly how I felt too, but I personally think it's just because the braces feel so bulky and foreign in your mouth that you're super aware of them. They probably do add an extra couple of mm but that's nothing that anyone is going to be able to see.
After a couple of weeks when all that metal just feels normal you'll realise your face still looks normal as well and you'll stop thinking people are looking at you!

And yeah, loose feeling teeth is par for the course. Sometimes they might click as well if you push them a bit with your tongue (which feels weird!) but it means things are moving so it's all good!

Good luck and hope you feel happier soon!
Kitty

#9 Post by **sadface** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:06 pm

Thanks electrokitty, that post was extremely assuring, so i'll ride it out for a week and hope it's feeling better by then, I rang my boss and said I can't make it to work this week cos i'm having image issues.

When the metal feels normal, I think all my worries will go at that point.

but right now I can't begin to imagine it all feeling normal!

#10 Post by **stokie66** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:37 pm

Hi sad face where in britain you from mate im 25 as well got a consultation on the 6th of novenmber then going to get the braces on as as soon as possible so ur not alone mate. Must admit i am sesame it a little especially havin to tell me mates etc. Just a quick question how long did it take after your consultation to get you braces on?

#11 Post by **stokie66** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:39 pm

i typed that a little fast lol sorry for the mistakes that weird word was meant say sesame it believe it or not dunno wot happened there ha

#12 Post by **sadface** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:08 pm

Hey man, Leicestershire area.

Had a consultation then i had the braces put on a month later (but that's just cos that's when they had space to get me an appointment)

You doing top&bottom?

I did ceramic on the top, just cos it was much less visible, but it's feeling really uncomfortable, maybe bigger than the metal brackets? I'm starting to worry that my mouth isn't going to adapt to the ceramic ones, but we'll find out in some time I guess.

Good luck with it man, it's grinding on me atm while it's still uncomfortable, just gotta think of the bigger picture I guess.

#13 Post by **Bellalalala** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:48 pm

"What have I done to myself!!!" phase.

It will pass, I promise.

#14 Post by **sadface** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:00 am

Thanks

I'm starting to question if I made a mistake with the ceramic brackets. I chose them due them being much less visible, but I had no idea (until later last night) that they are bigger than metal brackets.

And maybe that's the problem with my lips feeling big (or when I swallow it feels like I have a slice or orange in my mouth... if you know what i mean)

Did anyone else use ceramic on the upper?

#15 Post by **RickC** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 4:30 am

Hi SadFace,

I got my braces on a couple of months ago, metal top and bottom, I'm on NHS in Manchester and I'm 28. Think I'll be in them for about 18 months, then I have the joys of jaw surgery to look forward to.

You get used to the braces extremely quickly, I've neen quite lucky because I can still eat all of the foods that I used to before I got braced.

The time will fly by.

Rick

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