Another Newly Braced

[ER RN]

Hi Everyone,
After a couple of years of thinking about it, I've finally just taken the plunge and gotten braced. This is my first time posting; let me introduce myself:
I'm 38 with two little kids. Growing up I had a big gap btwn my top two teeth. Don't think my parents ever even considered braces for me, so I went through several rounds of retainers (ah, the lucky McDonald's garbage bin...).
Fast forward too many years, and after all 4 wisdom teeth came in, I woke up one day and realized my teeth had become over crowded. Not horrible, but I have a really big mouth/gummy smile, and my teeth are out there for the world to see (in my world anyhow!). I've never liked my big smile too much, so after several years of thinking about it (and now kicking myself, as I could have been DONE years ago...) I finally worked up the guts and got braces.
I have top and bottom Radiance clear braces, just had them put on on Rememberance Day November 11. For any Canadians out there, the whole office had a moment of silence while the horn was playing on the radio, and there I was in lip-spreaders. At least I'll remember the day!
So far I'm living by the mantra, "Happy Pain, Happy Pain, Happy Pain". My lips are swollen, my cheeks are raw, one of the brackets on my wisdom tooth NEEDS TO COME OFF!!!, and I can't close my bite properly as one bracket is in the way (anyone ever have this trouble???). I'm living on soup, yogurt, mushy oatmeal and Advil. Not so much fun.
Anyhow, just wanted to become involved, and hoping someone further down the line can tell me it's all worth it!
I'll try to post some pictures soon.
Thanks for reading!!

[petitcanard]

Welcome to the club!! Looking forward to following your story - I was just braced on the 5th so our dates are pretty close Sorry to hear about all the misery, I know it well... I don't have much to offer, other than wax & salt water rinses are your friend and I'm in complete sympathy (I'm currently fighting what feels like a planet-sized crater at the back of one of my cheeks). Hopefully things settle down for you pretty quick!! Hang in there

[Snowglobe32]

Welcome!
Congratulations to you!

I have had my braces for almost 7 weeks. I had my first adjustment the same day you got your braces and my teeth are still sore so tonight I am having spaghetti with meatballs. You will find, you will be able to eat soon. It took about a week before I attempted anything risky and by week two, I was eating anything I wanted, just with extra caution and of course, chewing slowly.

If you get tired of soups, try lasagna, spaghetti, grilled cheese, pot roasts....stuff that slides down easily.

I look forward to following your story also.

[Donna]

Welcome to the club!

I'm 42 and just got braced a few months ago. Better late than never!

You'll be able to chew properly shortly, but unfortunately, the pain comes and goes. At least for me it does.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Laura1985]

Congratulations on getting braced! And welcome!!

[felicia]

Congratulations and welcome!
I'm 27 years old, and braced 2 and 1/2 months ago. Believe me, it's all worth it, I'm happy with the way things work for me, my teeth move really fast...and believe it or not I smile more now with my braces on than I smiled before I had them. As soon as you will start to see movement you'll know that it's all worth it.
One thing about your case I don't understand....you said that you have brackets on your wisdom teeth, from what I know that's a little bit unusual, usually it's recommended for the wisdom teeth to be removed. But I might be wrong, everyone's case is different.
Good luck!

[ER RN]

Thanks everyone for the welcome!! It's so nice to know there are others in the same boat! I actually work with 2 other people who also have braces, so I don't feel so alone. I'm also actively recruiting those fence-sitters to join my club! ha ha.
I am feeling SO much better today. The reason I got the braces was to straighten my front teeth post-wisdom teeth. When I went in I was told I had a minor crossbite on the right side, and they would straighten the area if they could. However, the one top right wisdom tooth is a really small one and the bracket popped off of it an hour after it was put on, but we left the other one on (probably didn't think about it). It was killing me, affecting my jaw, so today I went in and they took it off. Happy times!
Yes, Felicia, I imagine most people have their wisdom teeth out first. But I have all four, they came in perfectly and have never given me any problems, so the ortho said there wasn't any need to take them out. She said she can straighten the teeth despite the wisdom teeth in; I'll just have a bit of "disking" (sp??) at the front to make it all fit. So we'll see how it goes. I likely wouldn't have gone through the whole thing if I was told I needed all my wisdom teeth pulled, as my teeth weren't really terrible to begin with.
I'll try to post some pics soon. And, is it my imagination, or have I already seen some movement?!?!!!! One top tooth (sorry, I don't know the names very well) was a bit too short, so it's already come down a little. Very exciting!!
Thanks everyone. I love this site and reading of other peoples' journies. Looking forward to seeing everyone's progression (I'm a huge fan of pictures!!)

[tori*anne]

Welcome ER RN!

I too am newly braced. I am five days in... it's gotten a TAD better since last week although I will say my tongue is still cut up from the top molar bands. I am waiting patiently for it to toughen up! I have been living on mashed potatoes, squash, coffee, pudding and milkshakes. So I am sure I haven't lost any weight. Maybe I should switch to yogurt.

I've found this site SOOO helpful with the many questions I had about braces. I have learned so much and everyone is more than willing to offer you a shoulder to complain on or some advice. It's really great.

Hang in there...things will get better soon! ♥

[ER RN]

OK, so I am a complete computer MORON and have no idea how to post a picture here. I read the part in FAQ, but I may as well be reading Chinese, so pictures may not be possible. I have them on my computer, but how do I get them onto here???
Hopeless...

[Faerydust]

Welcome and congrats on getting braced! It's a great gift to yourself and it's better late than never! I work at a children's dentist office and I actually see a lot of parents of all ages in braces!

Like you, my teeth shifted after my top wisdom teeth came in. I have a small arch and my mouth couldn't accommodate that many teeth very well. My ortho recommended leaving my top wisdom teeth in and just extracting bicuspids and that's what I did. In the end I ended up with cavities on my wisdoms so I had them extracted just last week. I just recently got my braces off and my teeth straightened up quite nicely. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful result as well! It will be worth it!

I had the same pains as you in the beginning. It gets better, you just have to endure it for a few weeks or so and sometimes after adjustments. I used plenty of wax, lip balm, and tylenol for the first few months. I also lost weight on my soft food diet.

[Saysee]

I had my braces put on Nov. 11. I like having a braces buddy. I'll keep checking for updates from you. My braces represent the second half of a four-year TMJ treatment. How about you?