They're on!

[kelly88]

After a long wait and a set back (I was supposed to get them on a month ago but my orthodontist was having some problems with a machine in the surgery) I finally got my braces on this morning! You have no idea how excited I am. I've waited 10 years for this.

It went a lot better than I was expecting. I've read lots and watched tonnes of videos on Youtube but I felt like I wasn't there as long as I thought I would be. The whole thing only took about 45 minutes which didn't seem too bad.

It wasn't uncomfortable. I have sensitive teeth on the right hand side so the worst part was probably when she was rinsing and drying that side. The cold made me shudder a bit. But the rest was fine, quite relaxing actually . Nothing to be nervous about at all.

I've now had them on for around 5 hours. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable which surprises me. I thought it would be longer before I would feel anything. They feel tight. I don't feel pain exactly. The only way I can describe it is like it's itchy. It feels like the roots of my lower teeth are itchy. I want to take my teeth out and give them a good scratch. I also feel like I want to bite on things. I imagine it's probably similar to what teething feels like. It's not very comfortable but not horrible either. I also thought they would feel more bulky but I'm already starting to forget they're there. They don't feel bulky at all.

I ate beans and soggy toast for my lunch. I have an over bite and have bumpers on my lower brackets so eating was a challenge. I wanted my back teeth to go together so badly! Again, something I will get used to with time. It took some time to eat my lunch and I felt like I was dribbling. My orthodontist gave me a handy little mirror which I can imagine is going to be handy at meal times. It's already been my new best friend today

I feel so happy that they're on and I'm so excited to see my progress!

A picture. I found it hard to pick a colour so told my orthodontist to pick something for me. My only request was that it was something summery. She picked this blue. It seemed like her and the assistant had taken a bet on whether or not I would pick a colour. The assistant won because I definitely wanted colour The silvery lig things on my bottom front teeth are the bumpers to stop me biting the lower brackets off. I haven't seen these before. I've only seen either the ones that go on the back of your upper front teeth or the blue stuff they stick on your molars. They're nice and squishy though. One of my worries was that bumpers of some kind would damage my teeth.

I quite like them

[kelly88]

After eating my dinner I feel there is more food in my braces than in my tummy.

I'm getting married next year and this seems like a lovely way to lose weight. None of the food is actually getting further than my teeth

[djspeece]

Congratulations! Keep up the good work. It'll be a journey.

[kelly88]

Thank you!

[irnjaw]

Hi

How exciting that your journey has started. Yipee!!

I notice your ticker goes up to 31 months. Is that your ortho's prediction for the duration of your treatment?

[metalliKa]

After eating my dinner I feel there is more food in my braces than in my tummy.

I'm getting married next year and this seems like a lovely way to lose weight. None of the food is actually getting further than my teeth

Hahaha that is so true! Each time I eat, there is more food left between my brackets than what actually went down my stomach! And congratulations! You'll be so happy that you started this endeavor! to beautiful teeth!

[teeebeee]

Oh, don't your braces look pretty!

Congratulations on getting started and, I, too, am losing weight due to the 'braces diet'. Not as much as I would've thought, though...I think the dental wax (which I seem to keep eating!) must be the most calorific foodstuff on the planet!

T xx

[kelly88]

irnjaw, ha! I've just noticed that. I think that's the standard length of the TickerFactory tickers. I hope not I think my treatment is going to be around 18 months so not too bad.

Haha thank you! Eating is a major challenge. It's taken me close to 45 minutes this morning to eat my breakfast... I was ready to give up after half a slice so can imagine the braces diet is going to work if this keeps up

I'm already admitting defeat this morning. I have a poking wire which is pretty miserable. I've tried wax but the wire is poking through after 5-10 minutes so it isn't really helping. I can feel where the wire is, it's just the one end that's poking right out. I may have to be a wimp and call my orthodontist this early on. I know I need to let my cheeks toughen up but this is SORE. My skin keeps getting caught on the wire and I have to pull it off.

Otherwise, though, they're feeling fine. My lower teeth are a bit sensitive but nothing major. Taking forever to eat meals is probably going to become a pain but oh well, I paid for it

[teeebeee]

I know exactly what you mean about the poking wires (hence my major usage of dental wax and how I keep eating it!). It sometimes helps if you can put it into more of a little ball shape to just put it onto the ends of the wire, if you see what I mean, rather than trying to cover the whole bracket area. Also, I find plaksmacker orthodontic wax much better than the other sorts as it's 'thicker'. If it's cold (not a problem in the UK today!), it takes a while to make it malleable but it's worth it.

When it really gets too much, it's usually because there's been tooth-movage and I just whizz back to the dentist for them to clip the wire. In fact, I'm having that done tomorrow. I like to think it's a good sign...

Good luck...it WILL be worth it on your wedding day! I'm hopefully still on course for a big, toothy smile at my son's wedding in August!

T xx

[djspeece]

Some people prefer to use silicone instead of wax -- Mack's "Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs." I have used them on occasion but had difficulty with them sticking. I think you definitely call the ortho and get that wire clipped before you develop an ulcer. Best of luck to you!

[kelly88]

Thank you.

I caved and went back (two months till my next appointment seemed too long to wait with a poky wire!) The orthodontist cut the wire on both sides and it feels SO MUCH BETTER!

I heard about the silicone ear plugs! I was just talking to my fiancee about them actually. I will have to try them!

[tartanhabit]

Congratulations! They look great. I was worried about losing weight - I know, not necessarily a common worry so I bought myself a protein powder and a blender ball cup. You shake up the powder with liquid (milk of whatever kind you want etc) and I add a good dollop of a creamy nut butter, give it a good shake and done. It's really helped me maintain weight and manage that low blood sugar feeling I am prone to. It's not a meal replacement for me but for those times when I really want a quick slice of toast or two but that's just not happening fast enough.

Hope the pokey wires feel better now. Have fun flossing!

[41twinsmom]

Congrats! They look great!

[Melissa0131]

Congrats! They look great :)

[kelly88]

Thank you!

I'm starting to feel more confident with them and not realising they're there most of the time. I'm finding eating a lot easier, definitely not as bad as I was anticipating!