Braces next week - feeling nervous

[RachF]

I am new here... I am also new to the whole braces thing.

I am getting my braces fitted next week (I think - that's my next appointment anyway) it's the start of a long road with double jaw surgery at the end.

Any tips for making the days after the fitting easier? How much will it hurt?

Thanks!

[leelou905]

Hello, welcome


braces are generally uncomfortable at first, you might find you can't chew, your teeth will be somewhat numb in places, they will feel as though they're not part of your mouth. This all subsides eventually, and it's different for everybody. Some people don't have very much discomfort.

Unfortunately I've no idea about the jaw surgery part as I've been fortunate enough not to have that. But I'm sure someone will be along soon enough to give you advice on that.

All I can say is, go easy brushing your teeth at first, they will be sensitive. Eat soft foods, soups and things like that, you might find even bananas may hurt so go easy. You will probably lose weight, as well. For me it took about a good 6-8 weeks maybe more before my teeth felt OK to chew on, and weren't numb anymore. You'll eventually gain the weight back once your teeth feel better and easier to eat on. Use wax if you need it, but don't bother if you prefer to allow your skin to harden up; which it will, very quickly.

After a month or two, you'll be so used to having them, it becomes normality. Good luck

[djspeece]

Welcome to the club!
Discomfort following the whole bracing process is quite variable; many people report no issues, and others really seem to suffer. You are smart to get a head start on the whole process. For me, the psychological discomfort was nearly as annoying as the physical -- having braces was a bit of a shock to my image, I guess. They seemed so large and bulky. And while your cheeks will toughen up a bit over the course of a couple of weeks, most of us feel some sort of irritation from the wires. So use dental wax freely and often. I did discover that more is not always better. I'd make a big wad of it and place it on the bracket only to have it disappear the first time I talked or drank water. The initial wires often are round and small and are intended to align the teeth rather than move them, but they still can cause discomfort. I prefer ibuprofen for dental pain -- it specifically works to neutralize the chemical intermediaries of dental and orthopedic pain. Read the label and make sure you have no contraindications.
As an RN, one of my clinical interests has been in the management of acute pain from my days working post-op. Lesson one: pain is easier to prevent than to treat. So take ibuprofen an hour before your bracing appointment, and continue according to label directions. This will also come into play after your surgery -- take your pain meds! Use wax liberally. You may need to eat soft foods for a few days or even longer, so plan that out so your nutrition does not suffer. Lots of advice on that here. I found that a single malt scotch went a long way to reducing my discomfort.

Pain perception is greatly influenced by the meaning you assign to it. Try to visualize your new smile, understand that any discomfort you feel (and realize that it is not inevitable - many people do not feel any discomfort) is helping you, that it is a good thing, and that you will persevere and ultimately have the smile you are seeking. And of course come here and vent as needed. It is a long road. Best of luck to you!

[RachF]

Thank you both for replying. Some very helpful tips there.

I am so excited and have been waiting for this for so long so I am hoping that a positive mental attitude will go along way to helping.

I will definitely take some ibuprofen before I go to the appointment.

Just hope it is for braces and not spacers, spacers haven't been mentioned so far.

[sirwired]

Generally spacers are needed if the ortho plans on affixing a TPA (Trans-palatal-arch) to your mouth at any time, or if you have fillings on the outside surfaces of your molars, to which it's difficult to adhere brackets.

[Tyrantblade]

Ive found that getting braces put on is the easiest part and the first week is the worst, at least for a while

Really there's nothing to be afraid of or anxious/nervous about in the course of getting braces snd adjusting to them

Its just an adjustment period and then relatively smooth sailing for a while

[diamant]

As others have said, it all depends on each individual! Personally, since getting my braces on 13 days ago, the only discomfort I've had is the brackets and wires irritating the insides of my cheeks. I was nervous because a good friend of mine got braces a couple of weeks before I did and she described her first week as constantly feeling like she'd been punched in the mouth, or had one huge toothache. I've experienced none of that, and I eased the other discomfort with wax.

Good luck, and congratulations!

[occamsblazer]

I have no advice but I'm getting mine next week too and worried about all of the same things! Good luck braces buddy! *fistbump*

[Tyrantblade]

Guys, theres nothing to worry about regarding getting the braces put on, as for the days afterwards, if you avoid chewing for around the first week you will avoid a lot of pain

If its still too much, you can take painkillers, drink cold water, suck on an ice cube (dont chew it) also you may find using wax helpful if the braces seem too sharp

[nitro]

Honestly, the worst two things about getting braces put on is the taste of the glue, and the dryness in your lips. Other than that, it's quite relaxing. At one point during my initial visit I actually dozed off!

[Twildoo]

Hi,

How long after having your impressions done, has it taken for your braces to be fitted?