Three days in...already I'm regretting my braces

[almost30]

Wow! You all are so awesome! After a long day at work (and coming home to sores and irritation in my mouth), it feels great to log on and read such words of encouragement and see that I'm not alone in this!

Group hug! :-)


Tobilei: Your braces look great! That's actually a pretty good idea. I'm going to try the smoke colored as well!

Ciara: I haven't seen the metal ties, I would have to look that up. That sounds like a great idea as well; I feel like I'm starving myself right now. I have leftover pasta that I haven't touched because I'm afraid my ligs will stain! If I can eat what I want, I'm all for the metal ties! :-)

SunshineRay: Yes it's quite bothersome. I've never been one to stare at myself constantly in mirrors and now I find myself staring at my reflection everywhere just to examine my teeth. Haha. I think the "clear" ligs that I have are not really clear...they're actually very white and maybe that's the reason...unless maybe the brackets themselves are not clear.

MaryLiz75 and Maralv: Thank you so much! :-)

ChiChi: Thank you! I really don't think he meant harm...I'm just really insecure right now honestly. And you're right; I notice in certain lighting it looks worse.

[Tobilei]

I've had clear ligs and pearl. Don't be too worried about pasta. Both of those colours stood up to tomato soup (and coffee and black tea with milk). Do keep an eye on curry, turmeric and suprisingly pickles though! Hang in there! The mouth sores will heal up soon too.

[almost30]

[quote="Tobilei"]I've had clear ligs and pearl. Don't be too worried about pasta. Both of those colours stood up to tomato soup (and coffee and black tea with milk). Do keep an eye on curry, turmeric and suprisingly pickles though! Hang in there! The mouth sores will heal up soon too.[/quote]


Thanks! I actually caved earlier and ate some tortilla chips and salsa...I couldn't resist. I immediately ran to the restroom to brush my teeth, but so far I don't see any stains. I'm a bit bummed about the pickles though! I love pickles! :-(

Any tips on the mouth sores? Just let them heal, or is there a product I can use? Maybe I should quit being vain and just wear the wax to work I guess. The wax looks like build-up or gunk on my teeth, so I haven't worn any to work, but my gosh, by time I leave my mouth is shredded. The left side of my upper lip was even a bit swollen!

[Tobilei]

I eat pickles anyway They seem to only stain clears and mostly for a day or 2 (and it's only noticable in really bright light when you're peering in there trying to see if they're stained).

For the ulcers I mostly just suck it up and use the wax (if I can get it to stick). Doing salt water rinses can help to heal them. If I get really desperate I'll sometimes pop some gauze in between the brackets and my cheeks while I'm at home to give them a big break. I also buy this stuff called Kenalog. It's a thick gritty cream that you pop on any big ulcers before bed and by the morning they're healed up a lot.

[Ciara]

Use the wax. It is much better to use it than have a mouth ulcer that can get infected or so deep that it leaves permanent scars. Salt water rinses really help too, and it it gets too bad, you can always try the ice cream approach. This numbs your mouth for while and it tastes good too!

Turmeric is in some surprising foods: pumpkin soup to make it more golden, for example.

Many orthos don't want to do metal ties because they take longer to put on and so more chair time. I have a lot of freedom with my schedule so I have appointments at not busy times (often directly after lunch so before the school kids get out).

[almost30]

I eat pickles anyway They seem to only stain clears and mostly for a day or 2 (and it's only noticable in really bright light when you're peering in there trying to see if they're stained).

For the ulcers I mostly just suck it up and use the wax (if I can get it to stick). Doing salt water rinses can help to heal them. If I get really desperate I'll sometimes pop some gauze in between the brackets and my cheeks while I'm at home to give them a big break. I also buy this stuff called Kenalog. It's a thick gritty cream that you pop on any big ulcers before bed and by the morning they're healed up a lot.

Good to know...I have a huge jar of pickles...glad they don't have to go to waste.

And thanks for the suggestions! These ulcers are torturing me right now.

[almost30]

Use the wax. It is much better to use it than have a mouth ulcer that can get infected or so deep that it leaves permanent scars. Salt water rinses really help too, and it it gets too bad, you can always try the ice cream approach. This numbs your mouth for while and it tastes good too!

Turmeric is in some surprising foods: pumpkin soup to make it more golden, for example.

Many orthos don't want to do metal ties because they take longer to put on and so more chair time. I have a lot of freedom with my schedule so I have appointments at not busy times (often directly after lunch so before the school kids get out).

Sheesh, I didn't know the ulcers could lead to permanent scaring or infection. Yikes!
The ice-cream approach sounds fun...more reason to stop and get a cone after work everyday!

[fsaq]

Three days only!!! and I want to rip them off. It is my second time with braces so i tought i knew what to expect. NOOTTTT!! I dont remember it hurting that much as a kid but know, holy molly!!

[debinator]

Hang in there I work in a job where i have to talk to customers on a daily basis, the phone gives me the biggest challenge since I have developed a slight lisp on some words. My customers have all been very good about it and most don't even notice the braces (at least if they do they don't say anything). The few that do have had them as adults and are supportive. I wear all different color ligs. I got my braces to correct a problem. this means I care about my health, if people have a hard time with it I say TOO BAD! it's my mouth and my health and I am the only one that has no choice about living with me I have fun with the colors because it makes ME happy. When I get done with all this I will have a healthier mouth and as a bonus a great smile! They will be jealous then I have embraced the braces! It's only temporary, might as well have some fun with it.

BTW I am 50 and probably won't get out of braces until just before my 52nd birthday.

[shekhinak]

After a while, having braces will become very routine. It will feel like you've always had them, and then you'll start to think that you always will.

I was sentenced to 18 months in braces, but it was extended to 22 months, 1 week, and 2 days. On Tuesday of this week my orthodontist said, "OK, you're ready. Next available appointment." The next available appointment was at 9:30 AM on Thursday. So, in less than an hour, they'll be taking my braces off!

Next, I have an appointment with my general dentist for whitening and bonding!

The end came upon me very suddenly!

[MrsCharisma]

Oooh, congrats shekhinak!

Today is my 6 month "Brace-a-versary"! It gets better, I don't even notice them...ever...except at night. Holy cow does my mouth get 'glued' together at night. Whew!

But I have ceramic uppers with pearl ligs and metal lowers with smoke ligs. I'm really good about not eating staining foods for about 10 days after an adjustment...then ah..all bets are off. I do try to avoid 'red' things but I drink coffee (with cream) M-F.

[almost30]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone! You all are correct; each day that goes by, things get a bit easier. I actually slept in until noon today! No joke, I honestly feel my BRACES made me exhausted this past week! The sometimes swollen upper lip, the cuts and ulcers in my mouth that would THROB after a full day of talking on the phone with customers at work, lack of eating due to the pain and the resulting headaches. But after sleeping in so late today, I feel great! My mouth isn't hurting (knock on wood!) and it feels great to give my mouth a break...I haven't said a peep all day!

MrsCharisma: I haven't had coffee in almost two weeks! Does drinking with a straw help to prevent staining? I know that having clear ligs helps with the ceramics to be not be quite as noticeable, but if I can eat yummy foods and have my daily coffee and pepsi (yes, I'm a caffeine addict! ), I'm all for getting some colored ligs! I was thinking a pretty pastel lavender or pastel mint...but I'm sure those would stain too!

I feel like one of those girls in high school I used to roll my eyes at; so vain! I check myself out in the mirror every five minutes now and I even turned down yummy cookies and brownies at work because I didn't want any staining. Since when do I ever turn down unhealthy, yummy food?!

[Missers73]

I had braces when I was younger, but I don't remember having the pain and discomfort then that I do now. I'm sure everyone is different but now seven months into it I'm like UGH. Eye on the prize though. I think I am just going through an awkward phase. Hang in there it will be worth it.

I have ceramic with metal ties on my upper teeth (then covered with a power chain). I made it clear during my consultation and follow up that I am a coffee and red wine drinker. So they spend the time with the ties. My ligs on my lowers are silver and they never discolor. The power chains are another issue though. All she has is clear. I'm glad I get them changed every three weeks otherwise they would look scary. LOL

[Wink]

I've found this discussion so helpful. I'm 35 and might be getting my first braces to encourage my top teeth to move forward as they are pushed backward instead. I have never known any adults with braces, so it helps to know I'm not alone.

[Tobilei]

I've found this discussion so helpful. I'm 35 and might be getting my first braces to encourage my top teeth to move forward as they are pushed backward instead. I have never known any adults with braces, so it helps to know I'm not alone.

You're definitely not! Glad you found us