Metal Mouth Message Board

Hey everyone... I feel that I am now a member of the metal mouth club (even though i'm getting "clear ceramic" braces)

I'm 18 and in college. I was asked back in middle school to get braces and as the stubborn kid I was, I said no (big regret). I don't know what came over in the past couple months but I suddenly felt like I needed to fix this problem once and for all.

My problems: Overbite, crowded upper and lower teeth.
Estimated treatment will be 18-24 months. My orthodontist said I possibly have to remove 2 teeth after getting the braces, only thing I'm not looking forward to.

Today is my 3rd day with my 8 spacers in. Yesterday they hurt like crazy.. but thankfully today they feel a little better. November 30 here I come!

GOOD LUCK!

Thanks

I feel like I'm going to need it haha... my sister (who had braces years ago) said she could barely eat the first week and the pain is much worse than spacers.

For me it was the other way around. The spacers were a holy terror and the braces piece of cake....hope that helps....

I've never had spacers so I dont know about that. I'm only on day 4 of having my braces and I AM STARVING!! You can only find so much "mushy" food to eat and after a couple days I just really dont want it anymore. LOL

sdawdy - Very good to hear.

amandabrown - I wonder how some people don't get spacers. Maybe your teeth already had space or something. I know right.. I've been eating mashed potatos and soup since I got the spacers and finally they're feeling a little better for a hamburger lol.. Do they hurt for you right now?

Most people who get molar bands will have to get spacers (from what I understand), that is if you do not have enough room between your molars to get the bands on. Some orthos do not use molar bands or some people's treatment do not require certain things that molar bands can be used for.

When you get your molar bands put on, if there are cleats on the inside by your tongue, ask your ortho if they can bend them in or remove them. They will become fishing hooks for your tongue if they are left there.

good luck ! spacers are the worst, although the bands were the absolute worst for me but after that it has been pretty painless the whole experience so far. I think they have better stuff these days, nows the time to get braces I hear.

I tell this to everyone but getting a waterpik was the most important thing I ever bought, so easy to clean my teeth without using those proxy brushes, but I still floss but its easier without food stuck everywhere.

amandabrown wrote:I've never had spacers so I dont know about that. I'm only on day 4 of having my braces and I AM STARVING!! You can only find so much "mushy" food to eat and after a couple days I just really dont want it anymore. LOL

I bought the braces cookbook, there's some good recipes if you get too hungry. I really like the meatball one.

Yes, they do still hurt, right this very second BUT I can definately tell that the pain is lessened each day so thats a plus! It basically just hurts to put any pressure on them which is why its so hard to eat and chew. Even pushing against them a little with your tongue hurts like crap. And yes, I didnt need spacers because I had lots of room for movement. I started getting my wisdom teeth at a young age which made my teeth crooked and crowded. I had them removed 2 1/2 years ago so now there's plenty of space!


And yes, I should look into that cookbook...the coffee just isnt filling my tummy as much as I'd like

sdawdy - I didn't know about that.. I will ask him about it. Thanks. I don't know how it's going to feel so I have to see for myself when I put them on.

yj207 - Thanks! Yea my "spacers" journey hasn't been a painless one lol, hmm waterpick, I have to look into that.

amandabrown - Good to hear. Time and patience is key with braces. Oh you had your wisdom teeth removed? Mine haven't came up yet, don't know if they ever will. But they still insisted on taking out teeth.

I looked at the cookbook, thankfully there's stuff in there I like. Miso soup is definitely a plus.

Maybe you'll get lucky and never ever get wisdom teeth! LOL Mine started coming in when I was 16 or 17 and I knew they would have to come out eventually. Not fun at all!

Hopefully lol.. since they're "useless" and all. Atleast now that they're out you don't have to worry anymore!

Braces are different for everyone. I got my top 10-5-09 and bottom 10-12-09 and I have been pain free. I think it's about your mind set. I love having my braces even with the elastics it is no big deal for me. Just wait and see how things go for you and be positive I think that helps cause you don't think about it as much.

^ Thanks for the positivity I just want to put it on already so I get over the first week of the "pressure and pain" I hear about.