braces at the workplace?

[yenniechan]

I was wondering - how does everyone deal with the pain of braces at work? I recently got 8 spacers put in and my mouth is in constant agony. I've been on a straight liquid diet for the past 4 days (I tried eating noodles for dinner today...and the aching pain in my gums tells me I should not have..). I've been loading up on painkillers and the shear shock of everything is what's getting me through work, but by the 4th day I'm completely exhausted. I can't imagine how I'll be able to handle next week when the actual braces come in or the monthly adjustments. It's hard to take days off because I don't have a backup at work. How does everyone focus on a job assignment when you're all drowsy from painkillers?

Also, I am expected to get an expander too. When I was little, I had a retainer which gave me a really bad lisp the entire time. Has anyone dealt with this and got any tips on managing (other then to not talk?)? I don't think our clients would appreciate me spitting all over them during my presentation.

I'm starting to doubt my decision.....

[yj207]

Well the pain is temporary, your mouth eventually will get used to it. Even though it feels horrible now it will get better, you just have to get through it. Eating ice cream helps too, the cold slows the wires or something b/c the wires are heat activated.

[fosterp]

If your getting drowsy from painkillers try caffeine or energy drinks.

OTC stuff shouldn't really make you drowsy, unless your taking the wrong kind of medicine.

[yenniechan]

Thank you for the replies! I wrote this in the middle of the night when my spacers were feeling especially painful, and I was starting to get discouraged.

I think the drowsiness is because I haven't been able to eat anything but liquids for a week. I’m starting to blend other sorts of proteins into my smoothies so hopefully the extra energy will help (especially when I get my braces on). Browsing this forum and getting encouragement from it helps too ^^

Now how to deal with that lisp….

Does anyone know how long it takes until the tongue gets used to it and I can speak normally again?

[sillyface]

Oh the dreaded lisp. There's really no way to know how long it will take for your mouth to get used to all of the extra hardware in there. For some people, they seem to adjust very quickly like within a day or two. Others may never lose the lisp fully as long as the braces or appliance are in there. I think it took me 2 days or so to feel more comfortable with my speech after my braces were put on. \

Then, I had a rik-a-nator appliance on my palate and I never completely lost my lisp with that. Luckily it was in only 8 months but during that time I was searching for and landed a job as a teacher... I would imagine I lost out on a few interviews due to my "s" problem. haha. I did eventually get more comfortable with it and people who were around me alot like my students just got used to it. I think the only time there was an issue was when our spelling words started with "str-" that was a dreadful week!

There are things you can do to help your speech. If you search, there are many posts but some of the most common techniques appear to be:
- sining in the car or wherever you are. Talk as much as you can when you're alone so you can start to notice the nuances and practice.
- look in a mirror while you speak. You may be overcompensating or making funny faces to get some sounds out.
- Recite the Rainbow Passage (you can google it or find it on the boards). This has nearly all of the most commonly used sounds in the English language.

[magster]

From my experience - spacers were the worst!!!
then came the actual braces - it is kind of hard to keep your mouth open so wide for an hour
then the first 3 weeks - i wanted to cry - but I still managed at work
and then well the adjustments which are really not all that bad... good luck you'll be fine.