Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm new here, just got 3M smartclip ceramic braces on top and bottom yesterday. I got bite blocks, too, which I wasn't expecting. The first day has been really rough. I look like an alien and can't eat, my cheeks are torn up on the inside, and I'm left wondering what in the world I was thinking starting this process at 39!

Hang in there. I have found that anytime they add something new to my mouth, the first 3 to 5 days are the worst. And then the tearing up of your cheeks and tongue gets better and you start to adjust to whatever they added, and it's not so bad. You had a lot put in at once. It will take a week. Use wax liberally and buy some numbing medication (like Ambesol or a store version) and take it easy for a few days.

I also find that it helps to just be straightforward with it all. At work I just say outright "I had a new bite block put in and I can't say S. " People understand.
By the way, I have found that the word "lisp" is the cruelest word for people with a lisp. Try it- you will agree! How ironic is that?!

I´m also on day 2 of my bottom ceramics. Day 9 of tops. This morning, for a brief few seconds I was thinking that I´d just take that thing out of there -the bottom. Then realized that I couldn´t and this is it for the next year or so. I know from the top that each day actually does improve a bit. BTW, I´m 54 and at times also wondering what on earth I´ve gotten myself into. Today has been a little depressing but hopefully tomorrow will be better.

So Sue...don't worry it will get totally better. The discomfort will go away and I now find myself actually not having to cut all my food up into tiny bites! I am also a 50-something with braces. One upside has been that after about one year of really working at weight loss and meeting a plateau I had 5-10 more pounds I wanted to lose and since getting braces...GONE! I am now the same weight I was in my 20's pre-kids and I feel great! Sometimes folks look at me weird...ya know old lady in braces thing, but I do feel and act younger! One of my former students, who is now an adult and a dental hygienist, told me today that she has seen patients in their 70's and beyond with braces...so we are just KIDS! Really... it will get better!! Smile and show off your braces!

I know exactly how you feel...one of the reasons I didn't go with invisaligns is because I knew that I would take them off if I was in a great deal of pain. But the pain passes and with my metals I was forced to endure it. I went through a rough first week but it's been pretty decent since then. Hang in there.

I have lost nine lbs in nine days so no complaining there! At least it´s a small and immediate encouragement to help get through these tough first days of elective torture!

Hang in there! It does get better despite how you feel today. On day 3 of my braces, i had a total meltdown and thought i could not do it: the pain, dis-comfort and embarrassment were just too much.
I am now on day 27 and have noticed a significant amount of movement with my teeth, especially the front 2 incisors that are so crooked. Remarkable really that so much movement has occurred in less than one month. This gives me the motivation to continue. In my late 40's and am finally able to visualize what my teeth may look like one day, its very exciting! The words exciting and braces are never usually used in the same sentence, but oddly enough i feel that the worst is over and i can do this.

Some one gave me a tip: try and pamper yourself a bit and it might lift your spirits. Maybe a new pair of shoes or a pedicure, or something small like a new magazine or an extra treat at the coffee shop. I have tried this and realized that small indulgences seems to make up for the braces. It's all psychological, but i have found that my spirits have been lifted by allowing myself a few small treats.

So try and hang in there as best you can. I don't think anyone can truly appreciate how you are feeling, unless they have experienced it themselves. Just know that you have a community of supporters here.

I pretty much posted the same thing. I was in tears for the first 4 or 5 days. I am now almost 1.5 mths in and they are normal to me now.My mouth rarely gets sores and if it does they are small and do not hurt in the least. I have seen a litte movement but not loads yet. My braces felt so big and bulky but now they feel like nothing.

I'm jealous of all you people whose mouths get accustomed to braces. It's been 2 months for me and I'm still liberally using wax almost daily.

As weird as it sounds to be happy in sharing pain stories, I'm also on day two and have lots of pain. My cheeks are raw and I can't chew anything. Today was a three smoothie day with two sides of scrambled eggs. I'm in love with my wax!

your certainly not alone! i have a nasty gum inflammation causing me pain, and a few sores as my mouth is still adjusting to the braces! this part sucks as i cannot see much change yet! except for a couple of molars have moved a little but nothing else obvious to me yet!

Hang in there! It gets better...PROMISE!