Metal Mouth Message Board

I got traditional metal braces on my top teeth only this Monday. I will be getting bottom brackets in about 6 weeks once they make room in my mouth for them (top teeth are over my bottom teeth). Currently I only have 7 brackets on my top since some of my teeth are so far behind others they have to make room for them before they can bracket them. I am 26 years old and I teach 8th grade.
I am so self conscious and in so much pain. It hurts to do anything-close my mouth, drink water, eat anything (even soup). The brackets are cutting into my cheeks even with wax over them. The orthodontist gave me Tylenol with codeine for the pain and it barely helps.
At this point I regret getting these at all. Honestly even the promise of straight teeth doesn't make me feel better-I loved my crooked teeth and I never felt self conscious about them. I had to get braces to fix severe jaw issues and issues with my teeth caused by the crowding-I never wanted them. I'm stuck with these for the next 28 months (or more) and I'm dreading it. I look in the mirror and I just cry because of how I look now. My upper lip sticks out from the braces and I can't even close my mouth all the way. Luckily my husband is out of town for awhile so he hasn't seen me. He had braces for 4 years and he is so excited for me to have straight teeth, but I'm so uncomfortable I don't know if it's worth it. I haven't slept since I got these in and I even had a panic attack last night while trying to sleep from the sensation on my teeth (never had panic attacks before). Am I going to get used to these? Is my life going to be the same ever? How long until the pain goes away? When can I eat again? Any ideas for making my life bearable again? Thank you for letting me vent-it actually made me feel better!

I think we all go through the 'what have I done!' moments with these things in our mouths! Hehe I know I have had many a moment thinking that, although I am so happy to have braces and eventually straight teeth! I would say the first week is the worst, use wax! It will get better and eating will get easier I promise. Good luck!

The first few weeks are the worst, for all the reasons you mentioned and more. I had a pretty nice smile before braces -- and I occasionally was told by women that it was one of my best features (I sort of took this as a backhanded compliment ) and braces made me a bit self-conscious, and my smile was a bit subdued, even weird. During the first few weeks my cheeks were always sore, although I used wax religiously -- and in a fit of panic nearly bought out the entire supply at a local drug store. I kept a stash in my vehicles, my office, my computer bag, my shave kit, bedside stand, kitchen, bathroom, you name it. I even tried chilling it in the refrigerator, but by the time I got a gob of it situated on a bracket it was back to body temperature. I noticed a bottle of beer at the same time and administered it internally with good effect (see below).

As far as pain control goes, give ibuprofen a try. It specifically targets the biochemical mediators associated with dental and orthopedic pain. You may find that it is better than the Tylenol/codeine combo you are currently taking. Take as directed on the label and don't exceed those guidelines (Nurse Dan's advice). I think once you turn the corner on pain the quality of your life will increase quickly. Many of us have the most discomfort following a visit to the orthodontist when adjustments are made or some other torture device is applied as part of the "treatment plan." Most often it decreases over a few days to become tolerable.

Since you teach 8th graders I am assuming you have great patience and a high pain threshold, by definition.

The other thing that will probably happen is that you'll become more comfortable with the discomfort/pain as time goes by, associating it with progress. I've had my braces for nearly three years (don't even get me started on that) and I know if I am wearing my elastics correctly if they are annoying me. I made this observation to my ortho - "Yeah, thanks Doc, I guess if I'm not in pain you must think you are not doing your job" and he just laughed (Sort of. Maybe it was more of an evil cackle.)

Oh, and wine or other adult beverages can make life in braces a bit more bearable.

This too, shall pass.

Best of luck to you. Keep us posted!

I got my top ones a week ago and my bottom ones yesterday.

Theyre extremely uncomfortable, unlucky for me I had to have spacers before the braces too and they were even harder to eat with.

My top ones have just started to ease off with the pain and I can floss brush and pretty much do what I did before.

They would wake me up at first because of the pain as well but now I'm used to it. Give it time the pain will get better and eating and the way you look will become normality to you x

djspeece wrote: Oh, and wine or other adult beverages can make life in braces a bit more bearable.

This. I am so glad to have braces at a time in my life where I can cheaply and legally obtain alcoholic beverages.

Okay, I don't want to scare you or anything...BUT

I got my top brackets put on back in early June. there was a little bit of discomfort but I really didn't find them to be THAT bad. After about a week I was pretty much used to them. Up until just this past weekend, I was basically eating whatever I wanted: steak, burgers, chicken, etc. I was really used to them and thought the next 2 years wouldn't be difficult at all. Even teased one of my coworkers who currently has braces and complained about the pain, and said he was "the biggest baby in the ortho clinic (we go to the same ortho) - and he's a 6-foot tall COP who works out! LOL

Well, fast forward to this past Friday. I just got my bottom brackets on. O...M...G...! This is pure TORTURE! I don't understand this. I got my bottom brackets on, and they didn't even do anything to my top brackets - and now BOTH the top AND bottom hurt. I've been gnawing on my leather wallet like a teething baby. I'm sitting here at work and I'm hungry but have no desire to eat! (Well, I want to eat but I don't want to have to CHEW). I had a doughnut this morning and THAT was painful to eat. Then I had a bottle of ensure and some soup for lunch. Man This SUCKS! I just really want to fast forward through this week. I was irritable today at work because my mouth is all out of wack. For the first time since I got braces I'm like "DANG - WHAT THE HECK DID I GET INTO?!" LOL

Like I said I don't wnat to scare you but just know you're not alone. I really wish I could have gotten both arches done at the same time (which another ortho was going to do - but they were twice the price). So many of my friends who've been through this keep telling me it gets better. I'm just kinda taken aback that getting the bottom braces would be this uncomfortable. I thought after my first few weeks it would be smooth-sailing, BOY WAS I WRONG. People (both strangers and people I know) keep telling me how good they look, and I'm like "do you want them??? I'll give them to you!" HAHA

I'm still glad I was able to get them, but man these past few days have really been a trip! Just be prepared for that. :-\

All in due time.