Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi, I've just joined this forum. I live in Wales, UK, and am 62 years old. My teeth have always been wrongly positioned because of sucking my thumb as a child and now, having had some money from the sale of a house, I thought I would get the teeth straightened out then have some cosmetic work done on them to smarten them up. So at the end of October my braces were fitted. I have a clear brace on the top teeth and metal one on the bottom. The orthodontist told me that I will need them on for about 18 months to 2 years. How I am going to stick it out, I don't know. I did not realise there would be so much discomfort and pain!

At first it was the pain of being unable to chew food because of the pressure on the teeth. Now it is the abrasions inside my cheeks from the brace, the sensitivity of my teeth and the fact that I can feel myself biting hard all the time, clenching my jaws. One of the worst things, apart from chewing food, is spitting out after teeth cleaning. It hurts such a lot to draw my lips hard over the braces to do the spitting. Talking is a problem because it hurts as my cheeks and lips move over the braces so I tend to avoid conversations when possible. It's making me feel really miserable - and they've only been on a month! I know I will stick it out because it's something I've always wanted to do but could never afford until now but it's going to be a very long two years!

Any advice gratefully received.

It WILL get better!

Although I chose Inman Aligners and my dentist put me in clear aligners a couple weeks ago, the pain is the same. I use zilactin-B for the sores and Aleve for the pain.

If you haven't already so you might want to take self pics so you can see the transformation.

I am 62 also and am looking forward to a nicer smile. It is coming and even people at work have commented on the positive change.

We not only CAN do this but we ARE doing this. I read that 60 is the new 40.

Hurrah for us all!