29 and in braces hell

[calyanne]

hey all

i just got braces on 26 Nov. my ortho does this thing where he put bars on the inside of the mouth as a kinda counter brace so he can use thicker quicker acting wires on the braces. my expected braces time is 12 months due to the inner bar. The gum/movement pain sucks, but it is the scraping and cutting up of my tongue and gums is what i am having trouble dealing with. so i decided to get online and find some people that have gone through this to help me emotionally deal.

--Calyanne

[calyanne]

oh and i forgot to mention the problem with my speech-augh. i slur and sould like a drunked idiot when i talk! this is from the bar crowding my tongue and messing up my ability to form letter sounds.

anyway... i had my 4 week, first adjustment on thurs dec 27th and today (one day later) my teeth are almost straight aready, WOW! how the heck did that happen (ok, it hurt like hell, so i guess i know how it happened). my ortho told me all the pain in the beginning would be worth the quick response, but dang i wasn't expecting to look fab at less than 5 weeks in!

--Calyanne

[Lisa65]

That was some quick movement! Hopefully the results will make the early discomfort seem worthwhile.

Hope your tongue soon gets used to the bar thing and stops feeling so sore.

[PARR]

just the usual, toughen up the tissues with gentle warm salt water rinses several times a day, and wax where needed if possible. OTC pain meds when needed.

[KateinCO]

Hey Calyanne --

I can totally relate to your discomfort and frustration with speaking. I have to speak publicly in my job ... the first few times, I was sure I sounded drunk, and I dreaded spitting on people or maybe even drooling! But now, a month into it, I think I am getting better. I still have to be careful, but it's getting easier. Seeing the quick results and having such a short sentence (most of use get 18-24 months or longer) should keep you feeling good about your decision and the doctor's treatment. It's exciting to see changes so quickly - great for you!!

Best of luck - you already have more than a month down! You'll be finished before you know it!

Cheers,
Kate

[calyanne]

thanks for the responses, i got a "before" pic from my ortho and hung it on the wall in my room so i have a constant reminder of where i am coming from and to help keep me motivated. trust me i need to look at it often to keep me from wanting to rip these things off of my teeth!
the speech is getting a little better, i have to learn how to talk with my tongue going between my teeth, and without biting it- it's an interesting process!