Counting Down to B Day (as in Braces Day)

[conser]

I'm in St. Albert, Alberta. So, you're one hour behind us. We eat later on Thursday because my 4 year old has skating lessons until 5:30. I have a two year old and a 4 year old.

I showed my braces to the younger one and she started telling me to "get that out of your mouth" and then she kept staring at me trying to eat.

OMG, dinner was interesting. I had potato leek soup and a piece of bread. It just felt wrong to chew on anything and even the tiniest piece of potato that hadn't been mashed, was getting stuck in the brackets. Yuck! And then I spent 15 minutes trying to floss and brush.

I've always had trouble flossing because some of my teeth are so tight together, but this was quite an experience. I was glad for the goody bag of toothbrushes and floss threaders and other things that the orthodontist gave me!

My son - the four year old - hasn't noticed yet. I'm sure he'll be fascinated. He always needs to know how things work and the 'why' behind everything!

I figure if the kids see their parents with braces, it shouldn't seem so crazy for them to have them later on if they need them.

I love Vancouver. Haven't been there in a few years, though. We'll be there next spring for a convention (in May, I think). I loooove Granville Island.

Do you find it more difficult having the ligs on? Or did it make any difference in cleaning and eating?

[conser]

Hey! I made it through the fist week! Yippee. Everything feels so much better now. I'm getting quicker at flossing, my lips are not so dry (and my husband says they look more at home now - apparently they looked awkward last week).

I still have some discomfort in the lower front 4 teeth, especially when I floss in there because they're so tight together. I'm not able to chew on much, yet but can chew soft foods a bit on the back teeth. I celebrated last night by going out for dinner to a place called the Cajun House. I had blackened catfish (soft, flaky and AMAZINGLY delicious after what I've been eating all week). I also had grilled potatoes with it and had Mississippi Mud Pie for dessert! It was probably one of the best meals I've ever eaten. Amazing what a week of soup and protein shakes will do to you....definately appreciate the real food now!

I still feel like I'm talking a bit funny, but I seem to be adapting nicely to the braces. I'm looking forward to eating more variety next week hopefully.

By the way, does anyone chew gum? I've had a few people tell me that there are 3 kind of gum that you CAN chew (won't stick) and that chewing gum reduces the pain in the teeth and gums quicker? Has anyone else heard this or done it?

[kilikena311]

I tried Freedent gum and it really made the pain go away in my sore teeth! I also have a 4 year old and she keeps pointing at my twisted central saying "Mommy, that one's still crooked" ha ha, mommy's little helper