Hiya all!
I'm Jo and I'm not far off 38 years old.
After much dithering, I've finally decided to go ahead with my treatment! I'm really excited about the prospect of having straight teeth after hating my smile for all these years, but I'm also scared to death!!
I'm due to get ceramic uppers and self-ligating lowers on the 27th so the count-down is on.
I'll post my full story on the other bit, so in the meantime, hi again and many thanks for the wonderful site - I don't think my ortho has had a more informed patient before!
OMG what am I doing?!!
Moderator: bbsadmin
Jo, congrats on your decision to go the distance in the quest for straight teeth!
I'm 41 and my day is July 9th - I can't believe that at the end of it all I will have a perfect smile
I look in the mirror now at my teeth and try with all my might to imagine them straight, and I walk away shaking my head in disbelief!
I know exactly how you are feeling. I have wanted straight teeth my whole life, and now it is within reach.....finally!
I'm 41 and my day is July 9th - I can't believe that at the end of it all I will have a perfect smile
I look in the mirror now at my teeth and try with all my might to imagine them straight, and I walk away shaking my head in disbelief!I know exactly how you are feeling. I have wanted straight teeth my whole life, and now it is within reach.....finally!
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angel84
- Posts: 173
- Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 2:01 pm
- Location: Too much city for this country girl, TN
- Contact:
I, too am due to get braced soon. I was sooo scared at the thought of it for a while. But now my fright has escalated to pure excitment since I've met my ortho and his team. They are great. I know I don't have braces yet, but it will be okay. Just focus on the finished product! A beautiful smile. 
*SKYE aka Amanda* 25, Army wife and Mommy of 5 ages 10, 5, 3, 19 months, and due in December!
Hi Jo! You've come to the right bunch of people... you just can't help but be excited and optimistic when everyone here is rooting for you! I spent a long time being scared but now that my brace day is set and within site I can't wait! Good luck on the 27th!
~Nikki~
23 year old brace face and proud of it!
My story is well under way! Follow along in my thread.
23 year old brace face and proud of it!
My story is well under way! Follow along in my thread.
I think my worst worry is having to change my diet - I loooove my food!! When I had a brace before I had a removable one which was taken out as often as I could (being 13 and hormonal)!!! But it will definately be worth it if I can smile with confidence. Good luck everyone.-
TheNewEmperor
- Posts: 160
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 10:37 pm
- Location: A work in progress in Sydney, Australia
Welcome..!!
Your food will only be difficult for a few days or in my case a week. Instead of struggling, why not take it as an opportunity to eat healthy stuff? Juices, smoothies and home made soups are really nourishing and you can put things like spelt crackers into soup and go soggy for some extra fibre or bits of chicken in for a bit of protein (particularly nice in asparagus soup). Then take it slowly to eat bit by bit and within a week you should be chewing and eating normally (well forget some stuff) and maybe be a couple of pounds lighter too!
Your food will only be difficult for a few days or in my case a week. Instead of struggling, why not take it as an opportunity to eat healthy stuff? Juices, smoothies and home made soups are really nourishing and you can put things like spelt crackers into soup and go soggy for some extra fibre or bits of chicken in for a bit of protein (particularly nice in asparagus soup). Then take it slowly to eat bit by bit and within a week you should be chewing and eating normally (well forget some stuff) and maybe be a couple of pounds lighter too!
Hi Jo! I think everyone had the same title of their first posting... or at least felt it!
Good luck with the 27th! I am probably a month behind you, just made the appointment to go with the orthodontist I have decided on (I have seen about 5, hoping someone would give me another alternative, no suck luck!- lol!). I am aiming for sometime in late July.
I did have a question for everyone... I do hear that people tend to lose some weight during this process. Being blessed with a fast metabolism, I tend to need to eat more than most to keep the weight on. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to eat in the first couple of weeks? Protein shakes or anything similar?
Thanks so much!
Good luck with the 27th! I am probably a month behind you, just made the appointment to go with the orthodontist I have decided on (I have seen about 5, hoping someone would give me another alternative, no suck luck!- lol!). I am aiming for sometime in late July.
I did have a question for everyone... I do hear that people tend to lose some weight during this process. Being blessed with a fast metabolism, I tend to need to eat more than most to keep the weight on. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to eat in the first couple of weeks? Protein shakes or anything similar?
Thanks so much!
Whoops! Sorry - double posted!!! 
Thanx for the reassurance and suggestions everyone. It's all a bit scary really!
Being a Brit, it's not really the "norm" for an adult to get braces and some people have already asked me why I'm bothering with it. But I think it's a lot to do with confidence (well for me anyway) and it won't be for long.
I was talking to my boss about it the other day and he said "You don't need a brace really, do you? Lets have a look....... oh, I see what you mean!" Sums it all up really!!
Jessiemae - I think I'm getting the whole lot, but I've read that a lot of newbies are getting spacers first and my ortho hasn't mentioned these. Do you not get them with the self-ligating? Suppose I'll find out in a fortnight.
Thanx for the reassurance and suggestions everyone. It's all a bit scary really!
Being a Brit, it's not really the "norm" for an adult to get braces and some people have already asked me why I'm bothering with it. But I think it's a lot to do with confidence (well for me anyway) and it won't be for long.
I was talking to my boss about it the other day and he said "You don't need a brace really, do you? Lets have a look....... oh, I see what you mean!" Sums it all up really!!
Jessiemae - I think I'm getting the whole lot, but I've read that a lot of newbies are getting spacers first and my ortho hasn't mentioned these. Do you not get them with the self-ligating? Suppose I'll find out in a fortnight.
Hi Jo!
there are quite a few Brits on here - including a few 'oldies'! I had my braces on in January of this year and I have just turned 48. I just had my 4th adjustment and I am already in possession of straight teeth, just have to level and close the gaps now. Its the best £3grand I have ever spent and you really wont regret it - I just regret not doing it earlier - the earlier you do it the better economic sense it makes!!
As another poster said - you will find a way to eat everything you did before braces! Its just at certain times you will resort to 'safe' foods. I just had powerchains on and teeth are tender, so I am off crusty bread and cucumber for a week or so. I will always find a way to eat crisps though!
Good luck on your braces journey! You wont feel like a 'newbie' for long!
there are quite a few Brits on here - including a few 'oldies'! I had my braces on in January of this year and I have just turned 48. I just had my 4th adjustment and I am already in possession of straight teeth, just have to level and close the gaps now. Its the best £3grand I have ever spent and you really wont regret it - I just regret not doing it earlier - the earlier you do it the better economic sense it makes!!
As another poster said - you will find a way to eat everything you did before braces! Its just at certain times you will resort to 'safe' foods. I just had powerchains on and teeth are tender, so I am off crusty bread and cucumber for a week or so. I will always find a way to eat crisps though!
Good luck on your braces journey! You wont feel like a 'newbie' for long!
Hi Jo, so how's it going now that you've done it? You definitely won't regret it. Welcome to the club of older Brits with braces. Actually I would have liked to meet a few while I was over there in June (I live in California) because I got quite a bit of teasing from my young nieces and nephews. It takes a little more courage in Britain that it does in the USA because there are fewer older people with braces, and I applaud you!
I hope the eating is going OK. When I got home after a month away, my husband was surprised at how many more things I could eat. I had forgotten that I couldn't eat tortilla chips at all before, and now I can. So it won't be long before you're eating pretty much anything.
Good luck with your journey and I look forward to seeing your photos.
Jill
I hope the eating is going OK. When I got home after a month away, my husband was surprised at how many more things I could eat. I had forgotten that I couldn't eat tortilla chips at all before, and now I can. So it won't be long before you're eating pretty much anything.
Good luck with your journey and I look forward to seeing your photos.
Jill
Braced March 20 2008
12 - 15 months
12 - 15 months
Hiya all!
Well I'm passed my first week in braces and I must say it's not as bad as I had envisaged!
I'm beginning to get used to eating (most things) and the fact that I will have to clean the gunk off my teeth after every meal! Dont know what I was worried about!! The only thing is that I don't really enjoy having anything that's sweet - I think the braces have made my teeth quite sensitive. But it can't be a bad thing as I've lost about 5 pounds in weight since last week (I'm usually a bit of a chocoholic)!!
Jill52 - You're right - it's tested my courage quite a lot! It was the least of my worries before I got them, but as soon as I left the ortho, I was very conscious of them. I've had mixed reactions, some people ask questions, some are rude, some have'nt noticed and some (the funniest I think) notice them and you can see them trying very hard not to notice!!
Anyway, now the soreness is wearing off I can look forward to my first adjustment which is 2nd September!!
Jo
Well I'm passed my first week in braces and I must say it's not as bad as I had envisaged!
I'm beginning to get used to eating (most things) and the fact that I will have to clean the gunk off my teeth after every meal! Dont know what I was worried about!! The only thing is that I don't really enjoy having anything that's sweet - I think the braces have made my teeth quite sensitive. But it can't be a bad thing as I've lost about 5 pounds in weight since last week (I'm usually a bit of a chocoholic)!!
Jill52 - You're right - it's tested my courage quite a lot! It was the least of my worries before I got them, but as soon as I left the ortho, I was very conscious of them. I've had mixed reactions, some people ask questions, some are rude, some have'nt noticed and some (the funniest I think) notice them and you can see them trying very hard not to notice!!
Anyway, now the soreness is wearing off I can look forward to my first adjustment which is 2nd September!!
Jo