Metal Mouth Message Board

Hello all. I just got my braces on October 1. I am 42 years old. I didn't have bad looking teeth - a bit crooked and my bite needed adjustment. Almost immediately I felt I may have made HUGE misake by getting braces. They feel horrible. I don't know that I can take 24 months of these - and I've only got my tops on so far.

Is there anyone else out there that has felt this way and was able to stick with it? Or anyone else out there that gave up?

I hate smiling at anyone because of my braces even though I have Clarity SL. It just feels like my braces are sitting right on my lip. It also feels like my two front teeth are moving forward - they aren't supposed to move forward. Uggg, am i just imagining that? I mean it's only been two weeks! Help, please......

Hi there,

I will have had my braces for 3 weeks tomorrow. I felt the same way you did the day I got them on. They made me feel like my mouth was sticking out 5 feet from my face, they felt heavy, I felt ugly etc..but now, I love them. These feelings will go away, give it a week or so then post an update for us. I know everyone says this but it really is true. My braces feel like they were always there, they don't feel foreign anymore. I am starting to experince the loosening of the teeth though and that feel weird.

Also, keep in mind why you did this, think of those people who wish they could have braces but can't afford them, think of how your teeth made you feel before, think of what they will look like when you are done..and best of all, a piece of advice from my co-worker to think about...she said having braces was the greatest time in her life because "no one could see her teeth."

What kind do you have on the top? What don't you like about them so far?

Thanks for the encouragement! I have Clarity SL on top. I have to wait a while to get my bottoms because my top teeth hang over my bottom - overbite.

I called the ortho today and they reassurred me that the feeling of my teeth sticking out was okay. She told me to try not to worry about it.

When I close my lips, the wire is right there between them. I'll be glad when I get used to them!

I think we've all been there. I'm 42 as well and it definitely takes time to get used to braces. There are some days I want to rip these things out of my mouth, and other days aren't so bad.

But since you don't have your bottom braces on yet...just a bit of warning. It will feel very weird for a few days, it may hurt like hell and you may not be able to chew properly. But it will get better!

Keep us posted!

I thought the same thing when I got mine--what did I get myself into? I have now had mine for just over a year and am scheduled to get them off next Monday. Hang in there because it's definitely worth it. I don't think I ever forgot they were there, but I got used to them so they weren't annoying.

As for the front teeth moving, you have a lot of time in front of you. You are going to feel them moving in all the wrong directions at times. It's normal to feel like something is wrong because your bite feels different and the teeth aren't moving where you thing they should. You'll see in the end that they settle where they are supposed to and your mouth feels normal again.

I too have moments when I feel that I've made a big mistake and think I should have them removed. I know if I did I would just want them put right back on. I was self conscious about my teeth before and this is the only way to change them. I know it will all be worth it in the end. I feel like having the wire really accentuates just how crooked my teeth are. I feel like if people didn't notice my teeth before they must now. I'm having a hard time really letting my self laugh in public as I feel everyone will stare at my teeth. I know it's all in my head. It will get better. I'm looking forward to when my teeth straighten out some and the wire isn't so crooked in a couple places.

I have been wondering if I made a mistake too, but I keep reminding myself of why I got braces (to avoid the severe jaw problems that are headed my way).

I hope that is gets better. I just got mine yesterday though.

I've been undergoing treatment for a TMJ disorder that started with me having to wear an orthotic splint over my bottom teeth. When they first described it, I thought it was going to be like wearing Invisalign on my bottom teeth and I thought, no big deal. The splint they made though was huge, a big plastic thing with metal running through it and it was very obvious to anyone talking to me.

When they first put it into my mouth I felt something almost like panic and thought that there was no way I was going to be able to do this. Within a day I got used to the feeling though although I have to admit I wore it for over a year and was always self-conscious about it because most people had no idea what it was. About six months into my treatment they put brackets on my back teeth so I could start wearing elastics to pull my molars up and I went through that same feeling again.

Just before Christmas I was told that I didn't need the splint anymore (Hallelujah!) and I was braced about two weeks ago. I have so far found this to be the easiest part of the process. I think this is partially because I don't feel self-conscious anymore. All I can say to those of you who are worried about what other people will think, I have had nothing but a positive experience from people. Most people have simply commented by saying things like "Oh, I see you got braces" or I have even had people say "Hey you look cute in braces." Considering I'm 45 years old that means a lot. That was even the first thing my hubby said, bless his heart.

I think the other reason why they haven't bothered me is that I had braces when I was a kid and they were the huge old ones that had brackets that went all the way around all of your teeth. Compared to those, these feel like nothing almost.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know you are not alone and I think we all go through that self-doubt feeling at some point, but you will wake up some morning and realize you did a great thing for yourself.

Hang in there. I'm 65, and just got metal braces on tops and bottoms
nine days ago. I was really regretting not going with invisaline, but decided to wait it out....everyone says it gets better. I have very little tooth discomfort...just pressure, but my cheeks are awful. I stocked up on the dental wax.....and gob it up all over. Hope my cheeks toughen up.
It's so uncomfortable, that I think I will lose weight (I won't mind), because it's so uncomfortable to eat. Food gets stuck in my wires, and the tenderness. Give it a month, and see how you feel. One day at a time!

Hi Mousy,
Don't worry - you will get used to the brackets. I wore them from ages 10-15 and then, after being "non-compliant" with my retainer (that was what I was never able to get used to), found myself in the chair today getting brackets on the bottom at 30 years old to correct some shifting/crowding.

I remembered very well the process the first time around, so I knew what to expect this time. Things havn't changed much, except that some of the stuff they use is more patient-friendly.

You will adjust to that feeling of your lips sticking out. When the braces come off, you'll have to readjust again to the feeling that your lips are sunken in.

If the inside of your lips have toughened up and you aren't using wax and Orajel anymore, then the worst of the pain is over already! After that, it should be pretty smooth sailing. The adjustments each month (or however often you go) will probably make your teeth feel sore and loose, but only for a few days. Same thing with the elastic bands that you hook yourself onto your brackets to align your bite if you need to have them. Every change will be the worst in the first few days.

The majority of the time, your mouth will feel fine and you will probably get so used to the brackets that you won't even notice them.