Metal Mouth Message Board

I must be setting some kind of record--getting braces at my age. But first I must say how glad I am to find this forum. It's so good to find other people to talk to about this experience, something my family and friends won't find so fascinating, I'm sure.

My braces went on two days ago and while I knew it would be an adjustment, I was not prepared for how traumatic it actually was. I feel like I have a chain link fence in my mouth. I don't think my dentist appreciated the analogy.

I wish I could warn anyone who has had teeth removed to get implants or bridges right away. If I had done that 2 1/2 years ago, I wouldn't be seeing three different types of dentists now. When I had my 2 back molars removed, no one told me that teeth can 'float' which is what mine did. Gradually at first so I didn't notice until my bite was so bad, I could barely chew my food. My regular dentist said he'd never seen a bite get so out of whack so fast.

Anyway, I had to go to a prosthodontist and get a splint to get my jaw back in alignment. That took about 3 months. Then I had the choice to get most of my teeth filed or capped... or get braces. This won't eliminate the all filing and capping, but will reduce the amount needed. I now have a team of dentists working on me. Crazy.

I wasn't all that worried about getting the braces. I just wanted to get on with my treatment, but somewhere in the middle of the 2 hours my mouth was propped open, I started getting kind of emotional about the whole thing and by the time I left the orthodontists, I felt like crying.

I did wait until I got home. I looked in the mirror at my swollen mouth filled with the porcelain (that's another topic I'd like to talk about) and spent the afternoon rather teary and feeling pretty sorry for myself. I wasn't prepared for the huge life style change--like how to eat--something I dearly love. That first day, I was starving because I couldn't figure out what I could have. They told me to eat only soft foods for 48 hours. I think it will be more like soft foods--or a liquid diet --for a year, because I can't chew anything, my bite sucks, and seems to keep shifting even in this short time span (2 days).

I couldn't face anyone the first day, but today I made myself get out and go to my volunteer job at a local homeless center. No one noticed my braces, but that's probably because I didn't smile. My lips get caught on the chain link fence in my mouth.

I know there's a lot worse things I could be dealing with, but the braces are a bit all consuming right now. The first night I spent 45 minutes trying to learn how to clean my teeth. I finally gave up trying to floss. Difficult before braces... now impossible! I have a WaterPik and a nice electric toothbrush which are my new best friends right now.

Anyway, thanks for listening. Looking forward to chatting with you.

Congrats,I also just got braces (3 days ago at 43) it is definatly a big adjustment.Hope all goes well for you!

Hey Rahmama!

Congratulations on taking the step! I am 55 and was braced about 6 months ago--not so much for looks, as for just being able to keep my own teeth for the rest of my life. I really think it will be more and more a choice of the future for us older ones. Implants, dentures, etc---all so much more expensive than just putting up with braces for the 2yrs.

I am not sorry at all that I got braces---I think it was a very wise choice for me. Sometimes it is a little daunting to think of the time I have left in them, but as far as comfort--it's not much of an issue anymore. They feel kinda natural now--and I remember in the very beginning I described braces as feeling like mouthful of silverware.

The braces getting more and more comfortable and easier to manage seem to be an ongoing process. Give it a few weeks. All the new cleaning and eating habits will start to become the norm.

I am soooooo glad I went ahead with the braces. In 1 1/2yrs I will be 57 no matter what I would have chosen. I'd rather be 57 with healthy teeth!!

Good luck with your new look!! Actually, I have found that very few people even notice or care. I have to say "Hey, look at my new braces". I did that yesterday to a guy I haven't seen in a while, and he goes "Oh ya, I didn't see that" !!! How can you not see them!!! I've got a full blown metal mouth!! And yes I am still consumed with them-I can't do very much without being aware that they are there, but it's all good...Very good.......

[quote="gramma2xander"]Congrats,I also just got braces (3 days ago at 43) it is definatly a big adjustment.Hope all goes well for you! [/quote]
Thanks gramma2xander. Hope you're adjusting well too. It's my 3rd day now and I'm feeling more at ease with them already.

[quote="klobird"]Hey Rahmama! I really think it will be more and more a choice of the future for us older ones. Implants, dentures, etc---all so much more expensive than just putting up with braces for the 2yrs.[/quote]

Maybe we should have a grannies with braces group.
Unfortunately with my mouth issues, I'm still going to need 2 implants.

hahahaha Rahmama--I already asked about an over 50 club and she said if she did that, then she would have to create clubs for all kinds of different situations....

It's ok--I like everyone here no matter their age--it's all cool (groovy as we used to say! ).

Oh ya, I keep forgetting to mention--my ortho has an 80yr old in braces! I would love to meet her--I mean how cool is that!

Wow. An 80 year old in braces. That is pretty cool. Actually I've been meeting some very interesting 80 year old women lately--great to have role models like these.

Hi Rahmama
Well I just turned 62 and have had braces since Jan 2011. Welcome to the group. As others have said, it absolutely gets better. I hardly notice mine now. I have metal upper and lower and have a good time with different color ligs. In two weeks I a having my back molars braced so that will be another experience. I expect some pain from the extra pressure.
When I first got mine on, my food processor was my best friend. I put just about everything in there. Drank protein shakes in the am which I have continued to do. But now I can just about eat anything - Just cannot bite into things like apples and corn on the cob etc.
We will all be here for you!

Hi i am newly braced too i am finding this first week especially hard, but hoping it gets better soon. I cant wait for the day where i feel more comfortable with them.

As another 50-something with braces I understand what you are going through! It TRULY does get better. After 5 months in braces I feel comfortable most of the time, eat "regular" foods and am no longer self-conscious. I work in an elementary school and students think it is pretty cool that their teacher has braces. Good luck...you will be able to find lots of support and terrific information at this site.

rahmama wrote:I must be setting some kind of record--getting braces at my age. But first I must say how glad I am to find this forum. It's so good to find other people to talk to about this experience, something my family and friends won't find so fascinating, I'm sure.

Rahmama, good for! Good for all of us "old timers" (I'm 62) who are taking care of our dental issues and smiles.

One of my co-workers inspired me when she came to our staff meeting this past May smiling sheepishly behind her metal mouth. I was so happy for her--I had needed/wanted my teeth straightened for over 50 years and here she was doing it! So I did a lot of research, got evaluated and approved for the Inman Aligner, and am 18 days into my program.

I am glad to have found this forum too--having the support of those who are experiencing the same thing is so helpful.

So happy for all of us!

It's great to find I'm not the only old-timer with braces.

Congrats on getting braces! We older ones truly are a unique group. I will be 55 next month. My orthodontist once had an 80 yr old patient too when he worked in Germany. As the days pass you will be amazed how much easier this becomes. There are many times each day now when I forget about my braces and I eat almost normally, just cutting things into small pieces and using common sense.

Does your procelain comment regards crowns? I have six gold crowns and two porcelain so wasn´t sure if braces would even be an option for me. Of course they MAKE a way for it to work. The downside for me is that my ortho won´t be able to work on my bite as he´d like since he only has a bracket on one crown so far. I really can´t afford to replace all my crowns after this!

Keep us posted.
Sue

Hello Rahmama,

Congratulations on your decision to get braces--I think that's the hardest part. I'm 50 and joined the club on September 6. Within the first few weeks with braces several people told me about family, friends, colleagues etc. who had gotten braces at 55, 60, even 65, so you're not alone.

My progress was slow at first, but now I'm feeling some changes in my bite, and some teeth are definitely loose--which is a little unnerving. I've had problems with popped brackets and wires--in fact I'm off to the ortho today for another quickie appointment to fix a popped wire. I still need two brackets put back on (they popped off within the first day or so), so once they get replaced my problems with wires etc. should cease.

I find now that I'm very comfortable in my braces, but I still trip over the occasional word: try saying "specific". And because of my wonky bite, I sometimes bite my cheek while I'm talking (I teach adults, so I talk a lot).

Also, I, too, got a waterpik. I haven't totally given up on flossing, but my brackets all have hooks (for future elastics) and flossing is really frustrating. I've found some "non shredding" floss that is flat and lightly waxed, which is a bit better than the stuff I had originally.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm finding this board a lot of help.