Regrets and want to have braces taken off...

[KaraSmilesBig]

Hi, I just got my braces a few days ago and am having a trying time coping with the soreness, the chewing, the flossing and the brushing. There's so much pressure and tension in my teeth that I can't seem to think about anything else but remorse and, of course, pain. I can't have a proper meal without crying because of the pain and the fact that I can't "feel" what I'm eating. It's really frustrating right now!!! I even called my ortho to see if taking the braces off was even an option. Didn't get to speak with him, however, the tech said that it'll get better and that the soreness will go away. My question is, WHEN will it go away and when will I start to feel "normal?" Any personal story to give me some comfort will be greatly appreciated.

Also, my teeth are so tight I can't floss and I'm nervous because my ortho stressed on daily flossing. Can I substitute flossing with Waterpik?

Thank you in advance for your replies.

[stepher7]

Hi Kara. First off, congrats on being braced! It's a big step to finally make that decision and go through with it. I think pretty much every member of this forum knows where you're at and has also been there. The first few weeks of being braced suck...no other way to put it. But trust me, your teeth will start to settle, the soreness will subside and you'll start seeing positive changes. I was miserable with my braces for probably the first 3 weeks. I couldn't bite into food, I could barely chew...I was eating a lot of yogurt, soup, etc. and swallowing some stuff not fully chewed lol my mouth was sore from rubbing brackets and my teeth felt tight and hurt. But after a few weeks it got easier, and after a few months I would forget most of the time that the braces were even there. I'm now 9 months in and the changes that I have seen are incredible, I regret not starting this process a long time ago. My advice would be to continue reading through this forum. I found (and still do on days when I hate my teeth/braces) that reading through other people's stories and seeing the progress pictures, really helped to motivate me to just stick it out and let the braces do their job. Take your own progress pictures too. It really helps to be able to look back at the first pictures and remember why you're doing this. Trust me, it DOES get easier. There's really no timeline, it's different for everyone, but it will happen and there will be a day when you can chew normally again, I promise!! I eat pretty much everything that I did before. Hang in there!!

[KaraSmilesBig]

Hi Stepher7 - I really appreciate your reply and for your words of encouragement. I am not a foodie by any means but not being able to eat because I can't bite/chew and always feeling hungry as a result is frustrating. However, reading the stories shared by others going thru the same thing really helps to give me a comfort level knowing that it will get better and that I am not alone. So grateful I found this forum. Thanks again.

[Lamis]

I know what you are thinking. The first few day were awful. It gets better I promise I am 22 days in and I have started forgetting I even have them on. Good luck and like the other person said read others stories it does help.

[klobird]

Hi Kara--Welcome to the forum and the world of braces!

Well, I'm 7 months in--the 1st week was tough because the wires were popping out and poking my cheek, along with not even being able to eat fish. It took me forever to do my nightly flossing, cleaning routine...Ya, it sucked for about 1 week...then it started getting better....much better...

Now it's my new normal--no problem--and I have had tremendous movement!! I am soooo thankful I was able to get braces...

And tonight I will be sitting down to snack on crunchy cheetos--(my ortho probably wouldn't like it!)...I eat everything now except popcorn. (I even eat caramel now)...And yes, I do miss popcorn--and I will probably be sneaking it soon. ( ---that's what my ortho would do!!) OH OH!!!!

It gets better!!! Just hang in there OK?

[Snowglobe32]

My question is, WHEN will it go away and when will I start to feel "normal?" Any personal story to give me some comfort will be greatly appreciated.

Also, my teeth are so tight I can't floss and I'm nervous because my ortho stressed on daily flossing. Can I substitute flossing with Waterpik?

For me, I felt somewhat normal at the 5 week mark. As time goes on, things will get so much better.

As for flossing, if you can't eat, then I wouldn't worry about food getting stuck. I don't think I was able to floss until somewhere around day 5 or 6.

When your teeth start to feel better, you can still eat what you used to, you just have to cut it into small bites. Try chewing at the back of your mouth. This also gets better as the time goes on. I can now bite right into sandwiches, hamburgers...all sorts of stuff. I eat everything on the no-no list, even caramels, apples and popcorn. 3 weeks after having braces I was at a wedding and I was able to eat bruchetta, I just cut it in half. The only thing I haven't tried is ribs.

For the time being, stick to soft foods, pastas, lasagna, grilled cheese, soft breads, chili, soup..etc and if you have to, use your tongue and the roof of your mouth to chew.

Good Luck.

[JennyLaughs]

Hiya Kara... I second what everyone has already stated, but I think I like Stepher's response the best, especially reading other people's stories and seeing their pics. I LOVE the pics! It's one of my favorite parts of this website. The beginning is the hardest as everyone has already mentioned. I remember coming home from the ortho that first day and laying in bed wondering how painful it would be to just go back and have them take the braces right back off. I am SOOO glad I didn't do it! We call those the "what the hell have I done?" moments and EVERYONE has them (that I've read so far). Anyway, here's my story with plenty of pics. I'm not sure if I wrote it in there or not, but it took about 2.5 weeks for me to be able to bite into solid foods without my front teeth hurting. I still did it anyway, but it was painful. I'd say it took about a month to forget I had them at all. And if you don't want to/can't floss yet, don't. When you feel you're up to it, go for it. Just keep brushing and if you have a water pik, that'll work wonders. If not, get one! They're amazing. Here's hoping you don't give up quite yet

[Melody85]

It will be okay, it just really sucks during the first parts of your braces journey. After I got braced (January 27th 2011) I went the first few weeks feeling really down. It hurt, I couldn't eat and was hungry, I was grumpy because I was hungry and I thought that I looked ugly. I was at work and it was all just getting too much I started to get teary. I called my ortho and asked to make an emergency appointment because i was having problems. They got me booked straight in and I just went in there and CRIED about how unhappy I was with having braces. There were little kids there in the room, who were happily playing with the toys and not bothered by braces. Here I was, a blubbering, hungry, 26yr old mess who wanted them off! They gradually convinced me that it is not permanent - this is just a short phase of your life that is uncomfortable but so worth it in the end when you have a perfect smile and can smile with confidence. I left there, still in pain and not happy but i did accept it. Few months went by, I didn't enjoy having braces, no. I am almost at the 1 year mark and my teeth have made amazing improvement. The pain dies down. The braces you do get used to. They are a pain, sure but just keep picturing your amazing big reveal of PERFECT teeth

[tennesseeditto]

Kara, you might want to get some zilactin-B to swab on your gums. It does not require a prescription but your pharmacist will probably have to order it for you. I simply put it on mu gums with a q-tip. It has a looong acting numbing ingredient similar to what the dentist uses to numb us for a shot. Worth every cent of the ~$7 I paid for it.

On the days I "key" my arch expanders I take 2 Aleve every 12 hours for a couple days too.

Hope this helps.

[Chuck1026]

I just saw your post. Soreness is normal. I found some pain killers an hour before dinner allowed me to eat more "normally" the first few days. Within a week, I was eating all but the very sticky and very crunchy stuff.

Hang in there!!!