Moving straight ahead and around the Archwire.......

[Kipepeo]

first day at work with braces was interesting; comments: there's nothing wrong with your teeth...

You know, statements like these really bother me. By what authority or expertise do they know this?

When I was going through my recent weight loss program (30# on Jenny Craig) and was nearly to my goal, people would actually say I've lost enough and don't need to lose anymore. I am smack dab in the MIDDLE of the healthy weight range for my gender and height.

I swear if someone says something like that about these braces I'm going to ask them how they know that. I was set to say this about the weight, but nobody did after I decided that.

[klobird]

Hey Nettie--I have to laugh--and say you truly have entered the world of braces!!! Those have been some of my same thoughts--and a LOT can happen in 2 years!! Well, we have a long time to co-miserate....

I hope you like your waterpik--and I hope your first venture with it is less exciting than mine was--water all over the mirror, the walls, my clothes, everywhere--I could not find the off button! Much, much better now--as is flossing etc. But I was an idiot with the flossing--I just didn't get it at first...

I'm looking forward to reading about your progress!

[Kipepeo]

I hope you like your waterpik--and I hope your first venture with it is less exciting than mine was--water all over the mirror, the walls, my clothes, everywhere--I could not find the off button!

[klobird]

Hey Nettie--

Yep, still have the itchies!! However, I have a front tooth that is moving!!! Actually in the last week it's been getting more and more noticeable...It is soooo cool!!

I have decided to take this 2 years from event to event. Like now to June 25 when I go to a yearly family get together,
then from then to my next ortho appts on July 19 and 26 etc etc...

How's the waterpik? When do you get your wire? You have the worst part now, in my opinion...the wire just adds pressure-which I like because then I know something's happening...

[Nettie]

On the morning of day three I noticed small white bubbles in my mouth. They don't hurt, but the inside of my mouth is feeling a little rough.
Hoping my mouth is just getting use to those hooks and pokey brackets.

My youngest is very interested in my braces. He inherited my crowding and misalignment of teeth, but he was also a thumb sucker for 6 years. Lucky for him he will not have to wait till 47 to have the issues corrected. He told me last night that he was happy that I got braces and that when he gets his that I could help him.
I will be sure to be a good example to him about brushing/flossing and to keep my negativity about any discomfort to a minimum. Lol, I'll just vent here if necessary. This experience will allow me to be a more sympathetic parent when he is braced and making it something that he will see as a positive as oppose to something his parents forced him to do.

Wow another positive about having braces at 47.

[klobird]

Aren't kids great!! Maybe you can get braces together!...(They say the best age to get going is 7--don't know how old yours is...) At any rate, maybe he can go to an appt with you to get used to the setting...I just love kids!!

The white bubbles are probably just from very irritated skin inside your cheeks....all of that gets better---but use wax
liberally if you need to---get it wrapped around the hooks and stuff that are bothering you. It sticks on really good.
I use Macks Silicone Ear Plug wax ---it's much softer and works great--a little tidbit I learned from the Archwired folks!

There is one spot that I have used wax on from the beginning...it's so far back and sticks so well that I even eat with it in and it stays put . Elsewhere it just seems like it's one spot one day, then fine the next day, but in another spot on the other side etc etc...

Soooooo, how are the spacers treating you....?

[Nettie]

Regarding the waterpik:

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!!
Know where the off button is before you start.
Keep your mouth over the sink.
know where the off button is!!!!
There will be less of a mess if you check the mirror after you turn off the pik


I love it but remember what I said!!!!!

[Nettie]

No pain from spacers or brackets. Must be because I took my orthos warning about not biting down hard on the spacers. I've gotten use to the brackets, I know they are there but they don't bother me... Maybe just the hooks when I smile.

Went to Safeway yesterday and noticed the checkout clerk looking at my mouth as I talked. She didn't say anything, but I didn't care, I don't even know her, but I am finding comfort in checking out other people's teeth and seeing they are not perfect either!!!!

I am not a vain person, geez I waited to this age to fix this! I am mostly doing this now because my bottom teeth are wearing down my top teeth, the bonus when I'm done is I will have my bite corrected and a straight smile and I will be able to keep my teeth.

I am finding people who have had braces are very understanding and supportive of what we are going through and are encouraging. It's the people who have not done anything to their teeth and need work that make the comments such as there's nothing wrong with your teeth and do not understand why you are braced. For those people just stare right back at their teeth and remember your teeth will look great when you are done!

[Melody85]

first day at work with braces was interesting; comments: there's nothing wrong with your teeth; oh aren't braces expensive; good for you, do they hurt. but overall I know it will be old news tomorrow.

I had the comment "But your teeth were fine?" and "Do you really need them?" at work a fair bit when i first got braces, and that kind of annoyed me to be honest! Yes I did need them, I had the worst case of 'fang tooth' ever and people commented before i got them - that my teeth were crooked! People can be so judgemental, you just can't win! But I think they are secretly jealous that we are brave enough to take the plunge and fix our smiles

[Nettie]

FULLY BRACED!!!! YAY!!!! as of 1:30pm today.

I love my ortho office! Those spacers where in tight, but came out eventually, the banding was like doing a puzzle and the wire I have is super gentle. Seeing that I'm taking baby steps and coddling my teeth, they gave me a ribbon archwire that is strong yet GENTLE. The ortho said that they wanted me happy and not uncomfortable. I go back in 5-6 weeks, I've yet to set the appt. I feel slight pressure all around but no PAIN whatsoever.

He mentioned IPR at my next visit. I could definetly use some slenderizing, seeing that I could barely floss. It is so tight and crowded in my mouth that we are hoping to make a little more space. He also bent back two of my top hooks that were seemingly very bothersome but I didn't think to ask to have them bent back. He must have noticed how silly my lips looked over those hooks when I smiled. Now my smile is normal. I got silver ligatures which I love!!!! ( they blend in with the brackets, very discreet )

Overall, I feel that I am in good hands and look forward to going in for my first adjustment mid July.

[Kipepeo]

Yay Nettie, good for you. I get my half set tomorrow. I'm excited but still apprehensive at the same time. Mine is more from the "do I really need this" angle. I know I do...

[Nettie]

Okay the flossing is really ridiculous... The threader and the fact I can't squeeze the floss between my teeth? I don't know where my teeth are going to move to.

Someone at work actually told me they thought braces were only for kids. I did not take offensive as she was genuinely naive and could use some help too I must sound a little caddy, the hunger must be getting to me.

[klobird]

Hey Nettie--Good to hear from you!! The eating part actually gets a whole lot better--tear up your food for now and put it in the inside of your mouth--it might be easier... The cleaning part is getting easier--I've had to decide what is important during the day and when, and what is important to do at night. Night time is my 7 step list--haven't missed a night.
I think I'm just getting used to all this extra cleaning, and beginning to forget how easy it was before braces...

I have flossing down to 7 minutes...trying hard to beat that time, but it is so hard to get the floss under the archwire way, way in the back, and that's where I lose time!

Anyway, congratulations on the archwire!! You will be going back to your ortho before I have my first adjustment. Three months between bracing and first adjustment kind of makes me feel like I'm doing the brace thing on my own. I need a chance to get connected to the ortho and office, because at this point I don't think they are all that great....(the ortho is brilliant, but a real dweeb, and the rest of the staff are kind of b*tchy, and kind of act like they are on the rag---the times I've seen them anyway... ).

Well, continue to blog--I enjoy reading your progress!

[Nettie]

[Nettie]

okay so now I have a ticker.... LOL

I'll look over my before pictures and hope to post them today... Well may be now...
Okay my photo files are too large, I'll have to resave them... ughhh