Let the Journey Begin....

[chichi]

Ugh I hated my molar buildups at first... it felt like I would never be able to chew properly again. I kept biting down harder than I intended because I was expecting to hit the rest of my teeth and not this buildup... I was terrified I would end up cracking a tooth on them one day. But now I'm 5 weeks in and I don't even notice the buildups anymore. It gets better

[mysticgirl916]

I got my back teeth chewing ability back last week. I always ask when my parents are cooking something is the food easy for me to handle

[JeniK]

I have been braced for a total of 6 hours. I have no pain...anywhere. I feel the wires and brackets mostly in the front on the bottom...and the left side on top. I was given 2 boxes of wax and was told it will be my best friend. Boxes are unopened. I hope I am not setting myself up for super soreness tomorrow without using any.
As with everyone who is new to this...I am hungry.... I am going to try very soft mac and cheese for dinner tonight. I am not asking for pain...but now I would love to avoid it!
I am not even sure how I will chew mac and cheese?....I don't feel like I have any chew surface at all! This was sure easy when I was just reading this stuff!!
My motto is....I will survive....and I always do!

[chichi]

JeniK, I haven't really needed wax so far so you may also just be a lucky one whose mouth doesn't shred lol... As for your mac and cheese, I spent about 3 or 4 days mashing food against the roof of my mouth. You can definitely eat mac and cheese that way

[kids041]

I have been braced for a total of 6 hours. I have no pain...anywhere. I feel the wires and brackets mostly in the front on the bottom...and the left side on top. I was given 2 boxes of wax and was told it will be my best friend. Boxes are unopened. I hope I am not setting myself up for super soreness tomorrow without using any.
As with everyone who is new to this...I am hungry.... I am going to try very soft mac and cheese for dinner tonight. I am not asking for pain...but now I would love to avoid it!
I am not even sure how I will chew mac and cheese?....I don't feel like I have any chew surface at all! This was sure easy when I was just reading this stuff!!
My motto is....I will survive....and I always do!

That is awesome JeniK!! I did really well most of the day yesterday, but did do a lot of talking. By the end of the night my lips and cheeks were quite sore. I put wax over all of my teeth, and went to bed. I was in wax heaven
This morning my cheeks/lips were a bit sore, and I have kept wax on all the sides all day. I was not having any tooth pain like I expected... until about lunch time. I tried to eat a Taco Bell bean burrito and all I have to say is... MY teeth are killing me, and it was NOT a fun process. I am having soft food for dinner for sure, and some ice cream as a teat!
I am really glad that you are not suffering like I am today... Lets hope tomorrow goes as well for you.

[JeniK]

Oh yeah....I am loving smashed mac and cheese!!

Kids041....I hope you have a better day tomorrow. Soft food is our friend right now!!

ChiChi....I am hoping tomorrow is as good as today with the need for wax! Time will tell.

My husband and I were laughing today. He is going into semi retirement and I am going into childhood again !! Gotta love life!!

[Nana51]

Laughter is the best medicine! My husband and I saw a commercial tonight for some kind of facelift procedure, advertised by someone who used to light up our life... I told him that after I finish with my braces, I was going to do that next. Yeah, right.
Don't forget grilled cheese sandwiches...and don't forget to cut it up into little bite sized pieces.
Tonight was tuna fish sandwich and for the first time ever, I ate it with a fork. Maybe another week I can bite into my food.
Before I get too discouraged, I think of all the folks who are undergoing radiation treatments and would be glad to have only our minor problems.

[SunshineRay]

Laughter is the best medicine! My husband and I saw a commercial tonight for some kind of facelift procedure, advertised by someone who used to light up our life... I told him that after I finish with my braces, I was going to do that next. Yeah, right.
Don't forget grilled cheese sandwiches...and don't forget to cut it up into little bite sized pieces.
Tonight was tuna fish sandwich and for the first time ever, I ate it with a fork. Maybe another week I can bite into my food.
Before I get too discouraged, I think of all the folks who are undergoing radiation treatments and would be glad to have only our minor problems.

Good idea on the grilled cheese and thanks for the reminder of minor problems.

[kids041]

Laughter is the best medicine! My husband and I saw a commercial tonight for some kind of facelift procedure, advertised by someone who used to light up our life... I told him that after I finish with my braces, I was going to do that next. Yeah, right.
Don't forget grilled cheese sandwiches...and don't forget to cut it up into little bite sized pieces.
Tonight was tuna fish sandwich and for the first time ever, I ate it with a fork. Maybe another week I can bite into my food.
Before I get too discouraged, I think of all the folks who are undergoing radiation treatments and would be glad to have only our minor problems.

Thank you for helping to put my very small issues into perspective.

[kids041]

Day 3...
I am trying to adjust to the pokey hooks. I only put wax on the worst offenders last night. I have not talked much this AM, and I have not eaten yet, so I still have the wax on. I am going to try to reduce the amount of wax every time I use it, even if it is only by a little. I am trying to "get tough", without making mouth sores.

Eating is still a big issue. NOT because my teeth hurt, which they only sorta do, but because trying to bite food is just hard/weird/wrong and strange. I am sure that most of the disastrous Taco Bell lunch went into my system without being chewed. I did not even try to eat solid type food for dinner. I had tapioca pudding, a fruit and veggie pouch and icecream. I think today will be a repeat of those types of foods. I am just going to give myself some time to adjust.. I just did not think it would be that big of a deal, and it really is... *Learning moment* ( I can just hear my daughter saying... see?? I told you so... in a very sweet and nice voice )

[JeniK]

My first 24 hours...very good!!

Yes, I do have hooks on the bottom ...but have no pain from them. On the top (I have ceramic) looks like 2 hooks..I feel them slightly when I open and close my mouth. I do have one sore tooth this morning...on top...slightly left of my front teeth. (I should know the name of my teeth...I will work on that). Besides that...no wax.

For breakfast I ate ( or should say swallowed ) scrambled eggs and yogurt. I can see more mac and cheese in my future today!

I do feel like my mouth is always opened. It is very uncomfortable to close because of the build ups on the bottom. But only I can tell I am not closing my mouth all the way. Lips feel more dry today than yesterday.

Only minor issues...but the most important thing is....I feel like I am smiling more already because I am so happy I have finally taken this step to a better me!!

[NeilH]

Day 3...
I am trying to adjust to the pokey hooks. I only put wax on the worst offenders last night. I have not talked much this AM, and I have not eaten yet, so I still have the wax on. I am going to try to reduce the amount of wax every time I use it, even if it is only by a little. I am trying to "get tough", without making mouth sores.

Eating is still a big issue. NOT because my teeth hurt, which they only sorta do, but because trying to bite food is just hard/weird/wrong and strange. I am sure that most of the disastrous Taco Bell lunch went into my system without being chewed. I did not even try to eat solid type food for dinner. I had tapioca pudding, a fruit and veggie pouch and icecream. I think today will be a repeat of those types of foods. I am just going to give myself some time to adjust.. I just did not think it would be that big of a deal, and it really is... *Learning moment* ( I can just hear my daughter saying... see?? I told you so... in a very sweet and nice voice )

Hi, it's surprising how fast you get used to braces and your cheeks toughen up and stop rubbing on the brackets and hooks. I have had mine for almost three months now and don't give them a second thought most of the time. Eating becomes much easier to the point where you become more adventurous and risk damaging the wires or brackets (have been there around month two but it was a particularly good steak and a broken arch wire seemed a reasonable price to pay!). Looking forward to hearing about your progress.

[kids041]

Well I have to proudly say I have made it through the majority of the day (so far at least) with NO WAX!!!
Nothing is poking me, which is amazing...
I do have a couple of achy teeth, which means that there is something going on ( I hope), and I have stuck to softer foods today.
But all in all... it is a great day!!

[JeniK]

YAY!! Kid041!!! Great to hear your day has been good so far!!

[kids041]

YAY!! Kid041!!! Great to hear your day has been good so far!!

Thanks JeniK!! How has your day been?? teeth doing ok?