Finally braced! Progress pics included

[stepher7]

If they'll do it around the wire, I'm happy to keep it in there! lol

[braced33]

Hi stepher7!

I'm excited to find your story after "meeting" you on my thread.

You have already made so much progress! I can really see your bottom arch widening and your teeth are looking less crowded and straighter. Your uppers have really changed too, I'm a little jealous - mine haven't shifted at all. Your teeth are naturally so pretty that your smile is going to look beautiful when you're all finished.

Congratulations! I'm interested to hear about your first appointment, mine is still 3 weeks away...

[stepher7]

Hi braced33! Thanks for the post, I get so excited when I see that people have commented on my thread lol there have definitely been changes going on in the last few weeks, it's so exciting for me to look in the mirror everyday. My first appointment is in just over a week so I'll definitely be posting new pics and reporting on how it goes. Thank you for the compliment on my teeth after HATING them for what seems like my entire life it's nice to have people be able to look at them and think they'll look beautiful when they're straight. The next 18 months or so can't go by quick enough!! haha

[braced33]

How funny, I look in the mirror multiple times a day too looking for any new changes! Your teeth have already changed so much since your beginning photos, it's awesome!

Even though this process has not been fun, it is exciting to see the changes and know that we'll have nice smiles "soon". I can't wait for the day when I can smile freely and proudly without thinking of my teeth!

[stepher7]

Oh boy, do I ever know what you mean! I find that I don't really notice them most of the time anymore, but there are definitely still those moments of "Oh Lord, another 18 months of THIS??" But, it will all be worth it in the end!!

[bridget51992]

Hi Stepher! I can definitely see that your lower teeth have moved apart a lot already! Awesome!
I thought it was funny you said you've been noticing everybody's smiles lately - I do the same thing! Even when I was just waiting to get my braces on, I would check out other people's teeth, which I didn't even think about before.

[stepher7]

Isn't it weird how you become so much more aware of everyone else's teeth? Before I had braces I would notice if someone had particularly lovely teeth or very not lovely teeth, but I didn't really look at the people with teeth in between. Now I look at people's teeth and try to figure out if they've had braces lol and then I envy those people who have perfect teeth without braces lol although even people who have perfectly straight teeth I think often have bite issues, but I only think of this now that I have braces!

[braced33]

I do the same thing too! I am starting to think that almost everyone with perfect teeth has had braces at some point...unless they're just really lucky.

[stepher7]

Don't those people just make you mad? lol I realize they're just lucky and I guess they just have those lucky genetics! My boyfriend had braces for years when he was younger so our children have no hope!! haha

In updates, my mouth has been hating me the last week or so I assume that it hates me as it has been sore off and on in all kinds of different places. My tongue is all whacked out, sore tastebuds....what the heck is that about?! I'm assuming it's irritated from me using it to push food out of the braces....gross, I know, but it must be done! My bottom teeth have also been suuuuuper sensitive the last few days, even brushing is uncomfortable when I get to certain teeth I have my first adjustment next Monday, so I can't wait until I get that over with and I'll know what I have to look forward to every 2 months with that. Aside from the bad stuff, I'm still really happy that I got braces and love seeing the changes happening to my teeth!

[bridget51992]

I've always been super jealous of Regina Spektor's smile! I want it XD
Darn, I'm sorry to hear about your mouth being a jerk... I try to be really careful when getting food out of my braces, and usually just resort to swishing with water. Atleast you can ask the orthodontists all your questions on Monday!

[stepher7]

I'll have to look up who Regina Spektor is! lol and check out her teeth haha

I always do the water swishing thing too, but I find sometimes there are little bits of stuff way in the back that don't want to come out and they irritate me so I try to push them out instead of waiting until I can brush them out lol I don't know if I really have any questions right now, but maybe I should try and come up with some before Monday!

[braced33]

Hi! I didn't know who Regina Spektor was either, but just looked her up and she does have really pretty teeth. I don't think that mine will ever look like hers, but they will definitely look much better than they do now!

I still have to brush after almost every meal cause little bits of food really get stuck in my braces whenever I eat. And, I have been experiencing the same thing with my mouth and teeth being sore and sensitive. But, I think that might just mean that they're moving!

I can't wait to hear about your appointment on Monday!

[stepher7]

Hey Braced33! Don't doubt that your teeth will be super beautiful some day! Just by looking at people's progress pics on this board I've seen some incredible before and after pics. I have absolute faith that we'll all have gorgeous smiles when everything is done!

I'll definitely be doing an update after my appointment on Monday. Saturday will be my 2 month brace-a-versary, so I'll be putting up some new pics then!

[stepher7]

Well, it is 11:30 pm on May 6th which means that my 2 months in isn't actually for another 30 minutes, but I figure it's close enough to do an update with new pictures! I was going to wait until tomorrow, but I snapped some pics and am so excited by my 2 month progress that I had to get it up here for everyone else to see! All has been fairly well in my braceiverse the last few days...my tongue calmed down, thank goodness! My teeth are still fairly sore/sensitive in a lot of spots and my bite feels like it's changing some more, but I suppose these are all things to be expected! Anyway, here are my 2 month progress pics!!

Day 1


2 Months


Day 1


2 Months


Day 1


2 Months


I can't believe how much straighter my archwire is getting on the bottom, and how much my lower arch has spread out! I'll be so happy when those 2 tilted premolars join the party, but it will probably be a couple more months with these darn coil springs to make room. I've also noticed that my one front tooth on the bottom (not sure of it's proper name!) is tilted now, so I have a feeling that some brackets need to be repositioned, but I know it's all the way the game is played and things will even out eventually. All in all, I'm ecstatic about the changes I've seen in only 2 months!! Yay for braces!

[bridget51992]

Stepher your progress is so fantastic!!! I can definitely see your bottom teeth straightening out, and the top too - most noticeably from the photo you took of them from below. Yay!!! I guess now you can see why your teeth have been so sore. Your smile is going to be so beautiful