First Week / Don't Swallow your Bracket
Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:30 pm
So this is about my first week in braces. And hopefully it will serve as a warning about some things NOT to do for those who are new to having them. 
So, I have top and bottom rows of ceramic braces, which are great because for the most part they truly are invisible. Some friends and co-workers have taken DAYS to figure out I have them, only when they get close enough to see the archwire. In photos they don't show up at all.
After my appointment on a Friday morning I went back to my office. Other than minor discomfort, I really haven't experienced ANY pain (except for minor aches when chewing). A co-worker was leaving so we were throwing a lunch party for her... complete with tons of yummy food that I couldn't/shouldn't touch.
I tried my best but sound even soft food irritating on that first day. So I decided on a piece of nice soft carrot cake...
Until I bit down on an unseen hard nut in the cake and found that my second-to-back brace had popped loose.
Being a 4-day weekend with the 4th of July, my orthodontists had left the office and wouldn't be back for at least 4 days. So as it didn't hurt, and was still connected to the archwire, I just let the bracket be until I could get it fixed.
After work some friend invited me to dinner. I chose soft tortellini at an Italian restaurant with was great- soft small pieces! The only down side has been constantly worrying about food stuck in your teeth. Later that night, when burshing my teeth I realized something...
To my horror the bracket was gone! I didn't recall spitting it out which could only mean one thing. You guessed it. I swallowed the bracket!!!
So I am waiting to go back to the orthodontist tomorrow. It's been many days, and I figure swallowing the bracket didn't kill me or send me to the emergency room (as I was afraid would be the case, swallowing a small potentially sharp object). But there's a lesson in here: Don't eat things you're not supposed to!!
So, I have top and bottom rows of ceramic braces, which are great because for the most part they truly are invisible. Some friends and co-workers have taken DAYS to figure out I have them, only when they get close enough to see the archwire. In photos they don't show up at all.
After my appointment on a Friday morning I went back to my office. Other than minor discomfort, I really haven't experienced ANY pain (except for minor aches when chewing). A co-worker was leaving so we were throwing a lunch party for her... complete with tons of yummy food that I couldn't/shouldn't touch.
I tried my best but sound even soft food irritating on that first day. So I decided on a piece of nice soft carrot cake...
Until I bit down on an unseen hard nut in the cake and found that my second-to-back brace had popped loose.
Being a 4-day weekend with the 4th of July, my orthodontists had left the office and wouldn't be back for at least 4 days. So as it didn't hurt, and was still connected to the archwire, I just let the bracket be until I could get it fixed.
After work some friend invited me to dinner. I chose soft tortellini at an Italian restaurant with was great- soft small pieces! The only down side has been constantly worrying about food stuck in your teeth. Later that night, when burshing my teeth I realized something...
To my horror the bracket was gone! I didn't recall spitting it out which could only mean one thing. You guessed it. I swallowed the bracket!!!
So I am waiting to go back to the orthodontist tomorrow. It's been many days, and I figure swallowing the bracket didn't kill me or send me to the emergency room (as I was afraid would be the case, swallowing a small potentially sharp object). But there's a lesson in here: Don't eat things you're not supposed to!!
