Metal Mouth Message Board

I am 48 years old and just received my braces in the morning of Tuesday, January 15. It's Friday morning, 2:36 CST, and I hurt so bad I can't sleep.

I only have braces on my lower teeth. My teeth have always been crowded but they've become much worse and finally I begin to get wear from my lower teeth hitting my upper teeth somewhat.

I still can't eat much. But someone suggested eating ice cream and that felt good. I'm not sure if I should be doing this but biting on a washcloth takes some of the pain away (I'm not sure why) although it leaves my mouth dry!

Right now I'm a little bummed because of the pain. I've taken 6 ibuprofen and 2 tylenol tablets in the last six hours but it still hurts quite a bit. I had an appendectomy in April and I swear it didn't hurt the way this does although I was on some kind of narcotic for a couple of days so maybe I really did hurt but didn't know it.

Anyway, I will try to post some photos later. You are all such a wealth of information and it makes me feel better to know that you know what I'm going through.

Thanks to all. Mary

Hi melliemoo,

That was me that suggested the ice cream. I am glad it helped. Yes it is okay to bite on a washcloth, if it helps you. Many people say that chewing helps the pain. You might to try some sugar-free gum - it may be more pleasant than the washcloth.

I have been lucky - I have not really had too much pain with braces. It was mostly the brackets rubbing the inside my mouth that gave me the most trouble.

You should feel an improvement soon, but if you don't feel any better by Monday, it might be a good idea to give your orthodontist a call.

Don't get discouraged, because braces really aren't that bad!

Oooh! Thank you so much for suggesting the ice cream. That felt so good last night. I think you might have suggested letting ice melt in my mouth but not chewing it also. You're right; chewing gum is better than the washcloth in my mouth. I feel silly but that's that's all I could think of last night. I'm only eating soft foods still. The pain is moving from my incisors to my canines and bicuspids.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Hi Melliemoo!

We got braced on the same day! I'm so sorry you're in so much pain . I've definitely been taking the tylenol, which has helped with the pressure-type pain. I've had more problems with the sharpness of the brackets hurting the inside of my lips and Tylenol hasnt really helped much for that. But just like everyone said it would, it's slowly getting better.

My orthodontist really stressed that I should chew as much as possible, to help the teeth move and also make the pain less in the long run. So I've tried to chew really soft foods like bananas and even some well-cooked pasta. So far it's working pretty well for me, but everyone's different. And if ice cream is working for you, that's great! I'm going to have some vanilla ice cream tonight over baked apples (since we can't eat raw apples). Should be soft and yummy!

Keep us posted!

Welcome, another boomer with braces is always makes the rest of feel more comfortable.

Sorry to hear about the initial pain but I am sure it will subside within a day or two. I have heard that if you can chew sugar free non-sticking gum that will help to hasten the adjustment process. You might try it.

Hope it gets better and looking forward to following your progress.


Rhonda- http://www.myspace.com/ibbraced

Thank you all for writing back. It helps so much to know that I'm not alone and that what I am feeling so many of you have felt--that I'm as normal as normal can be!

I really felt like taking pliers and pulling the archwire out yesterday. I don't have any real problem with the brackets tearing up the inside of my mouth. It's the relentless pressure and pain on my teeth that goes clear down my jaw. I questioned my judgment and sanity to do this at my age.

I am wearing wax at night just to prevent any sores and I'll trying not to talk too much so that the brackets don't rub. I'm also using salt water rinses as a preventive measure.

I am going to take a sleeping pill tonight so I can try to sleep through the pain. It seems to hurt worse at night--probably because there is nothing to distract me.

I'm trusting that it will get better so I'm focusing on that and straighter, healthier teeth at the end.

EmbraceJCT: how were your baked apples and ice cream?? That sounded so good, I think I"m going to get some apples tomorrow and try that.

Hope you're feeling less pain today Melliemoo! And I hope you were able to get a good night's sleep last night - that can really help.

The apples and ice cream were perfect and delicious! I took all the skin off the apples and chopped them up pretty small and then baked them with cinnamon. It smells great in the oven! Wait til they're nice and smooshy and then place a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream on top and voila! A soft tasty treat! It's like apple pie without the crust

Tonight I have hardly ANY pain; all I have is pressure. I am still taking two tylenol tablets twice a day because I absolutely hate pain. I have no qualms taking medication if it helps.

Anyway, I just wanted all of you to know that you helped. So many people wrote that the pain should only last a few days and it actually lasted just over three days so I'm more enthusiastic about these braces. I keep looking in the mirror; I swear I think one tooth has moved!

Mary:
Welcome to the world of brackets and wires!

It does get easier. I know for myself that if my ortho had been open on Friday afternoon after getting them on Thursday, I'd told them it was a mistake and lets call this thing off. She may not have done it, her policy is to refuse if at all possible until the patient has braces on for a week to give themselves a fair opportunity to get used to them. Now, I regard getting braced at 48 as one of my best decisions.

Let's talk about what can make this experience better. You probably have heat activated leveling wires. They're not big but are quite strong. They are a great spin off of NASA technology. When they are cool they are more flexible. When heated to mouth temperature they try to return to their shape. They'll do an amazing job moving your teeth. If you want a break from their moving teeth, you need to cool off your mouth. Cool drinks and wet wash clothes are effective. You could even benefit from an infant teething toy. That's a simple solution to temporary lessen the pain. You need more than that. The previous advice to chew is right on target. Grab something semi hard like cooked veggies and use your teeth. It will help them move and increase the blood flow. Plus do you really want to starve?

Good luck, it WILL get better.

Try to have fun, this is something you're doing for yourself, not being done to you.

Mike

iborg and bracedagain, thanks for your posts and advice. I'm doing so much better. On Sunday, I didn't have to take any pain medication. I've been eating well; although I have to cut up my food in smaller pieces than before and I eat much slower which is probably better for me overall.

Thanks to you all. I've been reading your stories and I've been inspired. I only have braces on my lower teeth. I am a class one that had to have one lower incisor extracted because I needed more room and couldn't have my teeth stripped (is that what it is?). So, my midline on my lower teeth will be off but I've reviewed some stories of people who had similar work and seen the result and I'm comfortable with that. I just will be glad to have straight bottom teeth and a better looking mouth.[/code]

Hi melliemoo, I have read your story> How awesome you only need then on the bottom, I thought that was all I would need, but I was not so lucky.

I love the idea about the apples and ice cream I am going to be at the store here in little bit I am going to try it out.

I was braced Jan 7th so we are close with our brace days, there are several here that are all close so we will have plenty of sounding boards, and just plain support. I dont have my next appt until the end of Feb. So I dont know what to expect but we will see.

SmileUnderConstruction: Hi, nice to hear from you. How are you doing with your braces? Did you have the apples and ice cream?

I haven't had much going on bracewise since the first days of pain. On occasion one or more teeth might ache. Yesterday it was my right lateral incisor. I told my husband, "It's on the move!! woo-hoo!." I just KNOW it moved so I found my ruler and measured again...nothing yet. It does feel as if the wire in the back is getting looser on both sides. I still can't directly bite into foods such as chips or pizza but most things I can cut up and eat. I have lost some weight in part because of the no chips, etc. but also because it takes so long to eat and I brush my teeth so often some nights I won't snack because I have to brush my teeth again and I'm lazy!

So far, so good.

I received my notice from my dental insurance and they are paying $1500 toward my orthodonist costs. According to them, my ortho told the insurance company that the minimum time for my "project" is 15 months. He told me around 18 months. I'm hoping for 13 months!

My next appointment is on March 11; it seems forever.

Hello again melliemoo, my braces are doing great! I do have some spots that get a little tender, but for the most part I eat what I want just very carefully, very slow.

I did try the apples and ice cream & OMG it was so good. My husband was like what is in the oven I said apples and cinnamon, he says how much sugar is on them I said no sugar but I did put about 2 tablespoons of caramel for flavor, you know since we cant chew caramels without spending an hour cleaning it off. By the time they were all cooked they had a slight taste of caramel without the sticky ewy chewyness. They were really good. It was a nice little treat, I didnt mind the crust not being there. Thanks for the idea!

My next appt is Feb 25th I am so excited about this journey and finding all of you.

The apples and ice cream idea was actually EmbraceJCT'sidea and it's a great one! Baked apples are so sweet. Everyone is so nice here.

I KNEW they moved. I measured my teeth tonight after my husband remarked that the gap looked smaller to him and the gap is a half mm smaller. The central incisor that is hiding behind my lateral incisor is moving over to the new neighborhood. I'm so excited. I hope someday to get to the point when I forget I even have braces in my mouth. Not there yet but definitely happy that the old teeth are moving around.

Six more weeks and two days until my first adjustment.