Metal Mouth Message Board

Well I have changed alot of my life up in the last 8 months even. Before July of 2009, it was 20 years since I had been to a dentist. Never had a cavity until I was 21. Then, I just kind of let it go and ignored it. 1 turned into 4 which turned into an abscess, and that was the final straw for me. The whole dental phobia took a backseat to my health. I broke down and found an awesome female dentist, which I ended up with 5 fillings and 1 root canal/crown done in the summer of 2009. The 6 extractions(4 being from cavities that were beyond bad and the teeth had to come out) were done January 15, 2010. Now, the braces were put on as of March 11, 2010. Which leads me to this site.

I do have to say, never did I imagine last June that by this time, I'd already have had all that work done, and be in braces.

And so the story begins. I will add more pictures later besides these ones later. First two are the morning before I got the braces on. The last one, obviously, the day I got them.







Seeing that last picture up close makes me realize that I need to trim up those few nose hairs. WTF, I look like an old man with the 2 stranglers hanging out. Also, the yellowness is due to, as stated above, being a smoker for 10 years. I just quit January of 2010 so not really sure how much I'll be able to fix the color. Oh well. Straighting them is the first priority.

Hey Cody! Well done on quitting smoking, and good luck on your braces journey. How long is your sentence? I've got a few more months to go, hopefully. Don't forget to keep us updated on your progress!

Well done on facing your dental phobia [i was exactly the same, i posted about it in my thread], its so much more of an achievement when you do all this while facing the fear!

gokix wrote:Hey Cody! Well done on quitting smoking, and good luck on your braces journey. How long is your sentence? I've got a few more months to go, hopefully. Don't forget to keep us updated on your progress!

The plan is 2 years. I get the first adjustment April 23rd so I'll keep the thread updated.


And thanks Peach, and yes it is! Teeth have never been straight, it'll be a weird change. Very nice change though.

Well done on facing your fear and quitting smoking! Good luck on the rest of your journey and keep us updated.

Well today has been 1 week since they went on. It hasn't been too bad. I'm slowly learning how to eat real food again. My teeth haven't been that sore, they just feel a little weird but I'm already used to that feeling. The inside of my lips/gums do hurt though. The braces actually are digging and leaving imprints on the inside of my lips. I dont want to use the wax though because I want the skin to just toughen up, if that makes sense. I know when I was first learning how to play electric guitar my finger tips would blister and such. Then the skin toughened up and I can play for 2 hours and the skin is tough enough to handle it. All in all a pretty uneventful first week.

Well 17 days in and still pretty uneventful. I had to break down and use the wax on one bracket. I have 1 tooth that is way in front of the rest on my right side. Like a few teeth come straight down instead of curving and since it sticks out so far, the bracket digs into my cheek anytime I move my mouth. Other than that, I can't see any movement yet, nor would I expect it. I can, however, feel just a little bit when I floss. Some teeth have teeny gaps that I can tell when flossing that didn't before. Thats one thing that has been easier is flossing. Those first few days learning how to floss sucked haha.

I don't snack as much as I used to, which is probably healthier, even though I am pretty skinny as it is. Doesn't it seem once the braces go on, you don't snack as much during the day? It seems to come down to, do I want it enough to have to go scrub my mouth afterwards?

Hi there, I just wanted to say how much I found your story similar to my own. I also had a serious fear with dentist's, and decided last year to get things (teeth) fixed up and looking good. It's been an interesting journey, and never in a million years did I think I would end up EVER getting braces....EVER!!!! I am scheduled to get them on Wednesday...that is, if I don't chicken out. So..just wanted to drop a note saying..hats off to you..you deserve it. ENJOY.

jensceana73 wrote:Hi there, I just wanted to say how much I found your story similar to my own. I also had a serious fear with dentist's, and decided last year to get things (teeth) fixed up and looking good. It's been an interesting journey, and never in a million years did I think I would end up EVER getting braces....EVER!!!! I am scheduled to get them on Wednesday...that is, if I don't chicken out. So..just wanted to drop a note saying..hats off to you..you deserve it. ENJOY.

Thanks!! Don't chicken out, they aren't so bad, even in the beginning! Just very odd. I was nervous getting them put on too but it really is a breeze. Fillings are worse than getting the braces on.

Loved....LOVED....your pm. Thanks for the advise, you hit it right on the nail! I thank u...my husband thanks u.....and all newbies to braces who are looking for advise on their bedroom woe's thanks you!!!!

Anytime! Wax...... does somebodys "body" good

jensceana73 wrote:Loved....LOVED....your pm. Thanks for the advise, you hit it right on the nail! I thank u...my husband thanks u.....and all newbies to braces who are looking for advise on their bedroom woe's thanks you!!!!

Do tell I need advise on this lol
I am getting mine April 23 and umm well, I still want to be able to play his magical instrument lol without hurting him lol. oh dear it's going to be interesting to learn to do it carefully.

haha PM sent. Don't want to turn the whole story into a THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT TO ADMINISTRATOR THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT TO ADMINISTRATOR THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT TO ADMINISTRATOR THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT TO ADMINISTRATOR THIS IS SPAM PLEASE REPORT TO ADMINISTRATOR which is why I sent a PM. Otherwise, everyone will feel the need to have to wear a condom everytime they read my thread

Well Week 3 and I'm feeling a slight movement on my bottom teeth. The bottom 4 also are very sore to the touch, not to mention if I accidently bump them on other teeth.... ouch!

Well heres a face to go with the braces lol. This is before the braces though. I'm kind of curious if my facial shape will change at all. We shall see I guess.