Metal Mouth Message Board

So, I'm currently into Day 6 with my Six Month Smile braces on. Still unsure about how I feel about them. I was originally excited to get them on, because my thinking was; the sooner they're on, the sooner they're off.

The process of getting the braces themselves on was fine, uncomfortable but not painful (I didn't think anyway), the worst part for me was the instrument they used to keep my mouth open while they were putting the braces on, but that is probably specific to me as I've been told by every dentist/orthodontist I've ever met that I have an unusually small mouth, (they had to use the children's size as the adults size would not fit - I am 24) and also if you're unlucky enough to taste the glue, that was also extremely unpleasant and bitter.

I was also given bite blockers, which I haven't seen anybody mention yet, and the dentist didn't inform me until the brace was already on, I head never heard of them - these are places in two of my back top teeth to prevent me from biting down properly, as my bite is not straight and my teeth overlap, so without them the brace would be redundant. At first the bite blockers were the worst part for me, but I'm slowly but surely getting used to them.

I think I am slowly but surely getting used to the braces, still have a slight lisp, and they have rubbed my gums a bit so I have been using the wax, and I am not back to eating properly yet. I personally feel as though, although white/clear (I'd say they were more clear) they are still very noticeable, although everyone I've spoken to said they didn't notice until I pointed it out , so this could just be my paranoia.

Being completely honest, I'm constantly changing my mind about how I feel about them, but keep trying to remind myself that it will all be worth it, no more closed mouth smiling and covering my mouth when I laugh. So I'm hoping posting my progress here will help me through and also help anybody else thinking of getting braces. I have picture before the brace and Day 1 with the brace, which I will post shortly. I'm happy to answer any questions if there is anything I can help with.

Sorry for rambling - first tightening appointment is 30th March, I will post the pictures soon and more pictures to come - wish me luck!

I totally get you on the changing your mind part.

As soon as I got my braces on, I was like "I made a huge mistake!" It's really hard to adjust to the way you look when you just get them on but it gets better ! I'm at week three and I honestly don't even notice them anymore.


Post pics soon!!

I had mine off last week. It had been 7 months and I had completely got used to them.

I remember my gums being sore at first but I was ok after about a week or two.

One tip I would have it to avoid tomato paste and curry at all costs. I couldn't stand the yellow look that a lot of people seem to be fine with.

Any questions let me know.

Yeah, I had the exact same reaction, I've heard from a few people that you get used to them and that I wont notice them at all, although I'm still struggling to pronounce my V's and F's!

Thank you, I'm trying to avoid bright coloured food, luckily I don't have a sweet tooth so I never really eat and sort of sticky, sugary foods, so that's not a problem, just giving up fizzy drinks now!

Pictures are below, my smile, my bite showing overcrowding and overlap on my bite and then Day 1 with braces. Does anyone have any sort of timescale to say when they personally first could see the movement themselves? I expect it will be a few more weeks!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/ ... age_4.jpeg

Hi there,

I recently had CFast braces (got them off almost 4 weeks ago) for just over 7 months.

Your teeth look lovely in your picture! Mine were awful, so I needed quite a bit of movement to bring my 2 teeth between my front ones into alignment but I saw most of my movement between months 2-5 I think (funny how quick you forget!)...the last couple of months were really just tidying things up.

I got used to them so quickly and honest after a couple of weeks forgot I was even wearing them.

I did forgo all sorts of coloured/stainy food for the full time wearing them, no curries, no tomato soup etc as I was paranoid of staining.

How are you feeling now you've had them on for a few weeks?

Also you're not the only person with a small mouth! Haha! They needed to use loads of Vaseline (lovely!) on my mouth to get the thing that holds your mouth open in and I needed the child's size plate thing to get moulds taken!

So, 6 weeks in, I had my first tightening appointment 2 days ago, which went very well. I started off taking pictures weekly, but I think that it was too much, because I'd expect a big change every week, so trying to leave it loner between pictures now.

So, at my appointment, I firstly asked my dentist if he would have to use that instrument again and he said 'it depends how many I have to take off and put back on', which confused me as I didn't understand why he would need to do that. He seemed pleasantly surprised to see that none of the brackets had come off and that I hadn't had any problems with it (this could be down to the fact that I do not have a sweet tooth, so haven't had any sweets, chocolate or chewing gum and although I do like fizzy drinks, I've near enough cut them out of my diet). He then tightened the braces, which didn't take very much time at all, and didn't hurt whilst getting done. He then gave me a free scale and polish as I had kept my teeth/braces so clean, which gave me a bit of a boost as I think it can get you a bit down. He also showed me where my teeth had moved in comparison to his original pictures, which was the best feeling, as you can see some progress.

So, 2 days on from this and my teeth are aching slightly. More so when I eat, which I have heard is normal, and shouldn't last too long. So my next appointment is another 6 weeks, and although initially I felt as though each day would go slowly, now that 6 weeks have passed, I'm feeling a lot more positive as I can see a difference and I know that it's doing it's job!

Lucyinthesky - Thank you - it is just something that has always bothered me! Glad to hear your brace is off, are you happy with your results and do you feel as though it was worth it? Also, when did you get an clearer idea of when they would come off?

Pictures to follow!