Today is the big day!

[luxe383]

Hi everyone! I am 28 and getting braces for the first time today. I have been scoping out this message board for weeks and finally decided to join because I think I am really going to need the support.

My teeth aren't terrible but I have a pretty bad crossbite and some crooked ones here and there. I will put up some pics when I can figure that out. I have actually wanted to fix my teeth for a long time and have had several orthodontist consultations and never gone through with it. This time is different though, I am freaking out right now but I am still going to do it. About a month ago I had my dental implant removed because of some issues with it and they told me if I really want to straighten my teeth, I need to do it now while the implant is out. So its now or never!! It is looking like it will be 24 months in braces for me.

I am like so many other people I have read on here that really should have had this as a child but my family never had much money and never had dental insurance so it was never a priority. Now I am a working adult and I started a new job about a year ago that, shockingly, has dental insurance that covers ADULT ortho at 50%!!! So now is really the time to get it done.

All of that said, and I know I am doing the right thing, I am so worried about today. I am not as scared of what it will look like, more like what it will feel like. I am worried that my lips are going to stick out. I am worried that I am going to get canker sores all over the place. Yikes!!

I know that is a long intro but I am so appreciative to anyone who reads it and has any advice for me. Thank you!!!!

[virgoan]

It's totally scary, I know, but it will be worth it for you, I'm sure. I got mine at 24 (like you, my family couldn't afford braces when I was growing up), and I definitely have moments of frustration or embarrassment, but my teeth are completely different after 11 months. It's pretty amazing.

I find it helps to read some of the "After" stories for encouragement. There are a lot of folks on here who had amazing results and often finished a little bit early, though of course everyone is different.

Good luck on your journey!

[Desert Rose]

Luxe383,

Congrats on starting your journey, I hope today goes really well for you. I am 26 and will be starting November 30'th, I think all metal but haven't decided for sure yet. What are you getting? Looking forward to keeping up with you as you're so close to my brace date. Here's to a great first day with not much discomfort!

[luxe383]

Oh man. I am in pretty bad shape today. Yesterday morning, I thought, well this is not so bad. I went to work and everyone was great and said they didn't look that bad so I was feeling all positive about it. The part I hated was that we had a lunch meeting and there was salad and pizza, neither of which I could eat, so I had to sit there with my cup of applesauce watching everyone else eat pizza

However it was a very long day, I worked until 5:30 and then I have school from 7 to 9:30. Things got progressively worse throughout the day. By the end of the day I am covered in canker sores throughout my mouth. Mostly all of my upper brackets have hooks on them and every single one digged into my cheek and made a sore. I have wax globbed over my entire upper arch now. Also, I have a canker sore on my tongue where i bit it accidentally, and one UNDER my tongue where they had put this cardboard retractor in my mouth during the appt and it was digging in.

My teeth ache, but this is nothing compared to the sores. Its hard to even drink water. I stayed home from work today so I am going to rinse with salt water a lot and hope that it feels better. Do you guys think it will help if I go get some Orajel or something like that to numb the sores???

[Snowglobe32]

Orajel makes a mouthwash/rinse that is supposed to help with sores. I haven't tried it but maybe it will help you.

Good Luck.

[petitcanard]

Just thought I'd check in & see how you're doing??? Is your mouth feeling any better?

[luxe383]

Hi there -
Thanks so much for asking. I am doing a lot better. The sores are healing and I haven't really gotten any new ones. I have been going to the ortho for this electropulse treatment thing and I think it has really helped. I still have quite a bit of wax going on though!

The pain has really subsided. My issue now is eating. I just can't chew very well because my teeth dont hit together right. And all the food gets all stuck into the braces and up in my cheek. So, I feel like I am starving. I am unwillingly on a diet and I don't like it! lol! I love food and I tend to get cranky when I'm hungry so thats been a challenge.

Oh, here is a question. I have constantly had wax in a couple places and now it seems to be irritating the gums. Is this normal?

The one thing I'm really happy about is that I think my speech is mostly back to normal.

[mikesmile]

Hey luxe383

...Just stopping by to say 'hi' and see how you're doing after 3 weeks with your new braces. You must be starting to get used them by now.

I'll be getting braces myself (2nd time) sometime early in the new year, so I'm a little bit behind you in the journey. My first time was years ago, but I remember it well...I used wax mainly in the beginning-as my mouth was first getting used to the feel of the brackets. I don't remember having any gum irritation from the wax, though.

I hope things improve steadily for you, and eating can become more normal again!

[tori*anne]

luxe383 -

Hi there! Reading your post was a trip down memory lane...18 days ago, I was in the same situation. Oy vay. All four hooks were digging into my cheek... and I had a sore at every spot. My tongue felt like it was going to fall off. The cleats on the top molar bands were literally shredding my tongue. You could SEE the cuts all over it. And under my tongue, was one giant sore. I could barely talk let alone eat. Everyone said to just give it time and keep using the wax and taking ibuprofen. I thought that they seriously must have been kidding because two weeks had gone by and I was still in serious pain.

One morning I woke up and my mouth felt 100% better. 18 days into it, and I am pain free. The only thing now is that my bite is completely different. My back molars are hitting in different spots now and I constantly find myself clenching down on my back teeth because my bite is so off. I guess it will just take some getting used to.

Hope you're doing okay... wax was my best friend those first 2 weeks. I think I ate more of it then I was able to toss out. Hang in there...good luck with everything!

- tori*anne in NH