New to Braces & Really Hating it so far :(

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#1 Post by **MarshaMcC** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 7:20 pm

Just got my braces a week and a half ago .............. I hate it.

I have clear braces on top and traditional silver braces on the bottom.
It hurts like hell .... so now Advil is part of my diet (are there any calories in advil? lol)
My mouth feels like a one big bruise all the time .... I can't find anywhere to purchase the dental wax so I'm going to the ortho's office this week because I fear I'm going to run out before my next appointment in mid July.
I hate the feeling of having loose teeth! .... I'm orally obsessed ... touching my teeth all the time, checking if they are about to fall out lol ..... and worse ... I have dreams almost nightly of my teeth falling out ... I wake up so panicked.
I'm an anxious sort so I'm always brushing .... I hated my smile (hence braces) ... but now I feel self conscious when people stare at my mouth

... no doubt trying to figure out if they saw something (because my top row is clear) .... (((sigh)))

I just keep thinking I'm not going to make it to 18months ...... if they didn't cost so damn much, I think I'd just take em off.

On the upside? .... I lost 3lbs since I got braces ... lol

#2 Post by **Bekah** » Sat Jun 12, 2010 8:06 pm

I remember feeling the exact same way. I have those dreams too! They feel so real that I wake up all upset and it takes a while to calm down.

I know it doesn't really help, but it really will get better. The longer you have the braces on, the less self conscious you will feel. I have full metal braces and I get alot of questions from adults and teens!

Nope I don't think Advil has calories! (At least I hope not!)

#3 Post by **pinkiipromise** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 8:28 am

It has been around 2months since I had my braces and I still hate it..

yet though, I don't really regret getting them because I know I will have a pair of gorgeous teeth in two years time =)

Like you, I feel very self concious when smiling with braces. To make it worse, I can't smile with my mouth closed because I have a 2 inch coil spring sitting on my front top row. Boooo..

I learnt to get used to my smile though. I do see people looking at my braces when I smile, though I think it's better than smiling with a set of crooked teeth. At least I am on my way to a nice set of gorgeous teeth =)

You will get used to it in time. The feeling of having loose teeth will get better. Your teeh will gain its strength within another week or two. Don't worry =)

It's still early, so more or less, you won't be used to it yet.

#4 Post by **PrincessPeach** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:59 am

Things get much easier, i promise. Its never going to be an easy ride, but soon they're part of everyday life

#5 Post by **llehsal** » Sun Jun 13, 2010 5:13 pm

I'm on my 6th day of getting braces. I still have my back teeth to do where the spacers are now. Like you, my mouth feels like a bruise that just wont go away. The jaw pain is gone, but I still can't chew anything. I can't wait to get back to having real food! It's getting better everyday, I'm getting more used to having this foreign object in my mouth. I just have to stock up on the wax as my cheeks haven't gotten used to them yet. I do feel to rip them out at times though. Especially the spacers

I know it will get better, when is what I don't know. Hope you feel better soon!

#6 Post by **MarshaMcC** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:43 pm

Thanks for the support guys <3

Warm salt water ..... I'm going to try that Ken, thanks.

Bekah ... I'm glad I'm not the only one who has those dreams ... I was really starting to wonder .... I don't have them as often any more though, so that's good.

I had to laugh at myself a few days ago. I was eating lunch and chewing very very carefully (it's like learning to eat all over again *sigh*) .... well, suddenly I felt something come loose in my mouth and of course I panicked because I just knew it was a tooth ... I spit the object into my hand and almost freaked when I saw the little white 'thing' ...... it was MY WAX

.... I had forgotten to take them out when I started eating lol ..... I started laughing at myself, thankfully I was alone. By far the loose teeth is the most difficult part for me to get used to.

I keep thinking of the finish line .......... that keeps me positive and hopeful .... until the next time my wire snags in my jaw and it hurts like hell lol .... haven't used wax in two days! wahooooooooo

#7 Post by **llehsal** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 6:47 pm

Hi Marsha....glad you're having at least a few jokes...hehehe...even though I'm on day 10 and still cant eat...I'm having a few jokes as well....I have a lisp that my friends tease me about (all good fun) and I spit on my friend the other day

... I swear....it just...escaped my mouth and landed on him....sigh...oh well

Keep us posted!

#8 Post by **Bekah** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:55 pm

Actually, those dreams are what prompted me to talk to my daughter's orthodontist!

I have also done the wax thing too!

#9 Post by **shinyRiver** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 7:59 pm

almost everyone has dreams about their teeth falling out. there are many theories as to why people have gory dreams about their teeth falling out, but it is totally normal. it may be some primal subconscious expression of anxiety, or it may be gingivitis. jury's still out on that one.

The wax thing happens a lot, too. It's especially delicious when it's mint flavored GAC wax and it comes off your brackets while you're eating indian food. blech.

The sooner you lose the goop the happier you'll be. If you have a spot that is REALLY raw, cover it with wax and let it heal overnight, then take it out in the morning so that your lips and cheeks can toughen up. Soon, you won't need it at all except for maybe just after adjustments...

I hope eating is getting easier and that you're feeling better!

#10 Post by **Margie** » Tue Jun 22, 2010 1:13 pm

I felt the same way you are feeling when I first got my braces. I was in so much pain and so self-conscience! I have been in braces for over a year now and the braces hardly bother me anymore, when I get something new, like a power chain or elastics I start to feel a little more self-conscience but it gets better!

Good luck, and make sure to take a lot of pictures of your progress; it will help you see the amazing changes that are happening.

#11 Post by **MarshaMcC** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:05 am

Thanks Shiny River & Margie ..... I've actually been doing well the last few days

Eating is getting better ... I got so excited I tried to eat a mango and ..... one of my lower brackets came loose ...... so I guess I will be slicing up my mangoes from this point on?

I can't remember if that was an 'emergency', so when the ortho's office is open later today I will call and ask what to do .... I'm heading to my regular dentist for a cleaning this morning .... my first one with braces ... I'm curious about how it will be. Usually I hate cleanings because of the scraping sound ... I bring my iPod to try and tune it out, but it never really tunes it out. But now I have metal in my mouth so ....... okay, I don't even want to think about it, I'll just go in and see.

#12 Post by **MarshaMcC** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 3:19 am

@llehsal -- that is funny.

So, u're in Trinidad? I was born in Jamaica .... but been in Canada most of my life .... Initially I found it easier to speak Patois b/c I didn't want to speak at all b/c the brackets were scraping against my lips BUT I noticed that with Patois, we use less words than plain English lol ..... I learnt to appreciate all those word combinations that makes sense to nobody but us

#13 Post by **equaeternal** » Wed Jun 23, 2010 8:41 am

I feel/ felt the exact same way. I have had my braces for 2 weeks an a half and a day after getting them I broke down an cried about how ugly I thought I looked, and how over whelmed I felt. Honestly yesterday was the first day since being braces that I felt excited about braces. I saw my Ortho and he said my teeth had already moved. Some how knowing it does work makes me feel better.

Just wanted to let you know I totally know where you are coming from

#14 Post by **KMac** » Sat Jun 26, 2010 3:51 am

Hi, I have had my braces on for a measly 3 days and I can completely relate to you hating them.I feel the same way. Hopefully in time I will come to accept them. I feel so unattractive! This is as mentally tough as it is physically!!!!
The only thing that is making me feel better and more confident is reading everyones posts that it was all worth it and we will have functional good looking smiles.

#15 Post by **MarshaMcC** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 3:14 pm

Thankfully I'm lot more "used" to it than I ever thought possible in the beginning. I went in two weeks early to have a broken bracket repaired and my Ortho decided to just do an adjustment. I got light blue bands on my clear braces and I actualy think it looks cool. I think I will enjoy playing with the colours .... who cares if I'm turning 32 this month ..... If I've gotta have this thing in my mouth ... it's gonna match my outfits damnit lol ...... I also have a power chain (i think that's what it's called) ..... okay the pain scared me the days following the adjustment but I realize it was much more manageable since I wasn't dealing with getting used to the actual braces being in my mouth ...... so me & Advil were best friends for a few days and ...... now ....well ..... it's okay.

So it's true Newbies .... we will all be okay just like everyone says ...... in the moment it's hard to believe ... but just a month and half later I'm managing pretty well. A year and half doesn't seem like such a loooooooooooong time .... well .... actually .... it does!

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