4 days in and thinking of giving up

[peach]

Hang in there. One thing that might help is to drink plenty of water. It helps with the brackets rubbing and your lips feeling dry. Orajel, colgate peroxyl, and some medicated chapstick also help add some comfort. Your mouth will definitely adust to the brackets and then you won't even notice them in your mouth anymore. Give it about 2 weeks. Your speech is probably a bit off due to the sore tongue and gums . Like everyone else has said, it gets better.

[Adriae]

I'm five days in and I have had several "OMG what did I do to myself" moments but you really have to just push through it. Today was my first day back at work (I got braces on Thursday and came down with bronchitis that night!) so I really wasn't looking forward to going back to work this morning. I work in customer service so it required alot of talking which I really hadn't done since I was so sick over the weekend I just stayed in and slept the entire weekend. My mouth is pretty beat up tonight from all the talking but it's one more day down and one less I'll have to wear braces. I have metal on top and bottom and 8 spacers right now. There is even talk of a palate expander in my future.

They couldn't band my molars last week so I have to go back next Wednesday and get banded which I'm sure will set me back to square one but I've already went through so much to get to this point that I'm just ready to get it done and move on.

Not only do I have braces to deal with but I had to do the sleep apnea and airway study and all these tests and in less than a year I will be undergoing a palate expansion, double jaw surgery. Of course, I'm stressed about having to do all this cause reality is I don't want to have surgery but if this is what I need to do to get everything fixed then I'll deal with it and take it as it comes.

So when you have a "moment" just realize that it is just that and give yourself some time to adjust.

[musicluver]

Oh man, can I relate!!! Especially when feeling claustrophobic was mentioned!! I SO feel that way all the time! Went in today for new wires and was told to look forward to "anchor pins" next time to make my pointy, vampire teeth head back into the empty sockets that have been prepared for them... So I ask, where do these pins go? Hmmm... into my gums, you say... OMG, that does not sound good!! But my uppers have been tearing up the inside of my lip and I need that to stop! So, I hope you do stick with it even though it is AWFUL. No doubt about it! I'm 47 and wired for 5 months now. I will admit, I need the help of Ativan at times when it really gets to me. I work with preschoolers, and their parents, and have to talk the entire time I'm at work and people do get use to it, as you will get use to sounding weird! I have learned that people who endure difficult times deserve the utmost respect. I respect all of you who are going through this; we are not kids whose parents are forcing us... we made a choice to better ourselves and we shall!!
Rock on!!

[UGHBRACES]

Braces are an extremely foreign object placed in there full time, it's a shock to your cheeks/bone/gums/tongue. It takes a month or so to adjust, and when you do you'll thank yourself if you stay the course.

[petal]

I hope that you give yourself a little longer to adjust. It does get better. The first week I felt like I was starving to death, I had low energy due to not getting enough calories. Then I discovered protein shakes and I started to feel better. There are times that I wanted to rip my braces out of my mouth, there were times when I was very self conscious about how I looked or how I sounded, there are still times when my mouth or tongue are so sore I can't stand it. For me, I found that rapid release Tylenol works really well for my discomfort. Salt water rinses helps heal sores. This is not an easy journey, give yourself time, I keep a small calendar book to log any days where I notice great movement, or anything else interesting brace related. When I think I can't take it another moment I look for stories about people getting their braces off and I close my eyes and dream how exciting that will be. Try to change your focus a little, try to find humor (if someone can't understand me I tell them sorry, my brace interpretor has the day off, when people try to pretend that I don't have a mouth full of metal I say, wow for all the money I am spending I had hoped these things would be more noticeable). Know that the pain will ease, it may come back at different times, but it will soon give you a much needed break. You should be proud of yourself for taking this step to improve your smile. Hang in there a little longer and I think you will be glad you did. Wishing you all the best as you make the decision that is right for you!

[GRILLZ]

bracedat36

{{{bracedat36}}} e hug......

i am on day four and day 2 & 3 were absolute hell. i was ready to take the braces out myself...but now on day 4 i'm starting to see a slight change for the better. and i'm exstatic!!! the support on this board is fabulous...and it really does help me to blog on the brace stories part of the board. i talk about my sores, what i can eat, what i can't eat, what i am fantasizing about eating......it all helps. and sharing your experience helps the next person who is going through it. the month before i got my braces i read so many stories to see how things went for other ppl......such a rich source of info.

i'm also a 53 year old mom of 2 teens living at home, with a full time job and two part time jobs and a 1/2 time husband.....so things are a bit hectic, to put it mildly.....i'm going back to my full time job tomorrow, and i do a lot of speaking so i'm pretty nervousl i have so much wax in my mouth i think i must sound like the god father.....but this too shall pass.

i had a lot of those omgwthhid (oh my god what the hell have i done) moments....last night i had a dream where i got to pick the method of my death......now that was one creepy scary dream....

anyway, you have so many ppl who would luv to help you, give you a shoulder to cry on etc etc. you've spend so much $$ and time to get the braces, like someone said, give yourself 2 weeks....by then you'll feel so much better.....i'm so thrilled that my front teeth are feeling a tinsy bit better. if you want to eat real food, try a soft soft pancake.....tastes great and that is pretty close to real food.....it thrilled me anyway.

[bbsadmin]

A few things that might help you to adjust:

1. A mouth rinse called Rincinol PRN. You can find bottles of it in the dental care aisle of most drugstores. It's usually near the temporary fillings and stuff like that. It creates a shield over your mouth sores that lasts for hours. It doesn't taste so great but it does help a lot.

2. On DentaKit.com, we sell some products that cover the brackets, which might help you, like the Comfort Cover and the Lip Protector (http://www.dentakit.com/dewaxalandli.html)

3. Salt water rinses, as others have suggested, are soothing to the sores.

The first 10 days can really be awful, but when the insides of your cheeks toughen up with scar tissue, it won't be so bad. Give yourself a break on the "healthy food" right now. Just eat what you can, and what appeals to you. Check out the soft food suggestions on our main site: http://www.archwired.com/soft_foods.htm

[bottlecap1990]

bracedat36

{{{bracedat36}}} e hug......

i am on day four and day 2 & 3 were absolute hell. i was ready to take the braces out myself...but now on day 4 i'm starting to see a slight change for the better. and i'm exstatic!!! the support on this board is fabulous...and it really does help me to blog on the brace stories part of the board. i talk about my sores, what i can eat, what i can't eat, what i am fantasizing about eating......it all helps. and sharing your experience helps the next person who is going through it. the month before i got my braces i read so many stories to see how things went for other ppl......such a rich source of info.

i'm also a 53 year old mom of 2 teens living at home, with a full time job and two part time jobs and a 1/2 time husband.....so things are a bit hectic, to put it mildly.....i'm going back to my full time job tomorrow, and i do a lot of speaking so i'm pretty nervousl i have so much wax in my mouth i think i must sound like the god father.....but this too shall pass.

i had a lot of those omgwthhid (oh my god what the hell have i done) moments....last night i had a dream where i got to pick the method of my death......now that was one creepy scary dream....

anyway, you have so many ppl who would luv to help you, give you a shoulder to cry on etc etc. you've spend so much $$ and time to get the braces, like someone said, give yourself 2 weeks....by then you'll feel so much better.....i'm so thrilled that my front teeth are feeling a tinsy bit better. if you want to eat real food, try a soft soft pancake.....tastes great and that is pretty close to real food.....it thrilled me anyway.

Hey Grillz, is that your real braces on your avatar?

[Lanna]

Don't give up! It WILL get better! I know when I first had them on they were not all cute like I thought they would be at first. I had gaps from extractions and my archwire was all bent and brackets were at all different levels. But looking back, nobody really paid any attention to them but me and now I am loving my new smile. I'm not finished with my treatment, but I actually smile now and I'm not embarrassed! You will get to a point where you will even forget that you have them on. Use a lot of wax, if something is barely rubbing on your cheek and even if it doesn't really hurt, put wax on it. Because it might hurt later if you don't. Don't worry about having to tough it out in your first few days in braces. You will get used to them gradually and be happier for it. The rinses sound like a good idea also and do stay hydrated, it really does help. Congratulations on getting braces!! It may not be fun right now, but just give it another week and you will probably be feeling back to normal!

[jensceana73]

Simply put, your going to have to decide what you want to deal with more:

The pain of Discipline...I'm going to have to put up with this until it gets better......or

The pain of Regret.....I didn't stick something out that not only was going to make me look better, but make my teeth healthier.

The pain of discipline, or the pain of regret. I tell my kids all the time....one you'll be proud to live with because you pushed through, the other, you'll live forever with and you won't be proud.

It will get better. I know right now it seems it won't. And life seems miserable. But push through. We've all been there. We're all here to help you through each day. Use us. Use us to cry too, b-itch too, whine too, complain too, .....but use us, to get through this and you will be so glad you did in the end. I....guarantee it. Money back....guarantee....you can do it. I know you can.

[bracedat36]

Wow! Again, thanks so much for the words of encouragement. It really is helpful to have other people tell you not to give up.

I have, with your help, stepped back from the ledge and am ready to press on. Perhaps I will make through the first week! I'm still annoyed to no end with the little cuts and sores. I'm going through the small packets of wax at an alarming rate. I need to hit yet another drug store, as I've already bought out the stock at two of them. Right now i have got a tissue stuffed in my lower lip where a little sore has formed. What I'm saying is, it's ugly people, but I will not give up yet.

I definitely miss my old carefree life and question whether I can really handle this additional strain in my already stressful life. Meetings all day again. It's hard to feel confident when pushing a position with little bits of wax flying out of my mouth and a whistle when I make an 'f' sound. Ack! My coworkeres are all supportive and I have heard about a dozen braces sagas in the last two days. Funny how misery loves company. Ha ha.

But seriously, it has been a great help to know I am not the only one feeling this regret. And also being reminded of the greater regret I'd feel if I didn't see it through. I am inspired by your stories. I'm going one day at a time right now.

Thanks again!

[petal]

You should be very proud of your decision to stick it out. We are here for you and I am sending you a hug and a huge bracey smile!!

[Ellebraced]

Way to go BRACEDAT36!!!!!!!!

LOL, you made me laugh when you said you whistled when you make F sounds, have wax flying out of your mouth and I can only imagine you sitting in front of your computer with tissue stuffed in your mouth.

YOU ARE FINDING THE HUMOUR IN IT, AWESOME.

I love swearing .......I know sounding like a trucker is not attractive but I love to swear and it doesn't sound so good when you are making squeaking, whistling, chattering sounds.

You deserve a treat, get a chocolate pudding, or get a drink or 2 or 3 (hopefully you are not an alcoholic and I am telling you to drink), RELAX, GO FOR A BATH, watch your favorite show, Have a good laugh and a good cry and tell yourself how proud you are of yourself for doing this and not giving up.

[hayfields]

Please don't give up! Like you I'm in my 40s, have been waiting until the kids were all taken care of to get the braces. No sooner were they on then I had a panic attack- what if it hurts too much, what if it doesn't look that good, what if my co-workers think I'm vain and laugh behind my back? ... Take a deep breath and tell yourself- I can do this, I need to do this, and I need to be a good example to my kids. Sometimes it really hurts to make progress. Remember, this is like physical therapy- you are causing tissue trauma and it hurts, but in the long run, you will achieve something of long lasting benefit- and provide a valuable lesson to the kids about being strong for the little things as well as the big. I've only had mine for two days, but it sure makes you jolt back to being an insecure teenager... but at the same time makes you feel sort of edgy and wowsa!