getting used to braces

[mzachary]

It's been 18 days since I got braces and the novelty of it wore off QUICKLY. Now, I was one of the lucky ones...the office staff and orthodontist are nice and very professional. BONUS...NO PAIN...YAY!!!!!!!! But, I DO NOT HANDLE HUNGER WELL...and soft food does not satisfy my foodie appetite. So, I spent the first week crying every time I saw someone enjoying my favorite foods while I was living on the grown-up version of baby food. One thing that was bothersome, was the bands around my molars. Some of the cement got onto the adjacent tooth and I couldn't get a string of floss between it. I already had a waterpik flosser, so I used that until I could get to the ortho to get the excess glue scraped off.

After about a week, I got brave about eating and ventured out on giant burritos, subs, and chips...yep, bad idea!!! I didn't damage my braces from what I can tell. But, it did make me feel more hopeless about enjoying food until these suckers are removed. The reason is, chewing is still awkward, and I tend to swallow my food in chunks instead of really working on it. Sooooo, I don't get the reward of all the flavors from the foods that I love. Instead, I get the sensation of food being stuck in the braces and between my teeth.

Monday, I had a BREAKTHROUGH (insert sound effect of angels singing here)!! I ate Shephard's pie for the first time. OH MY LORD...that stuff is soooooo yummy and soooooo easy to eat with braces. All of the dramatic emotions that I was complaining about just fell out the window. Chewing regular food is still a little different. BUT, I got that fix that I needed to get me through.

People have mentioned that I lost a lot of weight. Not good, since I am a bridesmaid in 2 months and that EXPENSIVE DRESS is already paid for. My weight loss was caused by COMPLETELY changing my eating habits. I no longer eat junk food. I don't eat sweets. I don't drink sodas, sweet tea, or lemonade. Just in case you were wondering, I fall in the GRITS category (GIRL-RAISED-IN-THE-SOUTH, darlin') - Mis-sippi to be exact. My friend that is getting married said that she needs to try that. Lemme tell ya...the only reason that I have any willpower about my new diet is the fact that I refuse to spend 5 grand and risk having rotten teeth when these puppies come off.

My first adjustment will be in 10 days. People are mentioning that they already see a difference. That makes me really happy and eager to get orthodontist's opinion of my progress. I will post pics after each adjustment to document my progress...possibly doing a video, too. Hopefully, these posts will be helpful to anyone that is considering braces or at the beginning of their journey...LIKE ME!!

[chocomorsel]

Welcome to the board. It's nice to see another sistah on here. I'm from the south myself. Got mine 6 months ago for an overbite, over-jet, class II malocclusion. What's your problem? Keep us posted. Wish your pics where a little bigger though

[SilverGirl]

Good luck! By about 3 months I was able to eat just about everything I could eat before. But I know what you mean about not being able to chew well - I usually eat and chew slowly and carefully, but the other day I was starving and wolfed down a burger. I had horrible indigestion that night because I hadn't chewed it well AT ALL. Especially pieces of onion - those go down pretty much whole.

[mzachary]

Here is a link to my first post. viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38227

I am so excited about this process and can't wait to see improvements in my bite and smile. I am really glad that I waited until adulthood to get braces. Most of the people that had them as children experienced tooth shifting. So, I'm hoping that I won't have that problem...whenever I get to the retention stage.

[beautifulbraceface]

I'm a "sista" from Memphis too! How exciting! I'll be getting my braces next week.

[rwashington007]

[quote="beautifulbraceface"]I'm a "sista" from Memphis too! How exciting! I'll be getting my braces next week.[/quote]

I will also be new to braces tomorrow.... oh and I'm a sista from the South "Florida" =)

[rwashington007]

CONGRATS on your Breathrough....did you make the Shephards pie or order it from somewhere??? I'll to add that to my list of things to eat =)


[quote="mzachary"]It's been 18 days since I got braces and the novelty of it wore off QUICKLY. Now, I was one of the lucky ones...the office staff and orthodontist are nice and very professional. BONUS...NO PAIN...YAY!!!!!!!! But, I DO NOT HANDLE HUNGER WELL...and soft food does not satisfy my foodie appetite. So, I spent the first week crying every time I saw someone enjoying my favorite foods while I was living on the grown-up version of baby food. One thing that was bothersome, was the bands around my molars. Some of the cement got onto the adjacent tooth and I couldn't get a string of floss between it. I already had a waterpik flosser, so I used that until I could get to the ortho to get the excess glue scraped off.

After about a week, I got brave about eating and ventured out on giant burritos, subs, and chips...yep, bad idea!!! I didn't damage my braces from what I can tell. But, it did make me feel more hopeless about enjoying food until these suckers are removed. The reason is, chewing is still awkward, and I tend to swallow my food in chunks instead of really working on it. Sooooo, I don't get the reward of all the flavors from the foods that I love. Instead, I get the sensation of food being stuck in the braces and between my teeth.

Monday, I had a BREAKTHROUGH (insert sound effect of angels singing here)!! I ate Shephard's pie for the first time. OH MY LORD...that stuff is soooooo yummy and soooooo easy to eat with braces. All of the dramatic emotions that I was complaining about just fell out the window. Chewing regular food is still a little different. BUT, I got that fix that I needed to get me through.

People have mentioned that I lost a lot of weight. Not good, since I am a bridesmaid in 2 months and that EXPENSIVE DRESS is already paid for. My weight loss was caused by COMPLETELY changing my eating habits. I no longer eat junk food. I don't eat sweets. I don't drink sodas, sweet tea, or lemonade. Just in case you were wondering, I fall in the GRITS category (GIRL-RAISED-IN-THE-SOUTH, darlin') - Mis-sippi to be exact. My friend that is getting married said that she needs to try that. Lemme tell ya...the only reason that I have any willpower about my new diet is the fact that I refuse to spend 5 grand and risk having rotten teeth when these puppies come off.

My first adjustment will be in 10 days. People are mentioning that they already see a difference. That makes me really happy and eager to get orthodontist's opinion of my progress. I will post pics after each adjustment to document my progress...possibly doing a video, too. Hopefully, these posts will be helpful to anyone that is considering braces or at the beginning of their journey...LIKE ME!![/quote]

[mzachary]

@ rwashington - I ordered the Shepard's Pie at Dan McGuinness Irish Pub. I don't see any locations in Florida, but I'm sure it's a menu standard at any other Irish pubs. St. Patty's day is coming up, so make sure to try it then.

@ beautifulbraceface - congrats on starting this journey...good thing you're waiting until next week so that you'll get to enjoy Super Bowl food without having your teeth strapped in. Check back in on Tuesday to see updates after my first adjustment.

[Jen8626]

Hehe! This brings back memories. I promise it will get better, I'm eating pretty.much everything now. I remember having sausages and mash with gravy and cutting up the sausages really small and with mash was easy to eat. Shepherd's pie is good, very easy to make. Also beef stew with mash is soft. Saves from eating soup the whole time! I lost loads of weight too, its back on now though lol! Best of luck!

[TTR]

As an adult, this is day 16 for me an it has been very challenging. starting out with canker sores. Eating is terrible. I have have had severe colon issues. So I have to watch what I eat. The list is getting smaller. I am sure that I will adjust. It's the adjusting that is making me crazy. I love to cook too, so i cook for others what I can eat and it seems to help me through it. I did this before after colon surgery. I know it sounds crazy, but what ever works, I am going with it.

[mzachary]

@ Jane - how long did it take to gain your weight back. I'm in my 30's and weight loss shows up on your face now. One of my lovely coworkers informed me that my cheeks look sunken...lil stinker!!

@TTR - it will get better, I promise. I went out Saturday night and ate to my hearts content. Luckily my adjustment appointment was this morning, because I broke 2 of the ligatures on my back teeth, right in front of the band. He added metal ligatures to rotate those teeth.

I'm getting ready to add another post detailing today's progress.

[mzachary]

Here is a link to my update today!!

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38482&p=366864#p366864

[wiredmouth]

I just had my braces put on my top teeth on Feb. 6. I have two coils (springs) and it feels terrible! Thank goodness for wax!

Here's a pic attached! My teeth are cooked so I hope I don;t scare anyone.

[lunadali]

oh my you guys are all scaring me! I didn't know that food would break or mess up braces! I also had indigestion yesterday, after swallowing a lot of lentils without chewing. I can't afford to lose weight, I am 110 lbs normally. not looking forward to getting my braces next week.... already lost weight from getting 3 crowns last month, and having spacers in now.

[Ellebraced]

oh my you guys are all scaring me! I didn't know that food would break or mess up braces! I also had indigestion yesterday, after swallowing a lot of lentils without chewing. I can't afford to lose weight, I am 110 lbs normally. not looking forward to getting my braces next week.... already lost weight from getting 3 crowns last month, and having spacers in now.

Don't worry about losing, I have gained a couple pounds and am not happy. I can't eat a lot of the healthy foods I love. I think I am loving peanut butter too much and it's getting me fat (okay I am still a size 4 / 6 but not as toned). If you can't chew you can still eat peanut butter, ice cream, protein powder, mashed potatoes. I thought this was going to be the easiest "diet" ever.....NOPE!! It does make you not snack as much especially at a party or when you are out.

I have almost choked to death on salad once and rice a couple times but really it does get easier.

Nothing is worse than spacers, those things are EVIL!!! Couldn't eat anything, I was miserable and hungry!!

Good luck everyone!!