Day Three - OOOOUUUCCCHHHH.

[LoveMyTeeth]

Hi. 42 year old teacher here, with my second go 'round with braces. First time was 3 years - from 15 to 18 years old. I honestly didn't think my teeth were all that crooked this time, it was the 100% over-bite (over jet?), the abnormal wearing away of tooth enamel, the chipping off of the back of a bottom front tooth, the jaw pain, ear pain, food being crammed up into the gum-line behind my upper fronts...maybe you get the picture, that made me decide to do this again.

The spacers/separaters were WAY more painful than I remembered. I didn't eat for two days, then tried a mozzarella cheese stick and promptly pulled two spacers out. Had to go in, get them replaced, AND 5 others because my bite is so bad I ended up shredding them all while trying to chew.

I got the upper brackets on this past Tuesday. Apparently the ortho. took pity on me and changed my treatment procedure. Originally he was going to put turbos on the back of my top front teeth, to keep me from biting my bottom brackets off. He said I would have no molar contact for 2 - 4 months until my teeth moved enough to take the turbos off. WHAT does one EAT when they can't put their molars together?? That's all I kept asking myself... He decided to just put the tops on, then in a month - the bottoms, and two tads (screws placed in my upper jaw) for more torque. Oy.

The brackets themselves really don't bother me (tho I'm having minor drooling incidences )It's the bands that are tearing my mouth up. Hurts to eat, drink, talk, brush...And I don't seem talented enough to get wax on the painful places and have it actually stay in place. Hoping this phase passes really quickly!

So, a question for all of you wonderful members - How many of you are going through this a second time? My current ortho. stated emphatically that my previous ortho. pulled the wrong teeth, thus creating an imbalance in my mouth, and that what happened (the collapse of my upper front teeth, shoving my bottom front teeth in, creating the 100% over-bite) could not have been avoided. (I did wear my retainers for over 4 years!) That's a little a frustrating to know.

AND - what are some of your favorite non-red braces friendly foods to eat?! Chicken noodle soup is getting REALLY old!

[Ionika]

hi and welcome
congrats for starting again
there is this topic viewtopic.php?f=3&t=38140
about what to eat and suggestions..


good luck, it will pass
i have a tad that bothered my laughing for a week or so...not the metal of it but the rubber attached, rubbed my gum so bad...i would laugh and immediatly become serious and grab my jaw ) collegues said i look like a crazy person )

[LoveMyTeeth]

Ionika - thanks for the food link. I managed a pancake last night, and then spent about a half hour trying to eat one piece of bacon...What I couldn't manage got split between the dogs. Right after I got the seperaters, I went grocery shopping for soft foods. What I didn't think about was the color of the foods. I got ceramic uppers (will have metal lowers) and I ended up with tomato soups, some chili, spaghetti, RED RED RED stuff! I know it only stains the ligatures, but I don't want to do that until right before they're due for a change. (Then it's all about the PIZZA!!!!) Yesterday I was talking to a friend about NOT eating red foods, just as I ordered chili from a restaurant. Got back to work, opened the chili - and DUH!

This is going to be one fun trip I'm on!

[lunadali]

LoveMyTeeth I feel you. I'm going through braces as a first timer. Also a teacher, but not quite 40 yet. I am glad I got metal braces though, because I can't imagine not eating red foods. I'm on my 2nd day with braces, and almost threw macaronni and cheese in the blender. Took me so long to eat, I stopped finally, not because I was full, but because I was tired and everything hurt too much. Drool happens too! Let's cross our fingers and hope this doesn't take months to change!

[Peggyfaye]

Hope this evening finds you feeling better.
Have ya figured out the wax thing yet?
You are not alone, you can do it~

[drgnchsr36]

Ionika - thanks for the food link. I managed a pancake last night, and then spent about a half hour trying to eat one piece of bacon...What I couldn't manage got split between the dogs. Right after I got the seperaters, I went grocery shopping for soft foods. What I didn't think about was the color of the foods. I got ceramic uppers (will have metal lowers) and I ended up with tomato soups, some chili, spaghetti, RED RED RED stuff! I know it only stains the ligatures, but I don't want to do that until right before they're due for a change. (Then it's all about the PIZZA!!!!) Yesterday I was talking to a friend about NOT eating red foods, just as I ordered chili from a restaurant. Got back to work, opened the chili - and DUH!

This is going to be one fun trip I'm on!

You should be able to eat some red foods - what color ligs do you have? Just curious! I have silver and I eat pasta with red sauce all the time!! No issues with staining so far! My folks didn't even notice my braces til I mentioned it to them..

How often can you change your ligs? My ortho stated I can do it every week if I'd like, but so far so good.. so not going in until I have my adjustment.