Questions on sensitivity, first week etc.

[secretsmile]

Hi everyone,

I just got my braces yesterday. I have full braces on the bottom plus power chains (to start closing the extraction gaps). Then on the top I have braces on all but the molars which have spacers (my ortho just got back from vacation, so that's why I didn't get spacers earlier). My tops also have power chains to start closing the extraction gaps.

Yesterday I had a lot of pain especially on the bottom teeth. But today fortunately it's responding to the ibuprofen and just a dull pain and soreness - so yay for that. Though my teeth are very sensitive especially close to the extraction sites and I can't even bite on anything soft without zingers.

I had some questions:

I know everyone's different but how long did it take for you to be able to floss? I tried on my first day and it was painful, plus the floss wouldn't even fit on some of the gaps and kept getting stuck...

How long did it take before you could use an electric toothbrush? I just used a manual one yesterday.

How long until you could bite down without stabbing pain?

Thanks in advance for your help.... Next week I go back to get the spacers removed and molar bands and elastics put on... Ouch... Beauty is pain...

[LAJaw]

For me it took about a week for the pain to go away when I was first braced, and a several days for the pain to go away after each adjustment.

[hazybubbles]

about a week I think. one side was worse than the other.... the side i use to chew more got comfortable more quickly.

[Justiz]

I agree with the above after initial bracing it took about a full 7 days before the pain subsided, but it was nice to see movement with the power chains right away.

I used an electric toothbrush from the start especially to massage my aching gums which I liked better than the manual brush. As far as eating I pretty much didnt eat well till about day 5 and all I could have was chili. I lost about 4 pounds that week ..lol

[JulieFL]

I switched from my electric brush to manual. I tried flossing, and it hurt quite a bit on the teeth with springs. I'm using a waterpik instead. Hurt a lot at first, but it felt ok by day 5 (also the same day I stopped needing advil and managed to chew a little). I flossed after to see if it missed anything, but it didn't! I brought it to work with me today to use after lunch.