Braced at 41 -- eek

Message

#1 Post by **laura5535** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:50 am

i just got braces shy of one month of being 41. I feels like such a dork -- my 14 year old and my 11 year old also have braces and they like to make fun of me. I feel very self conscious about the whole thing but know that it is needed. I am very anxious about the process and the teeth moving and my bite being off. I generally am thinking too much. Orhthodontists know what they are doing right? My fear, I hope, is all unnecesary and things will work out. The teeth need to move and so the bite gets thrown off and eventually will end up back into a good bite -- right. I think I may have to go on an anti anxiety medicine to deal with this -- is that just too much. Will this work be worth it in the end. I hope so. I have five kids who make fun of me and my husband says I look "cute" in a funny tone. Please help me get through this.

#2 Post by **catgyrl** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 4:14 pm

Welcome, Laura!

I hope I can put your fears to rest. I got my braces last year, at age 42. As a bit of a control-freak, with a touch of OCD, this is probably one of the worst things I could've done to myself because I'm completely at the mercy of my orthodontist. But I trust that he knows what he's doing, and now -- just over a year into treatment -- I'm so pleased with my progress so far.

I'm not going to lie to you: You will probably experience some discomfort here and there (I stop short of using the word "pain" because I really haven't had anything close to excruciating pain yet); your brackets may rub the inside of your mouth and cheeks; your bite will shift all over the place... correct itself... then shift around again; you will see spaces between your teeth that were never there before... close up... and reappear again; you may have times when you cannot chew at all. This is all perfectly NORMAL!! The best thing to do is just go with the flow. I've had days where ONE stinkin' tooth hurts... and then a couple hours later, it's perfectly fine. You really just need to follow your orthodontist's instructions, sit back and let the process take its course.

And don't let the young'uns get to you. One of my nephews (age 7) simply asked why I had "bracelets" on my teeth (so cute!), while another niece (age 6) said, "Eeewww!!! I don't like those, and I never want them on my teeth." Looking at the huge gap between her front teeth, I just smiled and said, "Well, I sure hope you don't have to get them, too."

As vain as I am, surprisingly, I'm smiling much MORE with braces than I did before. It's probably because I know I'm doing something to fix my teeth, and am imagining how totally awesome they're going to look by next year. You will not need anti-anxiety meds for this; just an ibuprofen here and there before and after an adjustment.

Sorry this became so long. I just like to encourage those of you who are starting out that trepidation is normal, but once you get started, you will wonder what all the fuss was about.

Take care and good luck!
-Cathy

#3 Post by **sea54change** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:12 pm

Laura-
I was braced at age 59. I'm now 60 and looking forward to August when they will come off. I have a very small mouth so this whole process has been what I call "the year of braces." There is not a moment (except when I am asleep) that I'm not aware of my braces. After adjustments, I am in a pain for about a week, to the point of taking Advil.

And I have to agree (with Catgyrl) that I am doing a full mouth smile far more often in the past 2 months. I don'care who sees my braces, I just know it's OK to smile!

So, bear with the pain and just keep thinking of how you will look when it's over!

#4 Post by **Marigold** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 7:25 pm

Love to hear about people in my age bracket getting braces! I got mine 6 months ago at age 46. I can relate on feeling like a dork. I too smile more often now. It looks goofier if you try to hide them. As for the pain, I haven't experienced anything unbearable yet. It's the inconvenience more than anything. They are a total pain in the butt, for sure. But when you see your teeth shifting into place and your smile looking prettier by the day, it is all worth it!

#5 Post by **catgyrl** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:36 pm

Marigold wrote:Love to hear about people in my age bracket getting braces! I got mine 6 months ago at age 46. I can relate on feeling like a dork. I too smile more often now. It looks goofier if you try to hide them. As for the pain, I haven't experienced anything unbearable yet. It's the inconvenience more than anything. They are a total pain in the butt, for sure. But when you see your teeth shifting into place and your smile looking prettier by the day, it is all worth it!

DITTO everything Marigold said. They really are more inconvenient than anything else. Most food doesn't taste quite as good, simply because I'm spending so much time digging it out of my brackets. And I am physically incapable of smiling closed-mouthed. I look absolutely ridiculous!

As for the pain, i just had an adjustment this morning and have been thinkking about taking an ibuprofen all day... I just never got around to it. Obviously, if I were in agony, I would've taken one (or 5) by now.

Cathy

#6 Post by **Crazy4Snow** » Fri Jun 17, 2011 8:42 pm

Laura, don't feel bad at all!!! I'm 44 and proud of my braces, I may hate them at times, curse them, hide them, etc....but in a little more than a year from now I will have a beautiful smile and everyone that gives me grief can then kiss my patootie.

#7 Post by **Nettie** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:11 am

Hi Laura!!!

My kids are giving me a hard time too!!! LOL, but you have to remember why you are doing this!!!!
It could be worse, you could be writing this 6 years from now and starting at 47 like me!!!! I always wanted braces, my best friend during middle school had them, but my parents didn't plan for them

Fast forward adult life, lack of vanity, career, kids etc.... We need to make time for ourselves!!!! I thought about doing it a few years back but didn't think I had the time for appointments for myself as life was already busy, but as time went on my teeth got more crowded, I really wished I had gotten started earlier!!!

Before you know it you will see progress and just ignore the kids and imagine your beautiful new smile!!

Nettie

My Story (photos included): viewtopic.php?f=9&t=39453

#8 Post by **laura5535** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:58 am

Thank you all for your stories -- I'm glad that I'm not the only oder person getting them. I will try to smile more and think more positive and think of the end results. I haven't read all your stories yet but I look forward to doing it. Thanks for all the support again. I so glad I found this

#9 Post by **laura5535** » Sat Jun 18, 2011 9:58 am

Thank you all for your stories -- I'm glad that I'm not the only oder person getting them. I will try to smile more and think more positive and think of the end results. I haven't read all your stories yet but I look forward to doing it. Thanks for all the support again. I so glad I found this

Metal Mouth Message Board

Braced at 41 -- eek

Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek

Re: Braced at 41 -- eek