Start of my braces journey at 66

[Marie45]

It has taken me 2 years to decide to have braces. Of course, I needed them years ago, but.... Yesterday I had 2 perfectly good teeth removed which was an anxious day for me! There is no turning back now. To be honest, my teeth look better today without those teeth which just tells you how bad it looked. Bottom teeth extremely crowded/crooked and getting worse - I am now ready to start this journey.

I found this site about a year ago and have read all the posts which has given me the courage to do this. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and I will keep you posted. Spacers in two weeks then braces the week after Thanksgiving (thank goodness not the day before!).

[klobird]

Way to go Marie!!! (Fellow senior here--55). Keep those teeth in your mouth! I have been noticing more ads in popular magazines showing adults in braces...it's really cool....as you can see, there is a lot of support on this website--and I am the posting maniac!!!

[belistic10]

yay well done i am sure you will not regret it

[SueAsh5]

Marie,
I also experienced the No Turning Back point with a front incisor extraction. My orthodontist said it would take about five months for the gap to close. It has already noticiably changed and even feels different to my tongue. I don´t think it´s ever to late to get teeth straightened. My ortho once had an 80 yr. old patient. I´m 54 and after a month getting so used to my braces that I hardly think about them anymore.

Looking forward to a new great smile,
Sue

[loradora]

Hi Marie. I was braced at age 56 in March '10. I had crowding of my lower teeth and had a tooth extracted - no spacers required. I had braces for one year. Best of luck to you.

Day 1



Shortly before debracing

[sea54change]

Hurrah- another 60 year old! You will be so glad you did this for yourself!
I was braced when I was 59. Now 60 and about to be debraced in a few weeks!

[musiclady2340]

How exciting. Good luck on your journey. I am now 56 and been braced for 1 1/2 years. So glad I made the decision. I am sure you will be too.

[Marie45]

Thanks for everyone's encouragement! I went yesterday to get the dreaded spacers on my back molars (top and bottom) and guess what? They decided I didn't need them and so I escaped two weeks of pain. Even the assistants were cheering for me. Braces still go on in two weeks, but Thanksgiving will be more enjoyable without the spacers, for sure. You'll be hearing from me in two weeks with an update.

[Marie45]

Hello everyone! I have had my braces on for 2 days now and I feel like I have been hit by a truck. My ortho said the first 3 days are the worse. I can only eat scrambled eggs, yogurt and smoothies so far. Cannot bite at all or chew - very strange feeling. Please someone tell me this will get better. Help!

[kbp22]

It will get better, it will! In the meantime...thank goodness for scrambled eggs.

[SueAsh5]

Marie,
Each day gets better! Don´t despair. We´ve all been through it and are here to cheer you on. I just had my second adjustment and am having some strange eating again but it´s all part of the journey. There are lots of wonderful soups and other tasty soft foods. I had scrambled eggs yesterday as my mouth was tender from the adjustment but today I am more or less eating normally again. Once you start seeing changes you´ll be rewarded for these first scary, sore days when your mouth is killing you.

I´ve found, through the advice of someone here, that it´s helpful to do special little things for myself. Buy a new book, go to the hairdresser, whatever makes you feel good about yourself. I´ve lost so much weight on my "braces diet" (18 lbs) that I treated myself to new skinny jeans and feel like a million bucks wearing them! Hubby says now maybe people are looking at my legs rather than my gap and braces!

Sue

[kamor]

Marie, hang in there, it will get better. I have had my braces on for about 2.5 months now. I can now chew and eat just about everything, making sure to cut everything into small pieces, and being careful to eat slowly. when i first had my braces, i was convinced i would never eat in public and never eat in a restaurant. Well things have improved and i am now doing both, on a regular basis. I am 48 years old and in braces for the first time. You get over all the anxiety and embarrassment, and realize that nobody really cares.
The best part is that i have lost weight, with no effort. I too just purchased a pair of skinny jeans, and when i wear them i feel great. Never would i have thought that i could wear skinny jeans, but now that i am a size 6 ( for the first time ever), i can wear them, even at 48 years old. It will get better, I can guarantee it. When i look at my posts from the first few days of braces, i am encouraged by my progress. Just hang in there and you will feel better, it really does improve with time.

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey that's awesome. You will be glad you did it.

[Bracer215]

Hi Marie45
Welcome to the over 60 group. Just turned 62 and have had my braces on since January 2011. Coming up on the one year mark and can't believe how fast it has gone. Just this past week had my 4 last molars engaged on top and bottom and having trouble chewing again but know this will pass.
Good Luck

[sea54change]

SueAsh and Kamor-
You've both lost a lot of weight! Good for you!
And I love that you both bought skinny jeans for yourself!