What have I done to myself...

[littlered]

Hi everyone! I posted a few weeks ago with some questions about molar extractions but I didn't really introduce myself so I figured now would be the time to do that...

I'm from Australia, I'm 26 years old and this is my first time in braces. I have crooked, crowded, asymmetric teeth with an upper canine completely crowded out of the arch. I went ahead with the extraction of 3 of my first molars and 1 premolar on October 26. That went well. It had to be done surgically because the molars were so large and heavily filled but there was very little pain after the first few days and everything has healed perfectly. Feeling the stitches come out was creepy though! I got my braces on a week ago and that was easy enough too. I went full metal and it only took about 45 minutes. I even got a spring! They probably went on quick because the wayward canine and the tooth behind it weren't bracketed and the wires don't reach to my lonely back molars yet. So far the biggest surprise has been how much I like the look of my braces. I think they look really cool! So shiny and full of the promise of better teeth...

The one thing I'm having trouble with is eating... I've been on a practically liquid diet since my extractions 3 weeks ago. I can't chew well on my right side because it makes my jaw ache and the extractions on the left side weren't symmetrical so there's only the very back molar and one premolar touching anything. I don't even know where my bite is anymore. I was told I'd be able to eat soft foods once the extractions started healing but that seems to be a mechanical impossiblity...

Anyway a lot of people here have it just as bad or worse so I shouldn't feel so down. I guess I'm just complaining cos no one told me it would be quite this bad and neither my dentist or my orthodontist seem to understand. They said I'd be ok without those molars. If they'd warned me, ok you'll need to put everything through a blender for a month or two or three or whatever I would have prepared myself for that and hoped for better further into my treatment. As it is I'm finding it hard to trust that I'll ever be able to chew so much as steamed veggies ever again. I've already eaten too much dairy for my digestive system to cope with and if I have to eat any more liquidised vegetable soup or swallow another mouthful of whole grains of rice I'm gonna spew...

There's no plans to replace my molars, my ortho plans to pull the back ones forward into the gaps and then I'll just have the one set. I'm not entirely convinced that will be good enough but my teeth are so bad what can you do...

Oh yeah I should probably have described my teeth more in this introduction but it would be easier to just use photos when I have enough posts. I've taken plenty of photos. When I'm feeling more positive I'll start a journal of some kind on here so that people can see what I'm going through and maybe one day I'll be giving support to others going through this too.

Reading everyone's stories and following your experiences is so helpful and inspiring. Especially Martin Boyce's story cos he had his molars out too. Thanks again to TumbleDryLow for that link! You guys are awesome.

[littlered]

Ok I can add pics now so if anyone wants to see, here's what my teeth looked like to start with:



I'm so ashamed of showing my teeth... it's hard to post this...

and this is my extractions on the left side:

[Redfern]

Littlered,

I'm sure it will all be worth it! Two of my kids had adult teeth pulled for the sake of orthodontics, and it has turned out fine, but they lived on soft foods for a while. I have had braces since Sept 6 and still eat oatmeal for breakfast, and a lot of pasta for lunch and dinner. Soups are good, as is stew, if you mash up the well cooked-potatoes and carrots. Eggs are good, too.

Admittedly, I miss apples, hamburgers in the bun, and crunchy things like nuts, crackers, cereals and crusty bread. And I'm having no success with salad--sticking to steamed spinich! I really don't know how my kids survived--they seemed to eat everything after a few days in braces but I can't stand the feeling of crunching the corn flakes! My teeth have moved and my bite is all wierd at the moment, so I don't feel comfortable with my own mouth. I know it will get better over time--that's what I keep saying to myself.

Your teeth look a bit like my daughters. She had 4 adult teeth pulled and had a tooth well behind the others, nearly in the roof of her mouth. Once it was bracketed, it had to have a spring and some extra wire to coax it into moving forward before it could go into the archwire. Surprisingly, it only took a few months. I have springs on the bottom front to correct a very crooked tooth.

One note: your teeth look like they're in very good shape otherwise, so once they're straight, you'll have a lovely smile!

Cheers!

[littlered]

Hey Redfern, thanks for giving me hope I might get a result that looks ok. You're the first person who's ever said my teeth are in good shape lol. I'm glad your daughter's teeth moved so fast! I hope your teeth move fast too

Anyway I can't even eat oatmeal or stewed vegetables. Yesterday I went to the surgeon who took my teeth out for a follow up and he was concerned that I still couldn't eat. He was so nice and he let me feel like it was ok to let somebody know about the problem. I couldn't get in to see my ortho but another one who was on duty checked things out and she confirmed that those lonely premolars on the left are the only teeth that touch right now... I can't bite down because the lower one has become too high for some reason. It got a filling that made it sensitive about 5 weeks ago but it didn't seem too high then... She ground it down a bit but was reluctant to do any more. I'm finally getting in to see my ortho on Tuesday. I still can't bite on any other teeth so I can't even try to chew any more If it isn't liquid I can't eat it. They told me I'd be able to eat soft foods after the extractions but that hasn't happened I would die to eat pasta.

[Rusty'sMom]

Little Red! Sorry to hear about your difficulties eating! Trust me, things WILL get better. Try my special smoothie recipe (It is filled with protein and quite delicious!) In a magic bullet (or blender) blend 2 tbs smooth peanut butter, 6 oz vanilla greek yogurt, 1/2 of a frozen banana, about 2oz lowfat milk and some crushed ice. Blend until smooth! This has sustained me breakfast, lunch and dinner when I could not eat because of teeth pain related to braces. If you are not a fan of peanut butter use the same ingredients but omit the peanut butter and add frozen blueberries and strawberries in its place. You can also by protein powder to add to your smoothie! Good luck!!!

[belistic10]

sorry to hear your having a rough time! i had 4 extractions before braces too but they were bicuspids 2 lower and 2 upper. Mine took a good few weeks to heal properly and i was in alot of pain as i got drysocket in 3. I think maybe yours is worse due to being bigger teeth for one! but also that they are not all even so its hard to chew at the back. I guess all you can do is aim the food on the side that has the most teeth and try and work out where is comfier to chew? i know none of it will be pleasant though. Other soft foods that you barely have to chew is anything done in a slow cooker! just throw in lamb or beef meat (gravy beef is particularly tender) and chuck in any veggies you want, some stock and i throw in a tin of diced tomatos. cook it on high for 5-7hrs, the meat is so soft but its atleast filling as well.
hope things get better soon

[tennesseeditto]

So sorry to read of your pain. You wrote you had GI upset from so much milk; I substitute Almond "milk" for cow's milk as it has twice the calcium, stays fresh longer, and tastes great in all flavors. Hang in there as it will get better!

[littlered]

Hey, good news! I've worked out how to chew! The trick is to keep pushing the food onto the back teeth with my tongue (without biting it.) It's slow and tricky but it gets the job done. Yesterday I ate Dutch pancakes and tonight I had a big dinner of lentil loaf (heaps better than it sounds) and pumpkin and broccoli with walnut sauce. My jaw is kinda tired and I eat like a dog gnawing on a stick but it is sooooo good. This must be how it feels learning to walk as a baby lol. And it's so nice to have you guys offer support so I don't feel alone in this I can eat pancakes yayayayayayay! No more soup for me! Milkshakes on the other hand..... yum.

Oh yeah and I've noticed my bottom teeth straightening out a little. More excited about food right now though lol.

[Hunterlaar]

littlered, i have pretty much the same problem with my teeth, can you tell me why you opted for metal rather than ceramic braces?

[littlered]

Hi Hunterlaar, sorry this reply is a bit late but to you and anyone else who might wonder I opted for metal purely cos of how they look. I was offered ceramic but figured they wouldn't exactly be invisible anyway so why not be bold. I want people to see that I have braces and make it obvious that I'm fixing my teeth. And cos coloured ligs are fun.