The Journey has begun.

[Dee17]

Hi,
My braces have been okay. I got them put on about 3 weeks ago had only minimal pain for the first five days. But I opted for all metal and I've been really struggling with how they look. I am the one who always has her hand up in front of her mouth now whenever I smile because I feel so embarrassed about the way my teeth look. I knew that having braces was going to change my appearance and it was something I worried about. I don't think I was quite prepared for how self-conscious I would feel in them. Tonight I went to a pre-Christmas party and one of the women commented on my braces. I really feel like I should wear a sign that says, "Please pretend that my braces are invisible," because I always feel even MORE embarrassed whenever someone makes a comment about them. This has happened four times now and it just makes me feel awful. I am still getting used to them and even though I keep telling myself that the brackets are small and barely noticeable that really is not the case. Sigh... While all of the initial anxiety I was having before I got them put on is now gone, I am dealing with a lot of insecurity about how they make me look. I'm really just not very happy about the whole thing. I just didn't feel like I had much choice. It was either get braces or live with a huge gap between my front teeth forever and I hated that even more than I hate having braces!

[Kipepeo]

Dee, I'm sorry you're struggling with them. The only time I feel self conscious about mine and just wish they were gone is right after I eat, but before I have a chance to clean them up. So I will use that as a comparison.

Thinking about that time for me, I usually 'hide' them as best I can until I can get to a mirror and sink. So if someone was to comment on them, I would probably try to change the subject pretty quickly. So maybe you could do that if you aren't already.

Also, perhaps the more you do show them off and answer questions, the more comfortable you'll become in them. Maybe if you just keep telling yourself they're temporary and it's ok to have and show them, eventually you will believe that and calm down about them some. 2 years is a long time to be scared to confront people. Best of luck!

[Dee17]

Hi Kipepeo,
Thanks for your message. Yes, I agree that two years is a long time to be afraid to confront people. Most of the people who have commented have not really asked me questions, per se. They just make some comment like, "Oh! When did you get braces?" I always just say, "The end of October," and then I change the subject. But it just makes me feel SO self-conscious. I've never had a lot of self-confidence and this whole experience has really made me take a beating. I feel so ugly, you know? I keep telling myself that this is all temporary and that I am taking a very important and needed step to restore my smile back to its original loveliness. I just wish that this had never happened to me and whenever anyone reminds me about it, I just feel really bad all over again. I'm slowly getting over it, though. I know that I will adjust. I went out for breakfast this morning with a group of women that I'm friendly with, most of whom I hadn't seen in quite a while and I found that I was actually quite comfortable smiling at them. So, that's progress, I think! I'm happy about that development.
I hope you are well. Are you starting to get ready for Christmas?

[ellieb]

Dee, don't want to hijack the thread but your comment made me think of my unreliable speech. I hate when I've been talking pretty well and then for some reason I get all unintelligible again, and the other person is staring at me like, "Are you drunk? Did you just have a stroke?" and then I have to explain about my expander. I wish I had a T-shirt that said, "I know I talk weird. It's only temporary. Please ignore it."

[Dee17]

Hi Kipepeo,
That's really funny! I know exactly what you mean, though. And don't worry about "hijacking" my thread!
I am struggling with s sounds and c sounds. But I was having trouble with those sounds even before I got my braces so I'm not sure if it's because of my braces or not though I suspect that having them has definitely made it worse. It really bugs me though because my enunciation was always very clear before. Now I always feel like I have a ton of marbles in my mouth when I'm trying to talk. Makes very reluctant to speak in public. Ugh. I'll be really glad when I get these things out of my mouth!

[Dee17]

Oh, I just realized that message was from ellieb. Sorry! I wasn't paying close enough attention.

[Kipepeo]

It was ellieb that wrote about unreliable speech! But I have that too. I have a bit of a lisp because air can now pass between gaps in my incisors. Funny thing is the lisp is worse in the morning. What's up with that? I also have trouble with F sounds, and it can be pretty embarrassing at work, considering I work with professionals and military.

[Dee17]

Yeah, Kipepeo,
As soon as I posted my reply, I realized it had been ellieb who responded.
I also have trouble with f sounds because the air goes right out through the space between my two front teeth. But I've had trouble with that for months now since that blasted space opened up in my teeth.
That's weird that you have more trouble in the morning. I also wonder what's up with that?? Kind of strange, don't you think? Maybe you're just more aware of it in the morning when you're getting up and trying to get ready for your day??
I really hope that when I'm all finished with my treatment that my speech problems will go away. I had never ever considered before the major impact teeth had on a person's ability to speak. It's been a very weird and unsettling thing for me especially considering that I never had any problems with my teeth or my speech before all this happened! Oy!! That's really just about ALL I can say about this whole thing.
So I just finished my dinner and I had some rice again. Big mistake. My braces feel like they're just covered in rice and I hate that feeling so I'm off to the bathroom to brush (again!). How many times a day do you brush your teeth? I think I probably brush mine about 4 times a day. Getting really old very quickly that!

[Kipepeo]

Yeah, rice is bad! Soft bread, as in a sandwich where you bite from the front, is also pretty bad!

I brush at least 3x per day, more if I snack in between and need to. I floss nearly every day, and I use those little Christmas tree brushes often. I use a waterpik sometimes.

[Dee17]

Despite the huge pain in the rear end that flossing is I do it every single night. I was always very good about it even before I got braces. Since I got them, I've been religious in my practice. I bought a waterpik before I even got them put on and I am SO glad I did. The first three nights when it was taking me about an hour to floss and I was ending up in tears each time, I was so glad I bought my waterpik. It has really pretty much saved me.
i don't eat much soft bread and I don't eat in between meals because I'm a diabetic and am on insulin so that's been good. But I can't stand the way my mouth feels after I eat so I'm heading into the bathroom to brush my teeth almost immediately after I finish my meal. It's starting to become a real pain, though, I can tell you!

[SiNsation]

Random Thoughts:

I am very happy and pleased with my results compared to a year ago. But at this moment, I am veryyyyy impatient.
I am sooo ready to get my darn braces off. It's funny how when you first start your treatment you want them on so bad, then when your teeth start getting to a point where you approve, you want them OFF! (Or maybe this is just me.)

I have an appointment this Tuesday. I haven' seen my ortho in about 2 months. It would be music to my ears if she says I can get them off over this one month break I have off of school. This would be the perfect time because I know there is going to be additional work needed after I get the braces off. I have to either get crowns or Veneers, a possible bleaching, retainers? Not sure how many appointments are needed for all this but this is the only extended break I will have from school. The next time I will see her is during Spring Break which is in March.

But I feel like my teeth aren't ready just yet but who knows, i'm no doctor. I guess I just have to be a little more patient. This is when I wish I wasn't 5 hours away from my ortho and my appointments weren't so spaced out; I wouldn't feel like i'm in the dark as much. Welp, that's about all. I just needed to vent a little, and I figured my blog would be the perfect place. I would post pictures but honestly my teeth still look the same lol.

Fingers crossed for good news on Tuesday. Happy smiling and Happy Holidays to everyone.!

[SiNsation]

Hi Sin! How have things been going? Any new progress?

Hi! I am horribly late. This semester of schooling has been very intense.

Just went to check out your teeth. They look amazing! I wish my teeth didn't stick out like yours.
How are your braces treating ya lately? Any talk of debracing yet?

Progress? You can judge for yourself lol. They look about the same to me. Probably wont see the big big difference until they are off and I get the Veneers on to cover up those gaps. Boy, has this been a "gappy" journey for me lol!

Happy holidays as well!

Bracedtwin! I'm sorry that school has been so intense, hopefully things will slow down soon.

Thanks! Well, I had an adjustment last Wednesday and it was by far the most painful.. In stainless steel wires, plus powerchains on top and bottom and elastics too.. Just awful.. But my teeth are starting to settle down some what. No talks of debracing yet, still have a ways to go.

You say you don't see a difference, but I definitely do!! Your teeth are beautiful and you shouldn't be ashamed of smiling at all! So smile BIG!

Happy holidays to you too!

BraceTwin! Thank goodness finals are over and I can finally think straight! lol

I know your pain. I felt the same exact way during my last adjustment! I barely ate and I had a constant headache.

Any new updates on the smile? Plans for the Holidays?

I'm working on the esteem thing with my smile. Which I never thought I had self-esteem issues but I guess me being embarrassed to smile around people, even after my teeth look half decent is an issue lol. Hopefully i'll perfect it one day.

[AM21]

Hi Sin! Sorry that you had a painful adjustment as well. The pain does suck but you have to keep telling yourself that it's temporary. Only update I have is that I was told to stop wearing elastics, which is kind of nice. I don't have to worry about that extra step after I brush.

I'm just finishing up last minute Christmas presents and will spend lots of time with family and friends. Oh! and my birthday is Friday (The day the world is supposed to end ) So yeah, going to have fun. How about you? Any plans for the holidays?

I'm sure you'll perfect it too! It does take time but when you do smile or laugh without covering your smile, it will feel good. It really gives you a huge boost of confidence.

How did your adjustment go? Any news?? I understand what you mean about wanting them off. You see how much your teeth have transformed and you're like OK, the braces can go now!! Do you think once you get them off, you'll miss them?

[junglejulie]

Wow, your teeth look great. SUCH an inspiration. I have a gap that is similar to what you had. I am aiming to get braces march 2013...still need a few fillings and extractions. It looks like it only took 8 months to actually close the gap right?

[SiNsation]

Hi Sin! Sorry that you had a painful adjustment as well. The pain does suck but you have to keep telling yourself that it's temporary. Only update I have is that I was told to stop wearing elastics, which is kind of nice. I don't have to worry about that extra step after I brush.

I'm just finishing up last minute Christmas presents and will spend lots of time with family and friends. Oh! and my birthday is Friday (The day the world is supposed to end ) So yeah, going to have fun. How about you? Any plans for the holidays?

I'm sure you'll perfect it too! It does take time but when you do smile or laugh without covering your smile, it will feel good. It really gives you a huge boost of confidence.

How did your adjustment go? Any news?? I understand what you mean about wanting them off. You see how much your teeth have transformed and you're like OK, the braces can go now!! Do you think once you get them off, you'll miss them?

Hi BraceTwin

I apologize for being so late. Happy Belated Birthday! Did you do anything exciting?!

My holidays were nice. Spent time with my family and loved ones, that's always nice.

What are the updates on the braces??? (I hope good news. )

I went to my appointment a couple weeks ago. I was praying I would get them off, but of courseeeee that didn't happen. I was very very disappointed at first. But now I'm just like, "When it happens, it happens." My ortho said that she's waiting for my top four teeth to move back a little more. (Sorry I don't know the correct terms lol.) I guess when I swallow my tongue touches the back of my front teeth, which is causing them to not move as fast at they should. So i've been practicing keeping my tongue at the bottom of my mouth. (If that makes sense.) I also have to sleep in these super tight rubberbands at night. My next appointment is in March. So we shall see how that goes....