Starting Braces Journey at 32 - 7/9/14

[SoIWasLike72]

I am sure your smile will widen with the braces! And hopefully your ortho can correct your crossbite (it seems you have one, like I do). I was recommended surgery for my crossbite/ narrow smile, but now my arches have widened enough with braces alone, so you can be hopeful!

Thanks. I do have a crossbite. Is it too early for me to feel changes in my mouth? Usually, when I talk, random front teeth would touch for no reason. Now, my teeth only touch when necessary.

[rocco11510]

Congrats on getting your braces! Yes I see what you mean when you mentioned your brackets are smaller than you expected. I felt the same way with mine! (Yours look the same size as mine). They look good!

I'm glad to hear you have had minimal pain so far. You are going to be very surprised at how fast you see changes. It's only been a month for me and there has been lots of movement.

Congrats again on your start and best of luck!

[AlexO890]

Congrats! I like the pink!

[SoIWasLike72]

Thanks, rocco & Alex!

Random thoughts:

1. Why didn't anyone tell me flossing would hurt so much? The thinnest piece of string can cause mouth torture ! I used to like flossing, but now, not so much.
2. Three of my teeth do not have brackets. When my front teeth start to move back, will it cause my non-braced teeth to shift as well?
3. It takes entirely too long to brush my teeth. How will I know if I got all the plaque/food? I switched to my sonicare brush today. All the buzzing/vibrations going on in my mouth as I brush feels very odd.
4. I can't stop looking at my braces.

I was trying to only eat foods I didn't really have to chew but on Friday, I was done-and hungry! I needed some real food so I got roasted turkey (I had to shred the meat), mashed potatoes, and baked apple slices for lunch. I had to chew using 2 teeth in the very back of my mouth. It hurt but it was also satisfying. That night, I had mac and cheese, and guacamole.

Today I ate a veggie cantina bowl from taco bell. I picked out all the lettuce pieces because they were too crunchy. At the mall, I resisted the Cinnabon stand. I usually get one but I didn't want to have to clean it out of my braces, nor did I want the chewiness of the bun to possibly damage anything. Tomorrow will probably be a soup day. I hope I don't lose weight from changing my diet. I'm only a size 4 and it took about 10 years to get there.

I'm posting one more pic. After my next adjustment, which is 7 weeks away, I will see if there's any noticeable changes.

Day4.png

Off to brush and floss :::uuugghhhh::::

[AlexO890]

Why didn't anyone tell me flossing would hurt so much? The thinnest piece of string can cause mouth torture ! I used to like flossing, but now, not so much.

Ugh, I'll bet flossing is a nightmare with braces. I don't even like flossing without braces.

[rocco11510]

You even attempted to floss your first week??!!! HAHA! Good luck with that

I have 1 very important word for you: WATER-PIK!!!
Your teeth are way too sore the first week. At least that's what I found....here's what I do, and when I am done, my mouth is super clean:
1. Water-pik - this power washes your mouth and gets any excess food particles out. It also blasts water between your teeth, kinda like flossing but with water!

2. Sonicare (which I see you now have)

3. Listerine mouthwash WITH fluoride. (The pink kind that says 6 benefits in 1 rinse).

If you do those 3 things, you should be in great shape!

As for eating food, I did the same trick with the last back molars! You will have to continue to do that for another week or so. After that, all of your molars will be able to handle food! I am not going to lie though, my front teeth are still useless.

Oh, and you will continue to constantly look at yourself in the mirror for a while. It's such a different thing to you, that it's hard not to look.

Good luck and it only gets easier!

Thanks, rocco & Alex!

Random thoughts:

1. Why didn't anyone tell me flossing would hurt so much? The thinnest piece of string can cause mouth torture ! I used to like flossing, but now, not so much.
2. Three of my teeth do not have brackets. When my front teeth start to move back, will it cause my non-braced teeth to shift as well?
3. It takes entirely too long to brush my teeth. How will I know if I got all the plaque/food? I switched to my sonicare brush today. All the buzzing/vibrations going on in my mouth as I brush feels very odd.
4. I can't stop looking at my braces.

I was trying to only eat foods I didn't really have to chew but on Friday, I was done-and hungry! I needed some real food so I got roasted turkey (I had to shred the meat), mashed potatoes, and baked apple slices for lunch. I had to chew using 2 teeth in the very back of my mouth. It hurt but it was also satisfying. That night, I had mac and cheese, and guacamole.

Today I ate a veggie cantina bowl from taco bell. I picked out all the lettuce pieces because they were too crunchy. At the mall, I resisted the Cinnabon stand. I usually get one but I didn't want to have to clean it out of my braces, nor did I want the chewiness of the bun to possibly damage anything. Tomorrow will probably be a soup day. I hope I don't lose weight from changing my diet. I'm only a size 4 and it took about 10 years to get there.

I'm posting one more pic. After my next adjustment, which is 7 weeks away, I will see if there's any noticeable changes.

Day4.png

Off to brush and floss :::uuugghhhh::::

[SoIWasLike72]

I think I am going to alternate between the Sonicare and manual toothbrush. Last night's flossing session wasn't too painful.

Today I got a Big Mac and fries from McDonald's. My molars seem to be feeling somewhat normal when chewing, but my front teeth are still really sensitive. I bit into the crispy end of a fry by mistake. OUCH! Bread from the Big Mac is stuck all in my braces - everywhere. I'm glad I'm eating alone.

[SoIWasLike72]

I think I am going to alternate between the Sonicare and manual toothbrush. Last night's flossing session wasn't too painful.

Today I got a Big Mac and fries from McDonald's. My molars seem to be feeling somewhat normal when chewing, but my front teeth are still really sensitive. I bit into the crispy end of a fry by mistake. OUCH! Bread from the Big Mac is stuck all in my braces - everywhere. I'm glad I'm eating alone.

[lexieplexie]

Well welcome to the world of braces Good news it gets much better. I believe someone mentioned earlier that a waterpik will be a pretty good investment,great for getting food that may be stuck between your teeth. For brushing I use an oralb ortho toothbrush, in combination with the waterpik & the special ortho floss... I think I have a good plan. Did your ortho mention why he/she didn't take molds?

[SoIWasLike72]

Did your ortho mention why he/she didn't take molds?

Yes. He uses the xrays/pics to decide what the treatment plan should be, so there's no need to take molds.

[SpottedPickle]

I finally got around to reading everything I have missed this past week, The Pink Ligs are awesome! I wish I had colors on mine. I will probably make them put some on in August when I go in for my looksee.

Flossing the first week was hit or miss, but I did it. My waterpik is still my friend.

I also switch between manual and sonicare. I will skip teeth with my sonicare and do them with my manual when they are too sensitive or hurting. Sometimes.

A Bigmac eh? How did you eat it? Sandwhiches and burgers I need cut in half, no thicker than a MCD Double, and biting on the side. I am glad you are able to eat. I am and was too for the most part. I have a feeling I will not be so fortunate with I get my lowers in a few months so I am enjoying it now!

[SoIWasLike72]

I ate it slowly, grabbing the whole sandwich and biting into it with my front teeth. Did I mention that I did that slowly? That's the keyword. I needed more solid food in my life. I took out the pickles and put those directly in my mouth. As you can see, I have upper and lower braces and it hasn't been that bad.

[nicolie825]

I finally got around to reading everything I have missed this past week, The Pink Ligs are awesome! I wish I had colors on mine. I will probably make them put some on in August when I go in for my looksee.

Flossing the first week was hit or miss, but I did it. My waterpik is still my friend.

I also switch between manual and sonicare. I will skip teeth with my sonicare and do them with my manual when they are too sensitive or hurting. Sometimes.

A Bigmac eh? How did you eat it? Sandwhiches and burgers I need cut in half, no thicker than a MCD Double, and biting on the side. I am glad you are able to eat. I am and was too for the most part. I have a feeling I will not be so fortunate with I get my lowers in a few months so I am enjoying it now!

I also have to cut sandwiches/burgers in half and bite on the side and they cant be big mac thick either lol. I can manage small tacos with soft tortillas. Really missing hardshell tacos and nachos. Lower incisors are just way too sensitive to bite into pretty much anything. Making steak tonight, think my molars can handle that no problem

[SoIWasLike72]

A few days ago, I ate a hot dog that was cooked in my Nuwave oven. When I bit into it, I heard a crack. I'm not sure what the crack was, but I'm thinking it loosened some of the cement on a bracket. It's hard to tell.

It's been a month since my braces were installed but I don't really see any noticeable changes. Random teeth ache from day to day. In about 3 weeks, I will get my braces adjusted. Not looking forward to going back to the soft food diet, even if it is only for a couple days.

[Dii23]

Congrats for passing your first month safely
Well , I think you can see progress when you take photos every now and then , and compare them
I used to take lots of photos , I just finished 3 months in braces and I can see some progress
Good luck