Newly braced and over 50?

[KayKay]

I've decided that I'm brave up until about 4pm. At that point, because I'm tired for the day, I'm more irritated by the presence of the brackets. My tongue begins to prod around, my lips start to feel extra dry and if I've managed to get that far into the day without wax, I now have to add it.

Am I alone? Do you find in your early days of braces (and part of the "older" adult age group) that you are brace-fatigued by late afternoon?

[kppixie]

Hi KayKay, it does get better! I only use wax now after adjustments, but not always. It seems to get worse for me in the afternoon too, probably with having to communicate at work, thus braces rubbing. I'm four and a half months in and I have my good days and regret ever having braces days! it changes so much that I just keep focusing on the end results, hoping for straight teeth!

me age 46 six month smiles braces

[djspeece]

I'm 64 and yes, by late afternoon I am tired of them; I've been wearing them for 28 months at this point, and frankly they annoy me when I get up in the morning.

[kppixie]

28 months? Wow, you are doing very well!

[KayKay]

Yes, I wonder why I've done this - although I like the goal of straight teeth!

And wow - djspeece - 28 months! I can't imagine how I would handle it for that long. At this point - I'm not even 3 weeks in and although I'm doing so much better than I was in week 1 - I'm ready to throw in the towel in late afternoon.

And food is still challenging.

Foods I can't eat (re: ortho rules - sticky foods)
Foods I could eat but my bite is wonky and mouth hurts (re: salad, foods that need chewing)
Foods I can eat: soft foods that require little chewing/mashing: rice, mashed potatoes, soft chicken cut into small bits, bananas and tangerines, ice cream, etc.

I think if I had good food to look forward to, things would be easier. I read about folks here getting braces and eating anything they want. That just isn't my case. Hoping it turns out that way!

[djspeece]

Yes, I wonder why I've done this - although I like the goal of straight teeth!

And wow - djspeece - 28 months! I can't imagine how I would handle it for that long. At this point - I'm not even 3 weeks in and although I'm doing so much better than I was in week 1 - I'm ready to throw in the towel in late afternoon.

And food is still challenging.

Foods I can't eat (re: ortho rules - sticky foods)
Foods I could eat but my bite is wonky and mouth hurts (re: salad, foods that need chewing)
Foods I can eat: soft foods that require little chewing/mashing: rice, mashed potatoes, soft chicken cut into small bits, bananas and tangerines, ice cream, etc.

I think if I had good food to look forward to, things would be easier. I read about folks here getting braces and eating anything they want. That just isn't my case. Hoping it turns out that way!

Of course time will tell, but you may become more familiar with the discomfort; it won't seem so novel, and as a result create less distress. Many people find that pain does decrease over time, and I hope that is the case for you. Definitely discuss with your ortho in terms of his experience with patients with similar problems. Over time I got braver, and the discomfort seemed to wane especially when I was distracted. I dream of the day of eating corn on the cob again. In fact as I write this, my mouth is watering.
If you drink you might find wine or other adult beverages to be therapeutic as well. It certainly improves my outlook.
Yep I have issues.
Best if luck to you.

[kppixie]

Despite being 4 and a half months in I still cannot bite down on anything, due to my bumpers. So, still living on soup and very soft food, but I have got used to it in a strange way. Pizza cravings are terrible though!

[KayKay]

Oh gosh, I want to bite down on anything. A piece of pizza would be glorious. Corn on the cob. An apple. I did eat my first sandwich today - a peanut butter and banana sandwich. I couldn't take soup again for lunch. It was a challenge and I was digging bread and butter out of my wires with my teeth for an hour or more this afternoon. I kinda bit down on the front of the sandwich, but really I put it in my mouth and tore the bread. It worked but certainly can't do it in public.

By late this afternoon, i fortified myself with a milk shake for dinner - my choice in "adult beverage". I've brushed my teeth, water picked, flossed and now I'm waxing in anticipation for the night ahead. I've found I sleep so much better with more wax instead of less. My mouth dries out at night and sticks to the lingual arch or against my wires/brackets and it is never a pleasant experience when I wake up.

Today is week 3 behind me.

Does anyone get depressed during the first weeks?

[Uptown Girl]

I'm nearly 64 and still have 20 months to go (if my sentence is two years). I find I can now eat most foods but miss biting into things and eat less fruit as a result. I don't enjoy my food as much as I used to and find a piece of meat hard work. Sometimes I just want all the braces torn off but I think how my bottom teeth are already much straighter and that cheers me up. My top teeth which looked regular and even before braces now have gaps between them but hopefully they will close up again.

I went to my brother-in-law's for lunch and had to go to the bathroom after each course and rinse out my mouth. It gets so full of stuff and is so uncomfortable. I am always aware of the braces and find them annoying. if I could start again knowing what I know now I think I would still do it but it is worse than I expected. When I wake up at night my mouth is often dry and stuck to the braces.

I sound like a whinger!! I am still enjoying life. I'm definitely eating just about everything and drinking red wine and coffee so it can't be all bad.

[ljms]

As I write this, I'm eating a roast beef sandwich. It's slow going and hurts a little bit. I'm pretty sure half of the bread is caught in my braces. But the sandwich is still delicious.

Brace fatigue is real. I still get it sometimes.

I think the advantage we older adults (I'm 56) have is that we have more life experience with pain and discomfort. Brace pain is not the worst pain I've ever experienced. Not even close! When I feel discouraged, I remind myself of that.

[jhgsupra]

Some days are certainly better than others. My mouth gets incredibly dry as well but I feel that much of that has to do with the amount of water I drink throughout the day. I never knew one's mouth could get that dry and I know understand what all those movie desert scenes are all about!

I too miss chewing foods like I used to but I haven't really changed my eating habits other than just a few items. When I first got my braces I commented to my daughter about troubles with eating and how I thought I'd lose a lot of weight. Her comment back was "Dad, there's a lot of fat kids out the with braces!" Hmmm, good point.

[KayKay]

It does help to know I'm not alone: Brace fatigue and missing biting food. If I had to do it all again, I'm not sure I would. I do want a beautiful smile though.

Weight loss? I've lost 12 pounds so its not all that bad but I often feel deprived.

Discomfort not as bad as other pain - This is a very true thought. However, although I birthed a couple of babies - that was momentary pain. I don't live with any chronic pain - so I haven't had ongoing pain to compare with this discomfort. And this is not painful - exactly. It is a nuisance, annoying and inconvenient. It isn't in the pain range though.

I really am not a whiner - but I do think those of us that are older - do have a more challenging look at this process. Old dogs. New Tricks - and all that.