Intro - Braces for the 2nd time and completely miserable.

[OliveGirl]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to introduce myself. And vent :). I'm 29 and just got clear ceramic braces on May 6th. I first had them from ages 12-14, and besides a little discomfort at times, I truly didn't mind them. Wow, what a different experience that was.

From day 1, I've been totally miserable. Simply coming to terms with the "look" of braces was something that took me months to accept. But I was not prepared at all for the immense pain and discomfort. It's been 5 days now, and thankfully, this is the first day that I'm not in constant pain. It's still painful to chew or put any sort of pressure on my teeth, but I can only hope that will subside as well.

I got molar build ups placed on my back top molars, which I now think is the absolute worst part. I know most of you are well versed with this, but it's new to me and completely agonizing. I hate that I can barely eat. Chewing food is a joke right now since I only have two small nubs to use, rather than all my molars. I hope that I can get these removed somewhat soon because I can't fathom my mouth being like this for an entire year (which is my estimated time in braces).

To be honest, I'm slightly depressed right now and can only think about how much I want this year to fly by. This is pretty unusual for me because I'm typically a positive person, and I actually have a high threshold for pain. But there's something about my inability to chew or to get any sort of relief that feels like absolute torture.

Also, a little background on my situation: I am missing my lateral incisor. Just never grew in. When I had my braces removed at 14, I was given a retainer (or "flipper) with a false tooth attached. I've had several made over the years, but this is what I've always worn. My teeth eventually shifted, and I was told I needed braces to widen the space again so that I could get an implant. I've always been unhappy with having a removable tooth, so getting my teeth fixed for good is something I desperately want. I keep telling myself that this will all be worth it in the end. But getting through this part is definitely tough, and it's only the beginning!

Thank you for reading my rant. I hope to become a more positive person around here very soon!

[Tyrantblade]

A year isn't such a bad "sentence", im supposed to have braces for 2 years, and get 2 implants when im done

You may be feeling miserable, but you just started and still need to adjust to the braces

Give it a little more time and you will be able to chew and figure how to do it comfortably

I had Bite turbos for 8 months and used to only have my 2nd molars touching, and once i had bite turbos i didn't even have that, so i basically chewed as best as i could (probably not that great at first), but things got better

its almost unreal how much my bite has improved starting around month 5, easily the best its been in 5 years

Have a little patience and ease into it, everything will be fine

[Tyrantblade]

the evils of putting a rubber band on your teeth like that are well known and I'm surprised they get good reviews, I wouldn't trust any such ortho solution so easily bought off eBay or Amazon, there's a reason why orthodonticsis so expensive

[kip]

It will get better! I'm also in braces for the second time, I had them the same age as you (12-14) and I'm currently 29!
My first 2/3 weeks were constantly painful and uncomfortable. I was super aware of them and didn't want to socialise as I felt so self concious but after 4 months I'm feeling pretty good about them now. You'll start to notice changes and progress soon and it will spur you on. The pain will get better and after 4-6 weeks I was eating as normal and grinning like a Cheshire cat!

You can do it! Just come on here and vent if you feel blue, everyone here will provide encouragement!

[djspeece]

Rant away! I did not have to suffer with molar build-ups but every indication on this board is that they are truly terrible. I hope they are not needed for much longer. I imagine braces at 29 is a very different experience from the one at age 12. I would recommend ibuprofen for the discomfort. it can work wonders for dental pain and as a result for your mental outlook and ability to take nutrition. What is underappreciated about orthodontic pain is that it is so unrelenting; it wears one down. Take as directed on the label, of course. I've often found that a nice single malt scotch did wonders for the discomfort. Best of luck to you!

Tyrantblade, did you intend your response for another post?

[jaime]

Rant away! I did not have to suffer with molar build-ups but every indication on this board is that they are truly terrible. I hope they are not needed for much longer. I imagine braces at 29 is a very different experience from the one at age 12. I would recommend ibuprofen for the discomfort. it can work wonders for dental pain and as a result for your mental outlook and ability to take nutrition. What is underappreciated about orthodontic pain is that it is so unrelenting; it wears one down. Take as directed on the label, of course. I've often found that a nice single malt scotch did wonders for the discomfort. Best of luck to you!

Tyrantblade, did you intend your response for another post?

Tyrantblade was replying to the spam comment above, which I've reported to Lynn (every one of that user's posts are ads for that product).

[littlething]

I promise it gets better! I was absolutely miserable my first 10 days or so in braces. I was on the verge of tears every day because everything felt so uncomfortable and awkward, everything hurt, I had sores all over my mouth, and I could barely eat. It felt like if one thing got better, than something else got worse, and it just felt like nothing was getting any better. I think the worst part was that I could barely eat and I was just starving all the time. I also am generally a positive person, but I turned into a crank for a bit. My poor boyfriend had to put up with this constant whining 2 weeks! My friends who had braces when they were younger all thought I was being dramatic and couldn't believe that I was having such a hard time adjusting...but I think it is a lot easier when you are younger than at our age (I'm 30 now).

But I survived and so will you! (Wine helped - haha!) It got MUCH better after I hit the 2 week mark. Give it time. I'm just over 6 weeks in now, and things act up every once in awhile (I was miserable again last week with 4 canker sores because of my mouth adjusting from wire ligatures poking me everywhere!), but for the most part, I feel like things are back to normal and that I can survive the next 29 months.

Good luck!

[Tyrantblade]

Yes my reply was intended toward that spam reply advertising a glorified teeth gap band

On the original topic, ive found braces much better after only a couple weeks, almost like ive always had them

[Gigi03]

I had braces when for 3 years from age 13-15. At that time, my orthodontist wanted to extract some of my teeth to do overcrowding. My parents opted for an palatal expander to be put in instead. Now in my mid 20s (and after not always wearing my retainer), my teeth have become overcrowded again, with an overjet. I got braces for the second time and this time around, I decided to have the four teeth extracted.

I don't remember my braces bothering as a teen, as much as it does now. (In fact, it was bittersweet when I had to take them off as a teen.) The pain after getting new wires in or my braces tightened bothers me so much more now than it did when I was younger. I don't know if it's because my teeth are shifting, but I am constantly waking up with wire imprints on the insides of my cheeks (the wax doesn't always help). I feel food is constantly getting stuck between my teeth and in my trans platal arch.

I am scheduled to be in braces for 30 months and only 9 months in, I am ready for this to be over. I wonder if I would be more tolerable toward braces had this been my first with them.

[Moops]

I'm in the same boat. I got my braces off at ~16, didn't wear my retainers and everything shifted. At 32, they seem WAY worse then I remembered them being the first time. Three days in and my cheeks are raw, so painful to eat. The blue build ups on my top teeth are pretty annoying as well. Hang in there, we'll get through it!

[Mimo1985]

Youre not alone. I posted a day or so ago about how Ive been feeling depressed about it. I consider myself, also , a positive person with good threshold for pain and I was barely dealing with the teeth aching day 2.

For some perspective - I do Olympic weightlifting, and under a rather light lift, I herniated a disc. I remember leaving the gym with agonizing nerve pain up my legs and hips knowing "Ive done something real bad to my back".

I stayed at home for 5 days unable to move. Dragging myself to the bathroom, etc. It was NOT pretty, but I thought, not knowing it was a disc slip "Its just sore, itll get better". Anyway - point being - if I could handle a badly slipped disc for 5 days, I am *sure* I can handle braces. Its funny to think about it now - but the braces pain was more annoying than the disc slip.

Over time, the disc slip was treated. Lots of physical therapy, lots of care, lots of treatment, lots of attention to my form, my posture etc. Getting braces - to me anyway - is similar. Its painful at first, but with all of those things (attention, care) it will get better. I know when you start seeing results (and me too) we will be really confident with them on, I think. For me - my braces are zig zagged all over the place. I know when things straighten out a bit (and maybe for you too) youll think "wow this is great" (at least - thats what people tell me).
Im sorry to hear about the molar build ups - I can imagine thats very annoying. I have an open bite (2mm) and with the cement "bumpers" my open bite is significantly larger - which degrades my speech a lot, and causes me to spit sometimes when I talk.

I predict in 3 months, hopefully, we will both be much happier with our decisions to do this. And dont forget your not alone :) This forum is helping me a lot in knowing people are also in the same boat, and I know in the end it is for the best.

[princessdeed]

Hi! Also completely miserable here! I'm 24 and this is my first time with braces and I'm on day 4.My entire mouth hurts 24/7. Ibuprofen does absolutely nothing. Today I discovered orajel works wonders and I wish it wasn't for such a short period of time. Wax works okay but it makes me nauseous and doesn't stay put long enough. I have to keep telling myself that eventually I will be used to it and finally be happy with my teeth and be able to confidently smile showing teeth. Wishing I could have gotten veneers instead but I have a deep over bite and jet bite and it needs to be corrected. Sigh. Hope things get better for you soon! Also I have no idea how to make my own post... help?

[Bracesat57]

Hang in there! I looked into all types of cosmetic procedures for my teeth also before figuring out that braces was the only way to go. For me, the first three months were miserable.

First there were those awful separators they jam into your molars to make room for the bands. Then I got the braces on the top teeth. Chewing was a challenge. I learned to adapt to what I could eat or most of the time just tried swallowing it almost whole. Then a month later came the bottom braces and back to more discomfort. After that it has been smooth sailing.

Braces as an adult takes time to get use to emotionally. We are just use to only seeing them on children. Keep your eye on the prize....a beautiful smile.

My braces come off tomorrow morning. Yay! I kept my eye on the prize!

[lovecakenfruit]

[quote="princessdeed"]Hi! Also completely miserable here! I'm 24 and this is my first time with braces and I'm on day 4.My entire mouth hurts 24/7. Ibuprofen does absolutely nothing. Today I discovered orajel works wonders and I wish it wasn't for such a short period of time. Wax works okay but it makes me nauseous and doesn't stay put long enough. I have to keep telling myself that eventually I will be used to it and finally be happy with my teeth and be able to confidently smile showing teeth. Wishing I could have gotten veneers instead but I have a deep over bite and jet bite and it needs to be corrected. Sigh. Hope things get better for you soon! Also I have no idea how to make my own post... help?[/quote]

I'm in braces for the first time and chewing is still nearly impossible 5 days in so I totally sympathize.