Concerns about getting braces. Opinions?

[McHobbit]

I am in my mid 20's. Ever since my front teeth came in I had this crooked gap between them. I don't have any problems speaking or eating or whatsoever because of the gap, I simply find it unattractive particularity because it is crooked. For years I have thought about getting braces or invisalign but I have some concerns I can find little information on for the most part so I figured I would ask adults that do have braces already.

1. I'm a bit of a dental phobic and the whole getting them on, sitting there 1-2 hours with my mouth open to have braces put on...the thought makes me sick. Just all that spit gathering there in that time and those awful things they use to hold your mouth open. Also having the molar bands on your back teeth put on seems really painful. I generally have super low pain tolerance when it comes to my mouth. Getting fillings still seems to hurt even with shots, parts of getting my teeth cleaned hurt etc. I did try to google around and found little information about whether you could even be sedated for the fitting. Is having invisalign buttons fitted as invasive?

2. I'm really worried about food. I'm not the best eater. I wouldn't say that I have an eating disorder but I have those phases where I resent the whole idea of having to prepare and make food when I have a house to clean or want to read a book or be on the computer or whatever. I'm afraid that having something that hurts and something that food gets stuck in in my mouth would give me an excuse to not eat, especially at work because then I'd have to brush my teeth there etc. It's not that I eat a lot of sugar, I hardly do actually but chips, nuts, carrots, apples, rolls and bagels..there you some of the few things that I will actually eat when I'm in a "I can't be bothered to make no stupid food because it all tastes boring" phase. Take those away and I'd just chomp down bananas and berries while they're in Season since I don't eat them when they aren't. I did find that some people lost quite some weight having braces, which I don't have any to lose. I thought that maybe having invisalign instead would mean less food problems but many people said you cannot snack which, I'm not a 3 meals a day kind of person. The doctor also has told me to eat whenever I'm hungry, screw any of that and I do make myself do that now. I also chew gum as it relaxes me.

3. Perhaps the biggest issue- the lifelong retainer at night. If it weren't for that, I might have gotten braces already. I really enjoy my peaceful sleep, the daydreaming as I drift off etc. I might have sensory issues because I cannot even sleep with underwear. If a bra that is completely comfortable to me during the day will have me tossing and turning for hours, what would a retainer do? I'm so afraid that I would go through with braces and then just end up depressed that the retainer will from now on rule my nights and not being able to deal with that. I know many people sleep with night guards and whatnot, but if I don't sleep in a certain way I'm not comfortable. Giving up a few years of good sleep is one thing but forever is a long time. I just thought...when I'm menopausal, when the kids are all grown, when I'm retired...I'll still be wearing retainers if I get braces.

I keep struggling with whether the trade off is worth it in my case or if I should look into bonding or veneers. I know they always must be redone but I would not be required to wear retainers or have to worry about eating as much beyond a few weeks of adjusting to the veneers. I honestly fantasied about falling on my face and losing my horrible crooked front teeth and getting perfectly straight implants. I'd be glad to wear braces if it weren't for my concerns listed above.

[Tyrantblade]

1. I wouldn't call getting braces put on "Invasive" in fact I found it to be boring and relaxing, I doubt they will sedate you (or even have the stuff to sedate you) because you have a phobia.

2. It is best to avoid certain foods and definitely chewing gum with braces, otherwise you could end up having to get repairs at the orthodontist often.

3. Retainer instructions vary, maybe you won't need them every night for the rest of your life, and I'm sure it's not as bad as you are making it out to be anyways.

[bez]

Well I'm in my mid 30s and I just got them on a few days ago. I've been thinking about getting them since my early 20s, always finding excuses, weighing the pros and cons etc until one day I just got sick of all this internal dialogue, picked up the phone and scheduled an appointment with my ortho. Also, getting them on was the least painful dental visit ever. Just do it!

[McHobbit]

I appreciate where you are coming from Tyrantblade, but it's not as simple as "just get over it". I can't sit there for two hours with my mouth spread open without any type of sedative when I can hardly make it through a cleaning without. It's too long. How do people with TMJ manage? Considering that some can hardly open their mouths I really do wonder. The adjustments seem short, I can handle that but the bonding seems invasive to me because of the cheek spreading device, driving bands into your back teeth and the fact that it takes hours. I do wonder how children who complain about an hour at church or two hours in the car sit through that. Orthos don't even have laughing gas or the like?!

I get that these foods needs to be avoided but I'm worried about that because I don't have a pound to lose. I'm 95 lbs at 5'4. Yes, I eat but I need to gain and CANNOT lose. When I get sick for a week I drop weight like nothing else and it takes forever to get it back on. I did read of normal people who previously enjoyed eating and food more than I ever did on here losing weight and not being bothered to eat and yes, that did scare me. Some people lost 15lbs and if I did, it would probably be extremely dangerous. I would need to find a way to not lose weight while in braces because I really cannot afford to. If I lost 15lbs, the braces would have to come off immediately so the weight could be put back on as quickly as possible and that would be such a waste. Asking my doctor if I was allowed to fast for just a weekend, the answer was a resounding no.

I did have a retainer as a child (a "functional appliance") and somehow I threw it across the room IN MY SLEEP. Obviously I didn't do much as I only wore it while doing homework or watching TV in the evenings. I could not sleep in it and what an ordeal it was to attempt to. Hours of laying awake and being uncomfortable and being way too tired at school the next day. It's not like I never wore a retainer before. I'm simply afraid this will happen again and I don't want to discover that after I spend years and a good amount of money on braces because it'll then be a waste and I might as well have done nothing. I find sleep very relaxing (who doesn't?) and I'm just afraid I will never really get back something I treasure in my life. I WANT them to be nicer and I'd be willing to wear the braces but I used to think I'd get braces, get them off, wear a retainer for a year and then stop worrying about my teeth forever. I was ready to take the plunge and actually cancelled a consultation when I found out that you have the retainer forever. I figure whether I get braces or not, I will be destined to forever worry about my teeth either way. So I've been starting to seriously consider veneers just about now because then at least I'd only worry about them every 10-20 years.

I'm honestly also worried about my husband. How he would feel about me with braces, and then a retainer for life...no more good morning kisses in bed etc. Maybe if we were 60, but we're not even in our 30's yet. As a young wife, I don't think he wants to see me take out a slobbery retainer. He's weird about such things and never had braces himself.

[jem]

Hi McHobbit,

In many cases, getting braces fitted top and bottom takes less than an hour. It does not hurt. You could get fitting done separately on each arch in two appointments of half an hour.

I only had brackets on my upper front teeth because my bite was OK and my bottom teeth were pretty much straight. My whole fitting appointment took less than 15 minutes.

In many cases molar bands are not needed ( eg often with Damon braces, brackets rather than bands are used on the molars). This is much quicker and more comfortable.

Eating with braces should be OK although your teeth may be sensitive and you may have to eat carefully for the first few days. I ate pizza ( with a knife and fork) and chopped up apple for my first post-braces meal with no problem.As others have pointed out, certain foods should be avoided. Also, you will have to cut up hard foods like apples or raw carrots. Not the end of the world.

Retention is for life if you don't want to risk relapse after your braces come off. But it is no big deal. I have a bonded retainer but also use a removable one at night to be extra sure. Neither is a problem or noticeable when kissing.

Thousands of people on this board have coped with braces ( and retainers) and found the results well worthwhile. You can too but you need to take a positive attitude. Why not book an appointment with one or two orthodontists to discuss what might be involved in your case?

Good luck,

Jem

[djspeece]

You raise some very good issues and it's great that you are going in "eyes wide open." These are all good issues to raise with a board-certified orthodontist who can hopefully explain things in relation to your specific case. Perhaps you might be a better candidate for veneers or bonding (as you mentioned) since the issue apparently is cosmetic and not functional (i.e., issues with your bite). I do not know if orthodontists use any sort of conscious sedation -- it increases the amount of training, supervision, and resuscitation equipment needed because it does come with a risk. But, you never know and it never hurts to ask. Applying the brackets is definitely inconvenient and it got a bit uncomfortable near the end, but they move fast and suction saliva as needed. I wish I had applied lip balm in preparation. What is not mentioned is the discomfort or even pain following the application of a thicker arch wire, powerchains, elastics, or some combination of all three. Again, an ortho could describe your plan to you so you would know exactly what is involved. The discomfort following a new wire/powerchain lasts a few days and can impact your ability to eat. As far as your spouse goes, by all means discuss it and get an idea of how he feels about the idea. Braces do not hinder romance in any way, shape, or form. In fact some people look pretty good with braces. I don't think I did, frankly, but I think women have a bit of an advantage because there are so many beautiful aspects of a woman, that in total make braces less noticeable. I had braces for 3 years (original plan was 2) and I now wear a Vivera retainer, still at 24/7, which hopefully will change when I meet with my ortho next week. I didn't actually get them until about 10 weeks ago, and was initially fitted with an Essix.
Like you, I did not have a lot of hard-core orthodontic issues but had a gap following the extraction of a premolar. I could have gotten an implant but braces offered other advantages for me in correcting a variety of minor issues. I'm so beautiful now, I can't stand it. I'm kidding, of course.
Best of luck to you!

[HummerMan3]

With regards to your anxiety over dental procedures, I would bring that up to the orthodontist when you go for a consultation. I'd imagine very few offer sedation, but some may allow for you to take an anxiolytic (Valium, etc) prior to the long appointments. Depending on the degree of your malocclusion, you may find some orthodontists don't even need to use bands on the molars at all. From my first time in braces, I found that a lot of food in the "no eat" list could be safely eaten without popping off brackets. The few foods I recall not figuring out how to eat successfully were taffy, gum, whole apples, and corn on the cob. If gum chewing isn't something you could give up for a couple of years, braces may be a problem. Invisalign may be your best bet, as you're in the dentist's chair less than with braces, and you can take them out to eat the foods/gum that you want to without worry.

[Tyrantblade]

Well it sounds like Braces arent for you if you cant get past those issues, i mean you might be able to find a way, but not without the right attitude.

Braces definitely require effort and a little sacrifice, if you arent up for it, maybe you should just get cosmetic treatment.

[ditsy]

Braces are a pain in the "mouth" if you're feeling this negative already I wouldn't do it because once those buggers are on there isn't any going back lol!

The fixing isn't that bad, the most unpleasant thing is the moulds they use. I was terrified of the dentist when I started having treatment, to the point of shaking and near tears. Now I am so used to the proding and poking and adjusting and pulling that I no longer give a shizz! It is in no way a pleasant experience, but it is bearable even for a denta-phobe like me. My main focus is always on the finished result.

Food is tricky, raw carrot hurts, bagels hurt and get mushed up in there, bananas are fine, apples are okay if you cut them up, nuts are a pain because they tend to get stuck. So yeh if that's your main diet then you will struggle. It's not as though eating is impossible, there is still plenty you can eat but the foods you've listed are tricky. I eat lots of rice, pasta and jacket potatoes. Plenty of easy to prepare carbs that are soft to still eat after adjustments. Your teeth aren't always sore but after adjustments it can be hard to want to eat. You're very light and I would suggest maybe even looking at smoothies that will keep up your calorie intake. Plenty of milk and fruits, good calories and easy to get down and make. I'm a lazy eater too so I have a slow cooker and 70%+ of my meals are made in there so all I have to do is whack in meat and prepared veg with stock or jar sauces and leave it for the day. Then it's just a case of microwave precooked rices or potato or pasta. If you're not a vegetarian, red meats will bulk you up a bit.

Retainer is for life, if you're not sure your husband will like that and you're worried then talk to him about how he feels about the actual brace. My hubby is very supportive, it doesn't worry him in the slightest but I was really worried about it at first. A year and a bit in and I don't mind so much now but there is still moments when I have a downer on it. Especially when people ask my age. There is a 11year age gap, he is 40 this year and people often mistake me for being way under 18 which can be awkward! Even more so when we are with our children!!

If I were you I would leave it a few months and then if you still feel curious go and make an appointment. Find out the cost, list your concerns and see what your orthodontist recommends. X

[chloecook]

It's nothing to worry about I just got a palate expander and I hate the dentist. Just remember you will have a beautiful smile in the future

[littlething]

Hi McHobbit,

First, let me say that I have a bit of a phobia myself, so I know where you are coming from. I had quite a bit of work done in the 6 months or so leading up to braces (because I had avoided the dentist for an embarrassingly long time due to said phobia), and I will say that anything that I've had while in the chair at the orthodontist is a piece of cake compared to anything I've had in the chair at my dentist's - and I happen to really like my dentist and he has made the whole process super easy and as pleasant as he possibly could.

That said, the most important thing in all this, much like the most important step in confronting a phobia with a general dentist, is to find an orthodontist that you like and trust, and whom you feel comfortable with. Communication is absolutely key, and you should express your concerns with him or her and go from there. It is also equally or maybe even more important that you also like and feel comfortable with the staff, as you will find that while the ortho will direct what happens and call the shots, most of the work will be carried out by the assistants/techs working in the office. I consider myself very fortunate that I have found an office in which I adore everyone working there, from the ortho, to the assistants, to the front desk staff and it has made this process so much easier for me.

In terms of the fitting process, I was not looking forward to keeping my mouth open for an eternity in those cheek retractors, but they only need to be used while they are actually bonding the brackets to the teeth, and that didn't take that long at all. The rest of the time, you can ask for breaks and such as needed. You will also find that many people have had their upper and lower braces fitted at separate appointments, so that is an option as well.

Not everyone needs molar bands - I did. They will give you spacers to wear for about a week before the braces go on, so while the process of fitting the bands was super annoying and not fun, it was not painful at all. That said, the spacers were super uncomfortable and sometimes painful, and that kind of gives you an idea of the discomfort that is to come once the braces are on.

As for food, yes, the prospect of brushing afterwards sometimes makes me think twice about eating. I still do eat my meals throughout the day, but I snack a lot less frequently. Yes, you will struggle to eat certain things, and other things will be a no-no. The first week or so, I was on almost a liquid diet because it was so difficult to chew anything (even soft foods), and that was rough. I am pretty slim as well, and didn't have much to lose either, but I ended up losing about 5 lbs anyway. You kind of have to find ways to get in your calories. I find that I can eat most things these days (on a good day anyway), but some days, things are sore and I can't eat as well as I want. I've found ways around it though. Maybe protein shakes or something would be a way to supplement in your case.

In terms of retention, some retainer wear would be needed the rest of your life, but depending on your case, it may not be every night. I do know that some people have been advised on occasional retainer wear after some time has passed, but not every night. Generally speaking, the more the better, but it all depends. I would say though, that if you are conscious of things on your body/teeth and are bothered by them, I have definitely been conscious of the actual braces being on my teeth at all times, so you may struggle with that. As for your husband, you may find that you are worrying about nothing. I would think that he would be supportive of you wanting to improve your appearance and would be understanding.

All said though, braces ARE an adjustment and can be a challenge. I tried to go into it with a positive attitude, but even then, the first few weeks were rough and I was on the verge of tears every day the first week. Nothing could have prepared me for that first week. Things have settled down quite a bit since then, but it is still an adjustment and a lifestyle change. I am 3 months in and I have accepted them as part of my daily life, but sometimes it is still an adjustment. I still have random sore teeth pop up in a regular basis. Everything gets stuck in my teeth when I eat. Cleaning my teeth and keeping up with the hygiene routine takes forever. I still feel a fair amount of discomfort after adjustment appointments, and I was in almost excruciating pain after I started wearing elastics. I have a few friends in Invisalign, and they have said that it is an adjustment as well, and the discomfort you feel is no different than in traditional braces. With Invisalign, you also have the tenptation of not wearing your trays when it gets too rough, but that can take your treatment off course. I have another friend who gave up after 4 months.

That said, it all has been absolutely worth it for me, and this is only the beginning. However, I had severely crowded teeth, and I had to get 4 teeth extracted due to decay, and in my case, it made much more sense to do the orthodontics and fix all my issues together instead of trying to cram in prosthetic teeth. However, it is not for everyone. If it had been a minor cosmetic issue, I'm not sure I would have gone through it, as it is a huge adjustment and commitment. Everybody is different though, and only you can decide if it is the right direction for you. Maybe bonding or veneers would be a better option for you, as you have stated. However, if I were you, I would talk to an orthodontist just to see what they say, just so you have all your options in front of you.

Hope this gave you a bit more perspective. Best of luck!

[McHobbit]

Wow. Thank you all for the great insights. My gap used to be so big, a whole other tooth would have fit in there. I don't remember having ever been to an orthodontist, it was a dentist who gave me the functional appliance to wear to reduce the gap. I have no idea if this is a thing or if he had any idea what he was doing. I think it was what is called a Hawley retainer but the wire could be adjusted. It didn't do much as I was supposed to wear it 16 hours or whatnot and I wouldn't at school or sleep with it. As I said, I only wore it while doing homework and watching TV or reading at home. Maybe 4 hours a day. I found it annoying but tolerable as long as I did not have to speak so perhaps wearing the retainer during the day would be an option too. The invisalign style retainers definitely look better to me. I remember the top part of the Hawley really bothering me. I'm sure if I do get the braces I will be very aware of them in my mouth but there would be an end in sight. Nobody has them forever. But I'd hope that I still could satisfy my husband. Birth control is cumbersome so now we use...other means of satisfying our urges. Now the article on the main page says it can be done so there is that.

The gap is now definitely much smaller than it used to be but that might be because my teeth got pushed together as I lost more baby teeth and then got wisdom teeth. What bothers me the most about it is that it's a CROOKED gap. As in, it's not the same size all through it starts small and gets bigger like a triangle. The teeth are two different sizes which I'm not sure braces can correct or if they just are that way naturally. Or if the only reason they are like that is because one is kinda crooked. I did mention to my husband previously that I did not like my teeth, smiling with them and felt that people did not take me seriously with the combo of these teeth, me looking 15 and my accent. He says "Well, they're *insert inappropriate language here* if they judge you". And they are and realistically, since I'm not willing to be a phony with a fake accent and can only do so much to make myself look older, having straight teeth probably wouldn't suddenly have everyone treat me so much better though during some research I found sites and accounts that would have you believe that. I DEFINITELY don't want a "Hollywood Smile" with the blinding white perfection so I am afraid about the possibility of veneers because they seem to come only in shades whiter than what I have. All blinding white and one thing I know for sure I don't want is whitening. I know with braces I would not want to as it would only straighten out what I already have. I am kind of sad that I did not smile with teeth in my wedding photos though we did get a really nice one of us looking thoughtful. I'm afraid people might think I'm unfriendly because I don't smile but of course I don't smile because I have unattractive teeth.

Now I know I have some slight crookedness on the bottom too but I'm not bothered by that at all. Other than that, no one has ever said anything but having only been to dentists and not orthos, that can be taken with a grain of salt. But I figure if I had bad overbite or whatnot, a dentist would have seen that too. I never had any invasive dental work done really. Just cleaning and a few small fillings. I had wisdom teeth removed but with deep sedation, so I don't even remember it happening . I had impressions for the functional appliance as a kid but I don't remember that either. Definitely scared of impressions though.

Oh my ditsy. My husband is only two years older than me but I look a lot younger, like a teenager pretty much. People always think I'm a teen mom- I was 22 when I had my first and 25 with the second! Once I was calling my son and an old lady made a comment to "Listen to your sister". My little son loves metal braces for some reason so I'm sure he'd be thrilled with a metal mouth. The look I actually don't mind, I'm just glad that they don't look the braces on the Brady Bunch etc. anymore. Growing up I used to think that they made them look really bad on purpose, never occurred to me that in my parents day, they looked like that. I'm sure mom and dad are glad they never wore braces! Getting a band around each tooth...shudder. I'd definitely want to see if I would qualify for braces with brackets only. The only thing that bothers me personally about how braces look is that people will think that I'm a kid even more so than now. But then I'll get student price everywhere without having to prove that I'm a student, right? ;) But I don't really think that I'd look worse with them than I do with these teeth. Of course I am worried about how my husband would think they look but I gotta bite the bullet and straight up tell him that I want to fix these teeth, whether it be braces, invisalign, veneers or bonding, I want to do something.

Definitely some encouraging news about the food. I do eat raw carrots and apples a lot. Honestly I cook for the family, if it were just me I wouldn't bother most of the time. Usually I'll just ask my husband what he wants and eat it too. I hope he would be kind enough to not request corn on the cob if I do get the braces. Since making and cooking food is something I don't enjoy, I eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables but I generally will not eat fruit out of season since it tastes bad to me. But they are healthy and easy to prepare so win win. Liquid diet though never worked for me and always made me cranky. Now in addition to "real" food yes but I still feel so hungry after soup every time for some reason. I remember having to eat spaghetti the 2nd day after my wisdom teeth because one day of soup was enough for me. Though I'm sure spaghetti can be eaten with braces. My son would be thrilled again, his favorite meal.

Very stupid question but I'm breastfeeding right now, would it be smart if I wore braces while still doing that because she is very young still and I don't plan on weaning too soon. I know I'd have to ask an ortho but I think it would be good to know so I could wean her before getting braces. And what to take for pain if ibuprofen makes you dizzy? I think I'm allergic to it and that seems to always be what they want to give you/suggest for mild to moderate pain. If still breastfeeding if/when I got braces, I would tough it out which I don't know if that is advisable. I know you CAN breastfeed while taking certain medication but some always goes to the baby and I'm not comfortable with that.

I think I will look into BOTH orthos and cosmetic dentists consults. Hopefully I can get some free/low cost ones. See what all my options and pros and cons are. Loving all your helpful responses :).

[Beckett]

I hate the dentist. Getting braces put on was not even comparable. They're not coming at your teeth with picks and drills, it's glue and brackets. Everything is done to the surface, they don't scrape at your gums, you don't come away a bleeding mess. Honestly, I had top and bottom put on at the same time and I'd much rather do that again than have a regular cleaning. The little thingies that hold your mouth open have suction attached so you don't feel your mouth fill up with saliva or feel like you will choke. Word of caution, a cosmetic dentist will probably have to grind at your teeth for veneers or bonding. Braces is all (almost all) working on the surface of your teeth. Just shoving them around in your mouth. Very. Very. Slowly.

About breastfeeding, braces should not affect it one bit. Tylenol is safe while nursing, I would stick with that for pain. Yes, you will have to be careful about getting enough calories, which you should be doing anyway if you're nursing. Protein/nutrition drinks, high calorie pastas, things like that. But it will take some effort and you need to commit to that.

As for your husband, and of course I know nothing about him, but I'm going to be blunt anyway-if he would truly have a hard time in the way you say he needs to get over himself. He shouldn't care if you sleep with a retainer. You can kiss him goodnight and good morning with one. (Do people really kiss good morning? Ew. Let me eat breakfast and brush my teeth.) You've had kids, right? Was he in the delivery room? He won't care about seeing you take a retainer out of your mouth. And if he does? It's his issue to get over. Not yours to suffer with crooked teeth because of it.

On finding an orthodontist...find one that has experience with special needs kids. My oldest has severe sensory issues, especially in his mouth, and the ortho we found was phenomenal. He managed to get all the braces on in one appointment and all the techs were great the entire two years. Getting molds taken for retainers was hard for him, but the techs were so good with him he managed to do it all. There's a patient I see in there now that I'm going, a teen with Down Syndrome, and all the techs and the ortho are great with him. He seems mostly non verbal so I'm sure it's not the easiest case but they are so good with him and his mom always seems to be at ease. If you find and ortho like that chances are they have lots of tricks to help fearful adults. And taking an anxiety med before the braces go on isn't unheard of. I'll bet if you ask they can call in a prescription. My oldest takes one when he needs dental work. Just calms him and he doesn't care what they are doing to his mouth.

Good luck in your decision. You have a lot to think about. Just don't let your husband's possible weirdness about you having braces be part of convincing you not to. It's your mouth. Hope I'm not out of line for saying that, but really, except for the joint financial issue, it's your decision.

[McHobbit]

Not out of line. My husband is a little weird I guess but so am I. That's why we fit. He did make a comment a while ago about someone whose wife wears a night guard or retainer or something and how he thought that was a turn off and he didn't think they would have much going on in bed. I do get his point, seeing your wife take out a retainer full of spit and morning breath isn't exactly appealing to a man. I don't know if I wouldn't be the same about him having one. He's really not a shallow guy. I'm no beauty with those crooked teeth, stretch marks galore and if he's lucky I'll be wearing a bit of lipstick and cover up. We do kiss good morning but not french kiss (because morning breath, ew). I know I'm desirable to him now despite the flaws and I'd hate to NOT be because of a retainer when the mere thought of having to sleep with plastic in my mouth for the rest of my life is bad enough already. Braces I actually don't think he would mind as long as it wouldn't mean that we would be unable to kiss and enjoy ourselves in the bedroom with them on. Which everyone plus a friend of mine who has had braces said wouldn't be the case. Part of me wonders if I'll just exchange worrying about my ugly teeth with worrying about making sure my teeth don't shift back again where I'm not sure which is better, because I don't so much worry about my teeth every second of every day, or even every day.

I NEVER would have thought about looking for an orthodontist who treats special needs kids. Such a good idea. Oh I HATE cleanings. SO uncomfortable. All that scraping and probing. But from looking at footage, getting braces looked worse since there is just so much more stuff in your mouth and the cheek retractors (is that what they are called?). I remember never getting sealants on my teeth as a child because all the rubber dams, retractors etc were just not gonna go in my mouth, wasn't going to happen. Getting veneers seems so invasive and painful, I'm shaking in my boots already. I wouldn't care so much about the teeth being ground. As I said, I wouldn't care if they weren't there and straight implants were instead. But I would worry about going through it, the pain, having to have it done again at least twice in my lifetime and the continuous cost of that. It's not like you can pay for veneers and be done, you have to pay another few k again in 10, 15, 20 years for new ones. Of course there are stories of people ending up with constant pain and sensitivity from veneers after several sets which I don't really want to set myself up for either. Bonding seems the least uncomfortable procedure from what I've seen but it also really doesn't last. And if I did get bonding now just to see if having straight teeth really makes as much of a difference as I now think it does (I think we all suffered from "grass is always greener on the other side" syndrome), then braces would be out because the teeth have already been changed by bonding. Decisions, decisions. Can I just get a mouth full of NEW teeth?

[angelina]

It might pay to 'shop around' and talk to different orthodontists about your phobia and see if they can work anything out for you with regards to placing the braces and how to manage your treatment, and if there's an alternative to braces which might be a bit kinder. I definitely agree with some of the previous posts that a positive attitude definitely helps with braces because the experience can be a bit miserable at times so if you feel you're not up for it I would imagine it would make it a lot harder on yourself. It absolutely helps to be able to have a laugh at some of the ridiculous things like food stuck in teeth or the spit in the morning and with your significant other. My husband's pet name for me is 'chompers'

As for food all I can suggest is perhaps prepare foods ahead that you can eat with ease, maybe savory muffins, slices, have a bowl full of easy to peel/eat fruit ready, smoothies, milkshakes, etc. Because it does get difficult. I'm a lot bigger than you but still slim and I lost 8 kgs (around 17 lbs) in total. For me that wasn't a big deal because I had it to lose but I wouldn't want to lose any more so it does almost require work to keep eating. It might also pay to see your regular doctor and enquire about it especially because you're breastfeeding - you need to make sure you're looking after yourself. He or she might have some ideas for you

I'm not sure about the sleep thing because I'm quite a deep sleeper and don't have young kids waking me at night (mine is older) but even some nights my braces keep me awake because of discomfort.

I'm personally so happy I got them even though I completely freaked out when having them put on and they're a pain in the backside. I hope I haven't sounded too negative because I do think in the end braces are worth it for the right personality. My treatment has gone ridiculously straightforward so it hasn't been too traumatic at all but even some days I'm completely over it but most days I take it in my stride. One thing I always try to convince my dental-phobic husband of is that if we don't look after our teeth now then wait until we see what happens in future when we have to go through all kinds of horrible things.