Hello, fellow metal-mouths!
Getting my braces put on was a breeze. The process was virtually painless and the first time I looked in the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised at how I looked. I was expecting to look like a poorly carved Jack-O-Lantern and had imagined the crying I might do, but I had only smiles for myself!
That afternoon, my colleagues were very supportive. Everyone wanted to see my braces and all had very positive comments. My fiance thinks I look even cuter now, although I'm pretty sure that's a biased opinion.
I'm very happy with my decision! I'm using dental wax to cover offending brackets and have thus far warded off any canker sores or abrasions. My expander has given me a slight, almost indiscernable lisp, but I'm sure that, too, will go away.
What I didn't expect was how much time I'd spend cleaning my teeth and braces. My brushing routine has tripled in length and flossing now takes me just over 20 minutes!
I'm taking Advil regularly, although I'm already noticing the pain and pressure subsiding a bit. Unfortunately, I discovered this evening that one my brackets won't stay closed. My brackets are similar to Damon's, however, instead of true doors to hold the wire in place, my "doors" slide up and down.
I've left a voicemail for my orthodontist letting him know about the situation. His office is closed on Fridays, so l sent the message with "urgency." Until I hear from him, I plan to keep dental wax over the bracket to help keep it closed.
I
have some pictures of my newly braced smile in my online blog! I welcome you to check it out (please click on the link in my signature)!
Congratulations to everyone getting braces this week! We should all be proud!
![Jump4Joy :jump:](./images/smilies/041.gif)