Grin&bareit73 Story (with Pics)

[Grin&bareit73]

Well, it finally happened! Pretty uneventful actually. Top & bottom Damon3's in just under 2 hours, not too bad. The worst part was trying to swallow with the lip retractors in and the cold air on my sensitive teeth.

When I looked in the mirror, the first thought I had was "oh my God, what did I DO?" but i'm ok now. The first half hour I felt like my lips were sticking way out, but you get used to the feeling.

Then I ate and the real fun began. I spent a good half an hour searching for hidden debris then decided just to brush really well and then look. I don't have any pain yet, but for some reason a part of my gums on the top felt really weird when I was brushing them, like they were cut but they're not. Very strange.

I'm actually letting my teeth show now when I smile though, which I consider to be a good thing..however, the smile tends to linger a bit longer than it should because my top lip gets caught on the braces, but I guess it's ok!

I guess eventually there will be some discomfort, but right now i'm getting by with flying colors...one day down, 600 some to go!
Thanks to everyone for the encouragement, it really helped on the big day!

[sjsarre]

Congrats on getting your brace Grin&bareit73

Hopefully you won't experience too much pain.

Be sure to post updates...

[Flora2006]

Congrats on getting your braces They look great! Really small!

[Grin&bareit73]

Well, day 2 arrived and so did the pain. Guess my luck ran out, Sjsarre! It started off as a dull ache, not too bad, but by the end of the day (thanks to going to work sans my Advil) my one eye tooth had me in agony.

I actually didn't manage to eat anything until 7pm and then avoided that side of my mouth. Of course, then I had to brush my teeth...
All I can say is i'm glad i don't have a roommate because I was cursing up a storm. I hit the tender part of my gums on the one side, and then the sore tooth on the other that sent a shockwave clear to my brain. My ortho's ears must have been burning!

I can honestly say that I'm over these things for the day, grrrr.

Haven't used the wax yet, thought I'd tough it out, and hopefully get used to these things quicker, but I did use the saltwater KK, and I think it's helping.

I think what bothers me the most is the way I talk. I deliberately try NOT to talk funny, and end up sounding like all my words start with sph...really annoying. If, and when does this go away? If I talk like this for the next 2 years i'll never leave the house!

Thanks Flora2006 for saying that they look really small, if only they felt it!!

And thanks everyone for letting me rant, feel lucky you only had to read it and not hear it!

[Flora2006]

Things will get better soon...really!!!

I think I just started to speak properly again...but there are still some words that whenever I say them, I feel like I have a lisp...it's annoying but you will get the hang of it and learn.

Hope the pain goes away real soon! Take care

[Leslie022]

Welcome to the board!!

When I was first braced, the brackets cut up the inside of my mouth pretty badly. What I did after that was use wax at night, while I was sleeping. It seemed to give my mouth a break for a few hours. That worked for ME, but I'm not sure if it would work for you. It's worth a try, though. The warm salt water is great! I sometimes have pain and bleeding around my molar bands. I get out my waterpik and blast out any food that might be trapped and then rinse with the salt water. Sores usually heal within a day!

Ok, I'm tired and I'm rambling...

Good luck to you!

Leslie

[Grin&bareit73]

Well, tomorrow it will be a week that i've had these babies on and it's taken a lot of adjusting, but I think I've gotten the hang of it.

Once I started using the wax and doing the salt-water rinses, my lips started to feel a lot better. I had an annoying bracket on my lower arch that needed wax for 3 days, then suddenly it didn't bother me anymore.

Because I've had a gap between my front teeth for 32 years, my top lip had a bump on the inside of it. (the ortho said this was from the pressure of my lips trying to push my teeth back as I have a slight overjet- yes a tongue thruster--oh the humanity!!)
Anyway, this bump would rub on the archwire all day, especially when I talked, and became very sore. So like Leslie022 mentioned, I would put wax across my top 4 brackets at night to give my lip a rest, and it really helped!

Now I have a new problem. Either my teeth have moved a bit (oh, can it be true?!!) or I'm just now noticing it, but I have wires poking me behind my back molars and not only is it really hard to get the wax on the right spot- but it doesn't want to stay put. It says to make sure your teeth are dry, but how do you keep a back molar dry- you tell me....!

Anyway I shouldn't complain because i'm speaking and eating much better now. (Yes all you newly braced, it does get better!!) I must admit at first I had a big case of the regrets, and the typical "how am I gonna deal with this for 2 years" thoughts, but now I kinda like the braces.
I actually had a slice of pizza the other day..ok, so I cut it into little pieces, but hey it was still pizza!

My teeth don't ache that much anymore, and I really kind of miss it because it represented improvement. But once in a while a tooth will get a bit sore and I know things are still happening.

My new favorite thing to do is put on a layer of blistex, and then cover it with lip gloss. Sounds like overkill but I swear by it. Sometimes I even forget the braces are there because my lips don't get caught.

Tomorrow I will take a pic, because I swear my 2 front teeth are closer together, but I will let all of you judge.
Thanks to everyone for all the great advice......
and yes, the first week is the worst, but it really does get better
I went from to in just one week!

[Leslie022]

I'm glad to hear my little tip helped you!

I, too, had a wire poking me within a week of being braced. So, it might be movedment or you might not have noticed it before...who knows?

Don't associate progress with pain. You have more movement when there is less pain!

[Grin&bareit73]

Thank Goodness for this forum!

My bite is really off right now. I actually have to concentrate to get the 2 arches to meet without banging my front teeth on the bottom..and ouch!

So while I was practicing closing my mouth properly I heard (and felt) this little click. I thought maybe my lower molar was touching the top arch wire and moving it around. Then I thought maybe a bracket was loose.

Finally after some investigating with my mouth mirror, I realized that it is actually my molar that is clicking, and that it is loose. It's the second to last molar on both sides actually, and this really freaked me out because I was under the impression these teeth wouldn't move. My treatment is for spaces in the front, and my molars are the only teeth that appeared to be fine.

I searched the forum and found out that this clicking and looseness are normal things and boy was I relieved! It's a really strange feeling and noise, and I find myself endlessly playing with it which is probably not good.

My questions are:
Has anyone else had looseness/clicking in their very back molars, or is it usually the teeth towards the front?

Also, how long does it take for the looseness to go away. I'm paranoid about chewing now..like my tooth is going to pop in and out of the socket or something.

It all reminds me of the swingset I had in my back yard as a kid. If I swung high enough in the air, the poles would actually start lifting out of the ground....I really don't want my teeth doing that..

Ok, I think I'm delirious....

[Grin&bareit73]

Well, I've been busy at work and started dwelling on my mouth less...

Finally I took a pic and though it may not be drastic, there is definitely a difference.

This was Day 1:



This is Week 2:


My left front tooth (with chip) has come down a bit to match the one next to it. But the best part is it is actually turning in, and the gap is slightly closing. I have a check/adjustment(?) on the 31st so maybe I'll get a thicker wire and more movement.

My bottom teeth have actually gotten slightly more crooked, and the front right one is loose and hurts to brush, but I am definitely happy with the top! Gaps, your days are numbered!!

No matter how slight, progress always helps the process seem to go quicker...it's so worth the tons of lip gloss....

[Leslie022]

Yes, I can see a slight change with the chipped tooth and the gap! You're right, progress does make it easier! Congrats!

[Grin&bareit73]

Thanks Kiwi and Leslie022!

Last nite a bracket came loose off of one of my molars while I was eating. Some of my teeth have been loose and I automatically thought one of my teeth fell out--pretty scary!

Anyway, my ortho's assistant got me in today and reglued the bracket for me, so I asked her to snip the wire that was poking me in the back.

She pulled the wire as far to one side as she could and grinded it down with a tool. When she pulled it, it seemed to tighten up my whole top arch or something, because now my teeth feel tender again. This seemed strange to me, as she didn't change the wire, just pulled on it. Am i crazy?
Unfortunately, the wire is as sharp as ever in the back, but not quite as long now....oh, well. I still have plenty of wax!!

I've read some people mention paying for replacing a bracket that comes off. Is this only if you lose the bracket? Fortunately with the Damons, the bracket stayed attached to the wire. It sort of just slid around in my mouth and I could spin it with my tongue. (Sort of amusing when you're bored at work staring at cameras all day.)
They didn't charge me for regluing it, and called the appointment a "comfort visit". I wonder if they put a limit on these before they start charging??

Well, just another day in the life...still grinning

[Grin&bareit73]

Kind of off topic, but I think I caught my dog making fun of my teeth...there's just no end to the humiliation...lol



Her bottom teeth are kind of crooked, and her top lip sometimes gets caught on them, so maybe she's just jealous and wants braces too....

Anyway, I just wanted to share this pic because I thought it was funny. I don't have any kids, so this is my baby!

[Leslie022]

Haha, that's a cute picture of your doggie!

[butterfly]

Hi Grin&bareit73!

The process has definitely started for you! Enjoy watching your progress in these first few months. I think they are the most exciting. Keep posting photos.

BTW this is not funny - dogs actually get braces
http://members.tripod.com/arf4dogs/members/diva.htm