Hey guys!
So I've been through a lot in the last couple of weeks, two weeks ago today I had 7 teeth removed, and 2 days ago I got my braces put on. All in all...ouch. The biggest pain has been just starting to recover from the extractions and now going back to square one with the braces! I was already having difficulty eating with the lack of teeth, and now the teeth that are still there hurt like hell!! I can't eat anything remotely solid, and I'm struggling trying to stay healthy as I'm also working everyday, and am dealing with some random life stresses as well...oh its been a fun two weeks.
What I'm wondering is how long it took for you to start eating more solid foods after you first got your braces on? And do your cheeks always hurt this bad?? Because mine hate me right now...
Somebody please show me a light at the end of this tunnel!
Looking for a shot of optimism...
Moderator: bbsadmin
Hi caitlin and welcome in the braced world 
I know that right know it seems you will not be able to eat normally ever again but trust me this is not case. I felt the same despair on my first day in braces to the point I was crying that I wanted the ortho to remove them NOW (privately thank god and very childishly, I know ). You will feel pretty awkward for the first 3 days, then you will slowly start to get back to normal. I didn't have extractions with my braces so I don't know exactly how it feels, but the pain will be all over soon and your diet will return to normal. Promise
I know that right know it seems you will not be able to eat normally ever again but trust me this is not case. I felt the same despair on my first day in braces to the point I was crying that I wanted the ortho to remove them NOW (privately thank god and very childishly, I know ). You will feel pretty awkward for the first 3 days, then you will slowly start to get back to normal. I didn't have extractions with my braces so I don't know exactly how it feels, but the pain will be all over soon and your diet will return to normal. Promise Hang in there. It does get better. . .and then worse. . .and then better again. I'm still pretty new to braces, about 6 weeks now. Some days my teeth are sore and some days they are less so. What's bugging me the most right now is that my bite is shifting and is definitely worse than when I started. It's hard to eat because odd teeth keep hitting one another before I can make contact with my molars where I'm trying to chew!
Take a pain reliever of your choice an hour before you want to eat and stick to a soft diet until you are feeling better. I'm back to eating steak and just about anything else I want but I have to cut it up small and I can't take bites of anything (even sandwiches are cut into bit sized pieces).
Oh, and are your cheeks hurting because they are being abraded by the brackets? Start using lots of wax. Just dry off the area and gob on the wax. Your cheeks will get used to it eventually although I still have one place where I keep wax all the time.
Take a pain reliever of your choice an hour before you want to eat and stick to a soft diet until you are feeling better. I'm back to eating steak and just about anything else I want but I have to cut it up small and I can't take bites of anything (even sandwiches are cut into bit sized pieces).
Oh, and are your cheeks hurting because they are being abraded by the brackets? Start using lots of wax. Just dry off the area and gob on the wax. Your cheeks will get used to it eventually although I still have one place where I keep wax all the time.
It does get better. I only had 1 extraction so I can't say I completely know how you feel. Things did get easier with time after my 4 wisdom teeth were pulled in Dec. and this other tooth 3 weeks ago. I was eating solids (very carefully, small bites, more swallowing than chewing, & very soft items) about 3 days after the extractions.
My teeth did hurt the first week after getting the braces on. I ate lots of soup, soothies, ice cream shakes, apple sauce, toast, Jell-O...then made my way up to Cheez-Its, cookies, spaghetti, McDonalds hamburger & fries, Rice Krispies cereal, pancakes, chicken, pizza, I even had pork chops the other day...
Eating has become a chore. Ugh. I find it rather annoying because I'm (a) still trying to figure out what I can eat and what I shouldn't/fear of popping off brackets (b) food gets cold since I have to cut everything up and eat in small bites (c) the cleaning process afterwards takes a while.
For the most part, my teeth don't hurt much - just every now and then. I'm too afraid of biting down directly into something for fear of popping off a bracket. I miss being able to eat whatever I want and however I want!
I've yet to use wax. My cheeks don't hurt at all. I'm not sure what kind of braces I have (I think Damon) but they're pretty comfy.
I also wonder if we'll ever be able to bite directly into something or will we have to cut everything up the entire time we're in braces?
I hope you feel better soon. Sounds like it's been a rough 2 weeks.
It will get better.
My teeth did hurt the first week after getting the braces on. I ate lots of soup, soothies, ice cream shakes, apple sauce, toast, Jell-O...then made my way up to Cheez-Its, cookies, spaghetti, McDonalds hamburger & fries, Rice Krispies cereal, pancakes, chicken, pizza, I even had pork chops the other day...
Eating has become a chore. Ugh. I find it rather annoying because I'm (a) still trying to figure out what I can eat and what I shouldn't/fear of popping off brackets (b) food gets cold since I have to cut everything up and eat in small bites (c) the cleaning process afterwards takes a while.
For the most part, my teeth don't hurt much - just every now and then. I'm too afraid of biting down directly into something for fear of popping off a bracket. I miss being able to eat whatever I want and however I want!
I've yet to use wax. My cheeks don't hurt at all. I'm not sure what kind of braces I have (I think Damon) but they're pretty comfy.
I also wonder if we'll ever be able to bite directly into something or will we have to cut everything up the entire time we're in braces?I hope you feel better soon. Sounds like it's been a rough 2 weeks.
It will get better.
Braces (uppers & lowers) on: 8/3/09
Sentence: 2 years
Hey Caitlan - first of all huge congrats on your new braces! It's a great thing that you are doing for yourself!!
Wow, you've been through a lot these past few weeks. Understandably, your body needs some time to adjust. But don't worry - it gets easier and easier!! Seriously, I've had my braces for 1-1/2 years and it has been a pretty smooth journey. I do recall a significant adjustment initally though.
First I would say - go ahead and take Advil as you need it, if you're feeling discomfort. As for eating - I was back into normal foods in a week - I started slow, and cut things into small pieces, and gave myself some extra time. You'll be eating normal foods before you know it! After a few months I was eating pretty much everything except popcorn and taffy : )
To be honest with you, I don't mind my braces at all now. You get so used to them. I know it's difficult to envision that at first - but it's very true! I'm not brave with these things at all - so if it was okay for me, it'll be just fine for you. Just need some time to adjust initially.
Wow, you've been through a lot these past few weeks. Understandably, your body needs some time to adjust. But don't worry - it gets easier and easier!! Seriously, I've had my braces for 1-1/2 years and it has been a pretty smooth journey. I do recall a significant adjustment initally though.
First I would say - go ahead and take Advil as you need it, if you're feeling discomfort. As for eating - I was back into normal foods in a week - I started slow, and cut things into small pieces, and gave myself some extra time. You'll be eating normal foods before you know it! After a few months I was eating pretty much everything except popcorn and taffy : )
To be honest with you, I don't mind my braces at all now. You get so used to them. I know it's difficult to envision that at first - but it's very true! I'm not brave with these things at all - so if it was okay for me, it'll be just fine for you. Just need some time to adjust initially.
Bluegirl and Pebs....your experiences are very close to mine too. I've been in my braces for 3 weeks and get my first adjustment on Monday. My teeth still hurt and today my bite started shifting. I was in the middle of a conversation and my teeth "smacked" each other! Owie!
I had to laugh about food getting cold because that is SO true!
I had to laugh about food getting cold because that is SO true!