Second day in braces

[marzdncr]

Just had my braces put on yesterday afternoon (it's late morning day after now). I'm a 31 year old female living in San Francisco. I have always needed braces for a gap, cross bite and crooked teeth, but family could not afford it... It wasn't until maybe in the last two years when my teeth really started to bother me.. Perhaps with getting older, (wrinkles, grey hair, weight etc.) I became hyper aware of how to improve myself esteem.
The actual process was not painful and rather quick (less than an hour), the ortho explained everything as she was doing it. I have two spacers on my back molar area (on each side). It took several attempts with smaller bands each time to get them on and there was some bleeding due to tightness, however the spacers are not bothersome at the moment (which according to many posts seem to be the most painful). My two front teeth knock into my lower teeth (scraping the front) so my Dr. added "bumpers" and requested that I not close my mouth all the way to avoid knocking off the brackets.. This has been super tricky while speaking and chewing.

My teeth feel very "tight" and sore now, especially when I bite down on food (which is annoying)!. Yesterday I tried eating a little soft bread out of bravery, because having braces on felt like boulders glued to my teeth, and I was scared about putting anything in my mouth.. The bread was tricky and not fun! So I had mashed potatoes (which I mostly swallowed) and soup (best thing so far). So I may be on a soup diet? I am now painfully chewing on scrambled eggs. Who knew eating scrambled eggs would hurt? Big bummer.
I'm having moments of "what did I do to myself!?" and wanting to rip them off.. And moments of, "here we go! Can't wait for my new smile."
I'm def proud of myself so far for taking the necessary steps in improving my image, and being honest with myself about my needs.. Not to mention being able to do what my parents couldn't for me. I'm worried about how long the difficult transition will last, but am looking forward to a time when I am used to my new braces.

My next appointment is in two weeks, my insurance only covered 20% of braces, however at each orthodontist I saw who accepted my insurance, the cost was still too high (8,000).. So I am paying out of pocket (5,6000) with a nice office near my home.
Friends and family have been great. I have clear on top, metal bottom, they look great (not as bad as I thought they would).
Wish me luck!

[Nettie]

Hello and Good Luck!!!!

Congrats on your journey!!! I'm also from the Bay Area actually the peninsula.
Will schedule to be braced in June if I don't chicken out. I have waited longer than you to get my teeth fixed, as everyone else has mentioned you will not regret it and you will be enjoying a beautiful smile before you know it, I wish I had done it 15 years ago!!!!

I hope you will be feeling better soon and eating before you know it!

Looking forward to reading your progress!

Nettie

[Gennie 50]

Welcome and Good Luck. I also waited a long time to get my braces. As a matter of fact, I'm 50 years old. Believe me it does get better. I hear you about scrambled eggs hurting. Most of the time, I swallow my food whole. I've got my braces on in May 2010. I've been through cancer sores, sensitive teeth and "What did I do to myself" . It does get better.

Keep your chin up and smile Before long, you will not notice your braces.

Braced in May 2010
Ceramic on top and metal on bottom

[Takako]

Dont' worry, it gets better and the pain goes away I can pretty much eat anything these days.

[marzdncr]

Thank so much Nettie and Gennie 50!
I'm super glad to hear that it gets better.
I think that is what I need to hear (especially form those who wear braces now)

It's day three and the sensitivity of my teeth are not like yesterday. Either the pain is really lessening or I am getting used to them feeling tender and painful.. I've decided to steer clear of anything that needs chewing.. Now the pain is more about how a couple of the brackets are rubbing and tearing the inside of my lips (especially when wrapping my mouth around a spoon.)
Hopefully wax will help.

I just had a peanut butter smoothie from Jamba Juice! Highly recommend.. Thinking about taking advantage in eating ice cream daily!
Thank you so much for the kind words!

[Mohamed Ahmed]

Hello!

When i was reading your post it was like a word for word of what happened me to when i got braces 4 days ago :P, it was so painful......
unable to chew on anything, but i find as you wake up every other morning the pain decreases by a lot, it's still hard to bite down on
some stuff but the first day i didn't realize how painful it was to bite something until i had tried eating a hamburger lol! greatest mistake..
i went and took a huge bite, and literally drop the burger because of the pain LOL!, but fastfoward four days later and here i was today eating
a burger like a champ (had to cute it down to bit size pieces lol). but yeah it get's better :D

[Plumcore]

Aw give yourself and a your teeth a break :p. The pain will lessen considerably within a week. And the more time passes the more used you will get to the feeling. I found that for me, the best thing was to rip the bread with my molars, as in bite on the side, and really if you toast the bread a bit it gets considerably easier because it crumbles on it's own .

Try to keep your vitamin intake high especially for these first few days of ouch pain diet. Looking forward to your progress

PS: Wax is now your best friend.

[kmluvgod]

I've been braced for a week now and I do understand how you feel. My front teeth is still a little sensitive, but I found within due time your mouth adjust to the braces.

[klobird]

Hey Marz--

Welcome!! I got my braces a month ago--I'm 55--and yes, it gets better. I have learned to eat differently--I tear or cut up food and put it in the back of my mouth, instead of biting down directly on the food.

I think the spacer pain comes from biting down on food--I was aware of that so I had all soft foods during spacer time and had ZERO pain from the spacers.

I got really good, in the beginning, at pretty much sucking down eggs, little pieces of french toast made soggy with syrup,
cottage cheese etc etc...

A peanut butter smoothie--OMG!--ewwwwww......really?

[marzdncr]

@ Klobird.
YES! It was delicious! lol!
I have a major sweet tooth and eat peanut butter on a regular basis, so I needed a serious sweet fix. I believe it had a bit of chocolate, bannana, and frozen yogurt in it?
I also had some avacado soup yesterday (which was also yummy). If anything I am being introduced to new things to eat and forced to try.. I am also attempting to embrace the idea that perhaps this is a real method of avoiding things I eat too much of anyway.. (I also have a weekness for chips and salsa).

It's officially early on day four, and chewing is still out of the question. However I think the inside of my mouth is getting a little bit more use to the metal brackets. My tongue now has a sore :-( but over all I think my mouth is getting used to these crazy braces.

I'm finding out that patience is key.
Thank you to everyone for writing their support, it is really helping to hear that others have been in my place and are happy to say that it gets better.

[klobird]

Hey Marz,

Well, ok, here's the problem---I loooovvvveeeee sweets, especially chocolate too. Do you know how many sweets are chocolate??? Like Everything!!! Chocolate ice cream,pudding,soft cake,kit kat candy bars and others (many)--all I heard was how much weight I was going to lose and how I would have to cut out all the good stuff---NOT!!!!

I am maintaining my weight but just barely--I eat a whole lot more now than I used to, and I think it's out of the sheer panic that I might not be able to eat things. Like I don't ever even remember having a Big Mac before...oh ya, my new best friend....Anyway, I have not eaten this terrible in a very long time!!! (BBQ yesterday--yummy strawberry shortcake for dessert- (the shortcake was homemade)--ya, vanilla ice cream and strawberries might have been easier, but nooooo--I'm eating it all!!!! YIKES!!!

Oh ya, and about the peanut butter shake thing--I even eat peanut butter on toast now....no problems...

[Twinks]

Hi there,

Yes it does get better. I'm at the end of day 6 and I've managed scrambled eggs twice now. The pain isn't anything like what it was on day 1 or 2. I have a removable top brace and it hurt like a son of a gun every time I had to pop it back in after cleaning. Painkillers were my friends for the first 3 days but now there's no pain. It will get better. And you're right about seeing the positive, just imagine: after each day your teeth are getting progressively straighter! And that's something to smile about :D

[Bracer215]

It definitely gets better. Went to the ortho last week. No new wire so my teeth are feeling really comfortable right now.
My food processor became my best friend. Sill have not had PIZZA yet though after over 4 months. I drink a protein smoothie in the morning. I have lost a good 14 pounds.

[Twinks]

[quote="Bracer215"]I drink a protein smoothie in the morning. I have lost a good 14 pounds.[/quote]

Well at least there's a bright side :) Any brand of shake that you prefer?
It took me over an hour to eat a salad at lunch. I think I'll be eating soup and protein shakes at work for the forseeable future...

[Bracer215]

I just use a scoop of whey protein with some skim milk, frozen berries, yogurt and a banana and blend it all. I don't like to take the time to clean the food from my braces in the morning. This way I can just brush and it is quicker. I find I do not snack as much cause that means cleaning my teeth. Think that is why I have lost weight.
Good Luck.