I feel like ripping them off

[AAXL98]

Hey guys,

Yesterday I got my metal braces on my upper teeth. The process didn't hurt but I am feeling very uncomfortable.

I ate fine today but when I chewed it hurt so I had to break down the food with my tongue. I am feeling very upset at the moment because my exams are coming up soon and I really need to work hard. I am also travelling next September to start Uni, and I was thinking "Is this what my life is going to be like now?"

Today is my 2nd day and I had to restrain myself from ripping them out because they felt very irritating.

The cleaning isn't an issue for me. It's the pain and annoyance. I know this sounds dramatic but my brain is thinking "Will I ever be able to read a book, study, enjoy my time out with friends, eat a meal or anything"

Please tell me it gets better because I am on the verge of depression here, you can make fun of me but seriously I am not liking this.

[Beckett]

No one will make fun of you, it is a lot to get used to. BUT! It does get better, we all promise. You have to give yourself a week or two and then things won't feel so painful, won't feel so irritating or so obvious in your mouth. I'm going on three weeks with mine and now when I'm sitting still and not eating or talking I barely notice them. But it was painful in the beginning and I took Advil round the clock for a few days. Eating is still...awkward, but you get used to making accommodations and before you know it, your treatment will be done and you'll have a new knockout smile. This board is a great place to find support and sympathy. Hang in there!

[littlething]

I'm 3 1/2 weeks in now and I can attest to the fact that it does indeed get better.

I will say though, that the first week or so were super rough, and I had many of the same feelings that you did. I was on the verge of tears because my teeth hurt, everything felt uncomfortable and awkward, I couldn't eat, and I had sores all over my mouth, the cleaning was overwhelming and felt like just too much. It just seemed like it wasn't getting any better - it just felt like one thing after another.

Everything did settle about 10 days in, and although things are still sometimes uncomfortable and I still can't eat like I used to, I feel like I can resume a normal life again.

Hang in there!!

[shanlola]

I can also assure you that things do get better! I am 10 weeks into my journey and I felt the same as you straight after, I remember waking up the next morning after they had been 'installed' and praying that the whole thing had been a nightmare and I hadn't gone through with it! But very quickly you will become accustomed to things, I had lots of sores at the beginning from brackets rubbing against my gums however I haven't had a single sore since around week 4, your gums quickly toughen up! I eat, speak and do everything completely normal now and braces haven't affected my social life one bit! In fact I cannot recall what my teeth felt like before braces any more they feel so normal now, so chin up and think of the goal - a BEAUTIFUL smile, it DOES get so much easier!

[MissEvaH]

I'm almost 3 months in with my braces and nothing has been as bad as that first week was. I was sensitive again for a few days after my first wire change but I've been fine since then. I didn't believe it would get better but it totally has! Hang in there!

[Bracesat57]

What you are going thru right now is very normal! The beginning adjustment takes a little time to get thru but soon and you will totally forget you have braces on your teeth. Give it time. Relax and think of the end result! Good luck!

[Tyrantblade]

im over 8 months in to my 24 months estimated treatment time and after my last adjustment on the 12th was the easiest its ever been

It took like a day or maybe a day and a half and then no pain at all

Honestly im sort of hoping to have more pain as i sort of feel like nothing will happen without even a little pain

Really the worst pain is when you first get them and have to adjust, and the worst of it can last maybe a week; also the 3 days after every adjustment

[AAXL98]

Thank you guys so much for the help and comfort. I am awake now in the middle of the night because my teeth are killing me. It feels like my gums are about to be ripped right off and my teeth are about to fall out. But I'll just stay strong.

[Tyrantblade]

Thank you guys so much for the help and comfort. I am awake now in the middle of the night because my teeth are killing me. It feels like my gums are about to be ripped right off and my teeth are about to fall out. But I'll just stay strong.

You can use over the counter painkillers, or numb your mouth with cold water or by sucking on ice until it melts, it may help quite a bit until the pain settles down to be not so bad

Just keep going because the pain will be well worth it

These past few months my bite has easily been the best its been in 5 years

[buffon85]

it does get better! the first two weeks were the hardest!the pain was not the main problem. i also was very happy with the look, i couldn't stop smiling!
but i felt like my teeth and gums were veeery tired. it felt like they were exercising the whole day. but it soon got better.
now only the ortho chair is hard for me. even the hours after the adjustment are ok!
be a little patient! do things to forget the braces!

[Lisamichelle18]

It does get better!!! I'm almost at the end of month 3. It took me about two weeks to get used to them but now I barely notice them ... Except when I'm eating. I've noticed as the months go by I get more annoyed with food getting stuck lol. My first month or so I gritted my teeth really bad while I slept which made my teeth and gums so sore in the mornings but it does get better! Stay strong and take lots of Motrin you got this!!!

Lisa

[djspeece]

Ibuprofen is excellent for dental pain taken per label directions.

[Welshrarebit]

How are you doing now AAXL98?

I had mine on 6 days ago and am right there with you in the 'hate them' stage. I totally related to what Shanlola said too - for the first few days I woke up hoping it was all a bad dream!

But things are starting to get a little better. I still wish there was another (quicker, less painful!) way to get straight teeth but no - this is it.

We need to stick with it. I really wanted to go back to have them taken off last week but if I did that I'd be a few thousand pounds poorer and still with a snaggle tooth.

[stellarxoxo]

I'm 9 days in and things have gotten better. The first few days were hell with the sensitivity and pressure. I think the most annoying thing right now is learning to chew differently as my back teeth dont touch, so I find myself chewing like a cow.

I also tend to "suction" my lower teeth to my lip and In turn have painful lower inner lip. The sensitivity has gone down a lot though.


Hang in there. The end result will be worth it!

[braceyfacey]

Hey, I also got braces put in my upper teeth about two weeks ago and I can totally relate to that feeling of wanting them off. For the first three days or so, I kept thinking to myself that I had made a huge mistake and regretted getting the stupid contraptions. However, that went away once my teeth started to settle down and although I can still feel the braces in my mouth, they no longer bother me. In fact, I am super excited because I can already see and feel my teeth moving and I can't stop kicking myself for not doing this earlier. Now, I'm counting down the days until my first adjustment which is when I also get my bottom arch braced.