Braces to start my 30's...3rd Adjustment.

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#1 Post by **Flaka** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:09 pm

Hi,

I have been reading the posts in the site for a few weeks, trying to learn from your experiences and it has been really helpful.

I have been in and out of the dentist and ortho's offices for last month and today I got my braces on. I have mild crowding in the lower and upper teeth, crossbite and my arch is too narrow.

I got damon braces, I think they are Damon3 on the upper teeth ( not sure) anyways, it wasnt so bad untill 4 hours later, my teeth started to hurt, I took some motrin and it made me feel better.

I noticed that when i close my lips completely, my chin gets really tense so I have to keep my mouth a bit open.

I was really nervous last night and my bf was very encouraging (he hasn't seen me yet) and this afternoon my son told me I look like a teenager again (I am not sure if that was a compliment or what)

These is what I have learn so far today:

1. Flossing is going to be a pain in the butt
2. I will have to quit my chewing gum addiction
3. Wax will be my best friend
4. I can't bite my nails anymore (which is the best thing about having braces now...really bad habit)
5. I dint know my face could look like a toilet shaped face

If I find a new trick to make flossing easier, i will make sure to share.

#2 Post by **jenny101101** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:49 am

Hi Flaka,

Welcome to AW and to the world of braces! Congrats on getting braced...sounds like you're doing good so far

.

Yes, flossing is a pain. Do you use Superfloss? It has a stiff end that makes it easy to thread under the archwire, then a thicker, spongier part to clean brackets and then floss. I like it b/c it's easy to thread although sometimes it shreds and it is a little thicker then regular floss. As far as gum goes, I don't chew it(well, I can't b/c I have a molar buildup and my molars don't touch)but I've heard that some orthos actually recommend chewing sugar free gum...gets the blood flowing. You could try that.

Haha! I hear you on the no nail biting! I used to bite my nails and the skin around them but now that I can't, my nails are growing out nicely and I don't get as many hangnails(can't complain about that!

) And, yes, wax is great! I've had my uppers for 7 weeks but just got my lowers on yesterday and it's been a godsend!

Good luck on your journey...I look forward to following your progress!

#3 Post by **Flaka** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:42 pm

Thanks jenny101101,I did try to bite my nails today and it was painful so I guess I won't try it again. I also spent about 20 minutes trying to floss and i have been so hungry but I have managed to chew half and swallow the other half

Your teeth look nice

How long did it take you to get use to them? Is it normal to feel like your mouth is bulky and it seems like a bee stinged you on the lips?

I am posting a couple of pics of my first day, hopefully in a few months I can take some more and see a difference specially on my lower right bi-cuspid( i think) which sank completely and it hurts the bone and also to fix my crossbite, have a wide arch and fix those dracula teeth

#4 Post by **jenny101101** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:33 am

Hi Flaka,

Wow, you're teeth look really good already! It looks like you have the exact same braces as me...another Damon buddy! YAY!

I've had my tops for almost 2 months but just got my lowers on 2 days ago. Yes, I'm sure it's normal for them to feel bulky but, amazingly, mine feel less bulky already, after only 2 days. It took me about a week to get used to my uppers and now I'm completely used to having both.

I noticed you have elastics already. I don't have elastics(yet, anyway) so I can't be of any help with those but I've heard they are annoying. How do you find them? Do the attachments on the backs of your teeth bug you?

BTW, if you click on the WWW at the bottom of my signature and go to my story, you'll see in my pics that we have the same "wandering" molar...what a coincidence! Mine is moving already, just slightly but it's getting there

.

#5 Post by **Bekah** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 4:51 am

They look great! I got braced Monday the 7th and still notice them but they don't feel absolutely huge anymore!

I figure at this rate, I will be used to them and not notice them within the next couple of days!

#6 Post by **tjstrout** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:27 am

Welcome Flaka!!!

You had me rolling with the toiled shaped face!

I don't think I could have described it any better. Look at how white your teeth are. I am very jealous!

Looking forward to seeing your updates.

#7 Post by **browneyedgrl** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 5:55 am

Hi Flaka,

Welcome to AW and happy b-day!!! You had me rolling with the toilet shaped face comment!!! My recommendation on floss is glide threader floss, it's awesome! I had my teeth cleaned 5 weeks ago and the hygenist used it and gave me samples and I'm hooked! Threader are a PITA, plus I have long nails and that wasn't working for me, took too long! I normally threaded regular glide through the wires and that worked well too!

Your pics are great and you got rubber bands too! Keep us posted on all updates.

B

#8 Post by **Flaka** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 11:38 pm

Thanks everyone!

It looks like a lot of us got braced on the same week! What are you guys estimate? I got 24-30 months....I was hoping for less but we will see how it goes.

Jenny: I saw your pictures and we do have the same wondering molar, that is a funny coincidence (at least we aren't alone) and its great that its already moving!
You also have Damons, what are the little color dots in the braces? Don't the bottom ones look like little skulls?

The elastics are ok, the really dont bother me, what bothers me are the attachments on the back of my teeth, my tongue rubs against them and i have cut it a couple of times. When are you due for elastics?

tjstrout: Its really strange...you will think that your teeth get yellower with time right? I have no clue why my teeth are white now (but I wont complaint

) I did use a couple of years ago those white stripes thingys and they worked well.

Flossing is getting easier, I will ask about the glide floss too.I still can't eat, my back molars are hurting a lot and I am always hungry. I have been drinking a lot ensure drinks but I need solid food. How long till I can eat normaly?

If you look at my upper teeth, I think the cuspids ( corner ones? I am so bad with teeth names, I think I call them all cuspids

) the braces have those hook thingys on the top and they get caught on my lips when i smile or laugh and I then try to close my mouth back to normal , so its sort of annoying and uncomfortable.
I still have to use wax.

All I think about when I am in pain is that this is all worth it and at the end I will have a nice smile and a healthy mouth

#9 Post by **jenny101101** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:02 am

Hi Flaka,

I'm estimated 20-22 months so not far off from you. The little coloured dots are just reference colours so the ortho(or assistant)knows which bracket goes on which tooth. Mine brushed away after a few days to a few weeks. I can imagine the attachments are bothersome!

I don't know when I'll get elastics but I'm sure I'll have them. My sister and I have almost identical issues with our teeth and she was braced four years ago, with elastics about a year into her treatment.

As far as being able to eat normal, it may take up to a few weeks(and even then may feel funny to bite down all the way-it was for me). Of course, I only had my uppers on then and now that I have my lowers on, I have a molar buildup that prevents me from biting down all the way(

) but I hear it does get easier with time. The hooks on your canines do look "buggy". That's the only difference with mine compared to yours...I don't have those. Keep using the wax

.

#10 Post by **Flaka** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:08 pm

The wire in the last bracket on my wisdom tooth started pocking me after a couple of days I got my braces on and it was kind of hurting and I didnt pay attention till it really started to bother me so, I took a look and it was actually inside my cheeck. So I went in to the office the get it cut off and the assistant took the wire out and she replaced it with a brand new wire. Does that count as an adjustment?
The inside of my cheeck has turned a bit purple and even though there is no wire pocking it still hurts.

I don't see any changes yet but it has been only 10 days since.
At least I can eat and my teeth dont really hurt anymore

#11 Post by **Flaka** » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:02 pm

So, I think I have been wearing my elastics the wrong way and because of that my tooth where I attach the elastic is turning inside....Im such a moron.

I am not sure if this is the right way to put your elastics but what I have been doing is I put the elastic on the hook of my tooth and attach it to the little attachments on my upper tooth (where I am supposed to be doing it)but one thing that i think i am doing wrong is that I put the elastic around the bracket instead of leaving it on the hookie itself...does that make sense? These are crossbite elastics to broaden my arch. I use them 24/7 and dont want to continue wearing them wrong

Here are a couple of pics. #2 is how I wear them but I think #1 is the correct one since #2 puts pressure in the wrong tooth. Thats what happens when you dont pay attention on your first visit

Sorry for the huge pics.

#12 Post by **Flaka** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:34 am

I did some research online and I see that number #1 is the correct way

#13 Post by **jenny101101** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:58 am

Hi Flaka,

I can't see your pics(says image has been deleted) but glad to hear you've figured it out

. How's your braces treating you so far?

#14 Post by **Flaka** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:28 am

Hi jenny101101,

I am doing better thanks! I have not seen any changes but I am trying not to focus so much since it has only been about 20 days, even though I have read other members of AW have seen movement in the first week or so, oh well.....every case is different. Maybe I had some movement that I have not noticed. I will take some pics on my 1st month b-day to see if you can notice any changes

Sometimes my teeth feel real thight and other days it feels normal. Eating is better and I got myself a waterpick which has been great but i still floss normally.

Your teeth look great. That wondering molar is in place, thats awesome!!!

I love seeing your progress because we have some similarities with our teeth and thats encouraging.

#15 Post by **Bekah** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:31 am

I am so glad that you are feeling better now! We were braced around the same time. I only see really small changes, but everyone else is telling me they have moved.

You probably have more change than you thing but since you look at them every day just don't see it!