Metal Mouth Message Board

Yesterday was my 4th adjustment and I'm less than a week away from celebrating my 6 month braces anniversary. Apparently the next 4-6 months are going to be spent making some big shifts and closing my extraction gap (yay!). The bad news is, it's so painful right now! I have to wear two elastics on t...

Thank you all so much for your supportive responses! It feels really good to see the progress and I'm glad others can see it too! Melissa, my ortho told me that I'd be braced for about 18 months. I asked him if there was any chance that I'd get them off sooner than that and he said "well, there...

Hi Everyone, Here are the promised pictures! These were taken at the time of my second adjustment, 3 months into braces. Upper Arch on Brace Day: http://lh4.ggpht.com/JillCThompson/SBE8kt_slNI/AAAAAAAAAVg/mimbO_NQhhc/s144/IMG_0161.JPG Upper Arch at 3 months: http://lh6.ggpht.com/JillCThompson/SBE9KN...

Hi Everyone, It's been forever since I posted. Turns out life doesn't get less busy just because you get braces! Here's the good news for anyone contemplating braces who is reading my blog: it gets better from what I posted the last time! I was in so much pain the first week or two, but it really do...

Like all of you, I'm self-conscious about kissing with braces too, but the guy I was seeing said he didn't notice. I just feel like I can't kiss how I normally would. This weekend I did encounter a new kissing issue though. I just had an adjustment and I was given elastics to wear connecting my top ...

I know what you mean about being OCD about tooth care. My mouth has NEVER been so clean in its life! I brush, floss, and rinse compulsively. I never used to brush my teeth after lunch at work, but now I do and it actually feels really nice to have a nice fresh clean feeling all afternoon!

Hi Sophie!

I can't believe you had 8 teeth removed and then went back to work as a teacher - you're amazing! Braces will be a piece of cake after that. Good luck tomorrow!

I feel for you 3rd Timer! I know that nauseous and hungry feeling. I hope it's getting better each day.

Hi Caroleena,

My braces had the little dots of color on them too and I had the same reaction you did! Luckily, I've been braced a week and most of the dots are gone

Hi Kara!

Your teeth look great! I'm so excited to watch those front teeth just slide right back with the room left by the extractions and you'll have the perfect smile! Your archwire is already super straight. Keep us posted!

Hi Smiley! I just read your story and I hope you're feeling better! Your teeth are amaaaazing! I think you gaps have closed remarkably well. I can't believe you're sentenced to another two years - what on earth are they planning on doing for the rest of the time? Your teeth look almost perfect alrea...

What a chaotic start to your treatment! Sounds like everything will be taken care of soon though and then you'll begin your journey towards a healthy and beautiful smile! Good luck!

Hi LadyJ! Sounds like you're adjusting amazingly to braces! I'm so impressed! I was braced two days before you and still am getting used to it. It's so great that you've had so little discomfort and that you're taking all the preventative measures to stay that way! Your teeth look fabulous in braces...

Hope you're feeling less pain today Melliemoo! And I hope you were able to get a good night's sleep last night - that can really help. The apples and ice cream were perfect and delicious! I took all the skin off the apples and chopped them up pretty small and then baked them with cinnamon. It smells...

Hi Melliemoo! We got braced on the same day! I'm so sorry you're in so much pain :(. I've definitely been taking the tylenol, which has helped with the pressure-type pain. I've had more problems with the sharpness of the brackets hurting the inside of my lips and Tylenol hasnt really helped much for...