Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm nearing the end of my 4th week. I thought going into this that there would be more pain, and I'm relieved that so far that hasn't been the case for me. But what I wasn't prepared for is the almost constant pressure put on my teeth. It doesn't hurt, but sometimes I find it incredibly annoying. Right now my molar build ups are bothering me. One feels taller than the other making me really conscious of it. Do you ever just want to escape it?

I don't mean to complain, I guess I'm just venting. Feeling a bit whiney.

I have no pain but the constant pressure is very annoying yes and I suppose you could call it a claustrophobic feeling. I feel like I'm being restrained but it can't be helped. What bothers me more though is I'm not enjoying my food at all. My appetite has completely gone even though I can more or less eat anything as long as I do it slowly.

Sometimes I do get that feeling where one tooth feels longer than the other. But, I don't see what this has to do with claustrophobia.
- mariah

I know what you mean gigiso, it's not claustrophobia as such, but that's probably the nearest word to it as there really isn't any that describes the sensation properly.

I feel like being able to take my braces off for 5 mins and "exercise" my mouth with nothing there than there should be. I cope with it by telling myself that it's all for the good and will be worth it at the end. I also get an odd sort of comfort from the solidity of my braces and their ever present vigilance.

Claustrophobia's a good way of putting it! I can't remember when I stopped feeling that way, but it was the biggest irritation I had in the beginning - far above any pain or discomfort from teeth moving - I just wanted to be able to take the brackets off and 'stretch' my teeth! It does pass - but I'm wondering how it will feel in reverse, when the brackets come off

Okay, now I get it! Yeah I wish I could just take off the brackets for a little bit to just relax my mouth sometimes.
I forgot what it is like to not have braces! XD
- mariah

I don't mind the braces, but the headgear makes me feel like I'm in a cage sometimes at least I can take that off though!

I've been really lucky and not had pain or mouth sores as such (tiny bit first few weeks on 2 spots, hardly worth talking about)....however..... I do know what you mean about giving your mouth a rest.

For the first few weeks of getting upper braces the inside of my upper lip was irritated by the brace. No sores, not even red patches when you looked, but it still annoyed me, it was just the constant touching. In the evenings when I got home, sometimes I would put something (anything, cut a small piece of strongish plastic or something) between the brace and the lip, and ....blessed relief, that was all it needed, a little break.

Problem only lasted about 3 weeks, I expected the same to happen when I got bottom braces, but thankfully it was only for a day or 2 that time.

Never thought of "clausterphobic" but I know what you mean! I remember, especially in the beginning of my treatment, feeling like I was never fully ready for bed, I felt like I still had something to take off (like my belt and jewlery you gutter-minded people!).

I also remember thinking at about four weeks that time was going to drag on forever and a day and the sensations in my mouth would be ever-present. I was wrong! Hang in there, it DOES get better and it IS worth it!

I think people feel differently about braces depending on how they view themselves and their brace. For someone to feel down or depressed it can take a slight trigger to bring together a whole wide range of issues. For example, if someone feels down about the way the look, something like having to wear braces can be the last straw. Another example is if someone is feeling that they cannot express themselve due to their insecurities, having a brace (which can make someone not want to smile etc) can make a person more insecure and less likely to fully express themselves, subsequently bringing that person down. So i feel that the original poster does have a point with using that word in describing how they feel, because as i have stated, braces can have a wide range of affects on people. What i have learnt since having braces is that it takes a strong person to wear braces and i'm not refering to the discomfort etc (well i suppose you have to have slight guts for the poking wires etc haha).

Many Thanks
Newmetal

Mee tooooo! Can I say I feel the same way?

Like you have something else attached to you, and just want the BLOODY things off you, and your teeth feel soooo heavy. The only relief I get is pulling a whole strip of wax off and stretching the moulding the strip across your brackets/arch-wire.

Sometimes I still feel like that, and I've got 8 days to go! Sorry I had to vent a bit, and I'm glad that someone else said they feel "claustrophobic". We are doing something for ourselves, but, no-one tells you how you're going to feel in your head. You have to be a person of strong character when you are an adult to want to do this. It's FAR better to have braces and whatever surgery needs to be done and NOT TAKE SHORT-CUTS. Like, do things properly. We are doing this so we have a better life, and our lives are going to be better because of it.

I was definitely claustrophobic when I first got them put on, and I felt like "what the heck have I done to myself?" I was bordering having on a panic attack because they were so permanent and the road to getting them off seemed (seems!) so far away. The braces feel like a part of me now and the claustrophobic feeling has pretty much faded, but I can totally sympathize with you!

my gosh. yes yes yes! I just told this to dh 2 nights ago, but couldn't really describe the feeling. I don't have pain any more (I got braced 2 weeks ago) and sometimes I just want to rip 'em off and relax - but not all the time. At least most of the pain has subsided - at around 4 days post braces I was questioning myself - wondering what the stink I got myself into. I was so depressed because I hurt and couldn't eat.

I agree too! They are SO annoying! And yes Jillianleab I also had that same feeling at bedtime - contact lenses out, make up off, tight trousers off and then the teeth...? No, stuck with that awful feeling - no relief there!!
But the sensation does fade (and sometimes returns but not with such ferocity).
I've just had elastics and a quad helix fitted so feel back to square one, having finally become used to all the metal in my mouth. But 5 months in, I'm almost a quarter of the way there, so it's bearable. And I also know that no matter how uncomfortable I feel now, I'll be a bit better tomorrow and a LOT better next week!