Metal Mouth Message Board

Hi all,

I've been scrolling through the forums for a few weeks, and you guys have given me hope and the support I needed since the only person who knew I was thinking about braces is my best friend who lives in a different state. My roommate still doesn't know I got them on, since we work different hours and sometimes only see each other once or twice during the week.

I'm going into this process at 32 after years of "yeah, whatever, like I have thousands of dollars just lying around" when dentists suggested an orthodontist consult. I had braces for a year (I think) when I was 13ish, but I only had four brackets on my lower teeth to rotate one tooth that was completely sideways. After those I was supposed to have more work done, but I don't think the money was there so it never happened. My teeth aren't awful, but they are super crowded and I have a slight overjet and slight overbite. I am looking forward to being able to floss easier after this, because getting floss stuck between my teeth was getting old.

I got my top braces put on this Monday and while I was SO glad to get those stupid spacers out, I'm having trouble figuring out where to put my lips. I've got this permanent frown going on and I can't figure out how to make the "slight smile with no teeth" thing work. That's like half my interaction with humanity; I need that back. I've got five (six?) weeks until my first wire change, and I hope I'll find out then when I'll get the lower braces on. I'd kind of like to have them (and any elastics I may need to get used to) when I go on vacation the first week of June so I can get used to them without the awkwardness of trying to talk in meetings, but we'll see what their timeline looks like.

On the upside, you guys were right. No one mentioned them at work the first day and then at our department meeting today my fellow EA and mother of two kids who had braces growing up said "well, and look at you" and then started talking about the importance of retainers. It definitely broke the ice and my other coworker talked about how her and her husband both had braces (from my Orthodontist) and had both broken their retainers.

I will say though that I'm really glad I had pizza twice in the weeks before getting these on because I love pizza, and crusty bread, and anything that involves chewing. At least I have that memory to keep me going for awhile. I made colcannon for this week, thinking I was so smart slipping a veggie into the suggested mashed potatoes. My goodness is cabbage a little hard to chew right now.

Here's to 27 months of braces.

Day 5 is feeling so much better than day 2. I've still got wax on half a dozen little bits and bobs in my mouth, but I'm starting to be able to chew again. I ate a brownie yesterday and it felt like glorious freedom. It's the little things that will get me through this, I think.

[quote="ElizabethMae"]Hi all,

I've been scrolling through the forums for a few weeks, and you guys have given me hope and the support I needed since the only person who knew I was thinking about braces is my best friend who lives in a different state. My roommate still doesn't know I got them on, since we work different hours and sometimes only see each other once or twice during the week.

I'm going into this process at 32 after years of "yeah, whatever, like I have thousands of dollars just lying around" when dentists suggested an orthodontist consult. I had braces for a year (I think) when I was 13ish, but I only had four brackets on my lower teeth to rotate one tooth that was completely sideways. After those I was supposed to have more work done, but I don't think the money was there so it never happened. My teeth aren't awful, but they are super crowded and I have a slight overjet and slight overbite. I am looking forward to being able to floss easier after this, because getting floss stuck between my teeth was getting old.

I got my top braces put on this Monday and while I was SO glad to get those stupid spacers out, I'm having trouble figuring out where to put my lips. I've got this permanent frown going on and I can't figure out how to make the "slight smile with no teeth" thing work. That's like half my interaction with humanity; I need that back. I've got five (six?) weeks until my first wire change, and I hope I'll find out then when I'll get the lower braces on. I'd kind of like to have them (and any elastics I may need to get used to) when I go on vacation the first week of June so I can get used to them without the awkwardness of trying to talk in meetings, but we'll see what their timeline looks like.

On the upside, you guys were right. No one mentioned them at work the first day and then at our department meeting today my fellow EA and mother of two kids who had braces growing up said "well, and look at you" and then started talking about the importance of retainers. It definitely broke the ice and my other coworker talked about how her and her husband both had braces (from my Orthodontist) and had both broken their retainers.

I will say though that I'm really glad I had pizza twice in the weeks before getting these on because I love pizza, and crusty bread, and anything that involves chewing. At least I have that memory to keep me going for awhile. I made colcannon for this week, thinking I was so smart slipping a veggie into the suggested mashed potatoes. My goodness is cabbage a little hard to chew right now.

Here's to 27 months of braces.[/quote]


I have to wear mine for 27 months as well. I got them on 3/9. We can compare stories.

I'll admit I have this fantasy of the timeline being an exaggeration to prepare me for the worst, but as everyone on this board has said would happen, nobody at work cares or mentions them, so it's not the public ordeal I worried about.

[quote="ElizabethMae"] I'll admit I have this fantasy of the timeline being an exaggeration to prepare me for the worst, but as everyone on this board has said would happen, nobody at work cares or mentions them, so it's not the public ordeal I worried about.[/quote]

I told everyone at work that I was getting them, so no one was surprised. The president of our company picked on me daily for the first work week I had them, calling me brace face or metal mouth, and poking fun at my lisp because of the bite plate I have. But he was doing so very jokingly, and only after asking how they were feeling and if I needed Advil or anything. We're a pretty tight knit group at work, so I wasn't too worried. I got lots of advice from people that have been through this before, which is cool. Also, my son has braces on as well, and both of my kid's friends all think it's neat that I have them. I really don't want to wear them for 27 months, but if it works I'm all for it. I'd love to magically finish early.

ElizabethMae wrote: I'll admit I have this fantasy of the timeline being an exaggeration to prepare me for the worst, but as everyone on this board has said would happen, nobody at work cares or mentions them, so it's not the public ordeal I worried about.

Yeah, I just find that no one cares. Or, if they do care, it's because they also want braces and want to know about cost etc.

erin5550 wrote:

ElizabethMae wrote: I got lots of advice from people that have been through this before, which is cool. Also, my son has braces on as well, and both of my kid's friends all think it's neat that I have them. I really don't want to wear them for 27 months, but if it works I'm all for it. I'd love to magically finish early.

I wish you the best. It's certainly a love/hate relationship. I was hoping to get them off early and did everything they asked me to but I am already going to be at least 3 months over my 30 month sentence. {{big sigh}} I hope you do much better than I did. I am almost there and can't wait to get them off.

pjade1 wrote:

erin5550 wrote:

ElizabethMae wrote: I got lots of advice from people that have been through this before, which is cool. Also, my son has braces on as well, and both of my kid's friends all think it's neat that I have them. I really don't want to wear them for 27 months, but if it works I'm all for it. I'd love to magically finish early.

I wish you the best. It's certainly a love/hate relationship. I was hoping to get them off early and did everything they asked me to but I am already going to be at least 3 months over my 30 month sentence. {{big sigh}} I hope you do much better than I did. I am almost there and can't wait to get them off.

I honestly thought about taking them off for the first few days but I know there's an adjustment period, so I sucked it up. Now I feel really weird if I take the bite plate out, and in all honesty, that was the worst part at first.

pjade1 wrote:

erin5550 wrote:

ElizabethMae wrote: I got lots of advice from people that have been through this before, which is cool. Also, my son has braces on as well, and both of my kid's friends all think it's neat that I have them. I really don't want to wear them for 27 months, but if it works I'm all for it. I'd love to magically finish early.

I wish you the best. It's certainly a love/hate relationship. I was hoping to get them off early and did everything they asked me to but I am already going to be at least 3 months over my 30 month sentence. {{big sigh}} I hope you do much better than I did. I am almost there and can't wait to get them off.

And thank you! I hope yours come off quick.

Hi everyone. I am 43 yrs old and got braces only on top 6 and bottom 6. I got them 4 days ago. I am completely depressed. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I called the orthodontist to ask how much money I would b out if he just took them off right now. I didn't really need them. I have crowding on bottom and. A diamond shaped space on top. I have so many canker sores that I've lost count. The orthodontist office just tells me to not use the wax so that my mouth can build a tolerance towards it and get calloused. I'm looking unbelievably sad.

Hang in there Juliebrynn1, it will be so much better soon and you'll eventually forget they're even there

Hi everyone. I am 43 yrs old and got braces only on top 6 and bottom 6. I got them 4 days ago. I am completely depressed. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I called the orthodontist to ask how much money I would b out if he just took them off right now. I didn't really need them. I have crowding on bottom and. A diamond shaped space on top. I have so many canker sores that I've lost count. The orthodontist office just tells me to not use the wax so that my mouth can build a tolerance towards it and get calloused. I'm looking unbelievably sad.

The first week was the worst. I can eat most things now (still no biting into things though) and the only spots that continually bother me are the sharp points on the inside of my molar bands. I have swallowed so much dental wax from those, but it gets me through. It's exciting to see movement and yet also exhausting to constantly adjust to my changing bite. 5 weeks until my first adjustment, and I'm looking forward to seeing his reaction to the movement so I can get a sense of whether it's going at the speed he expects.

I am 56 yo lady and at day 9 of top and bottom ceramics...could not get the back molars banded so I have that to look forward to...Yeah.
I think the sensation of having my teeth unsettled ( I guess they are moving ..? ) is the most weird. But perhaps it will be worth it....it better be worth it, who am I kidding??
These messages help knowing that others are in the same boat.
Best wishes to you

I'm moving forward! I had my second adjustment yesterday and I got the good news that it's time to put my bottom braces on. That's exactly what I wanted to hear and it turns out that it's going to happen on my "best case" timeline, so I'll get my braces on next Monday and hopefully be used to them enough that I won't be completely miserable for my 4th of July trip.
However, I apparently blocked out how painful separators are. I remember hating them. I remember being so glad to get my upper braces onn so I could get those suckers out, but oh geez. My jaw feels like it's going to explode. I'm the idiot who didn't take any pain killers before bed, so I'm waiting for them to kick in now.
I'm sort of wishing I had asked my boss to work from home today, but it is what it is, I suppose. So I'm thinking happy thoughts. I got what I wanted. Ow.