Braces, Baby

I have been lusting after braces to get these teeth of mine straightened for approximately 25 years. Now that I have them at long last, and two weeks in, I want to share my observations and experiences with these new appendages to my mouth!

• 1.        My teeth NEVER feel clean. No matter how much brushing I do or how much I pick at the braces with the little brush picks, they constantly feel like food or something is trapped in them or on them. A most irritating feeling.

• 2.       I cannot bite down into anything. All food has to be chopped up small and pushed into my mouth towards the back on a fork or spoon. Trying to bite down with the front teeth result in pain and discomfort. Perhaps this will change over time. Makes having a sandwich weird as I generally don’t rip or cut my sandwiches into pieces.

• 3.       Along with not being able to bite down into food, I also cannot bite into anything else either. And I have soon discovered the vast array of things I like to bite into. I always bite tape to tear it, or bite the wrapping to tear open a granola bar or any kind of wrapping. I tear far more things than I realized with my teeth! What a handy tool they have been and I feel annoyed at having to always get the scissors now.

• 4.       Nail biting. Yes, I know, a very unpleasant habit, which I try to stay under the social radar with, but at home, alone, I am most awful with this habit. However, this is no longer possible! Now I just need to stop picking at my nails! Maybe I will actually grow proper feminine nails for the first time in my life!

• 5.       Braces loosen and fall off! Within the first 24 hours of having the braces, a few loosened and came off! I panicked and rushed back to the orthodontist who did not have time to reattach them, but instead removed the loose ones completely, tucked in the ends of the wires and made me an appointment to come in (this week) to have them properly attached again. In the meantime, 3 more are loose and I am hoping they don’t come off completely before the appointment!

• 6.       Brush, brush, brush!! I have always been a twice a day brusher…morning and night. But now I am brushing constantly! I carry a little brush kit with me at all times. And after every bite of food I have to use the brush pick, then regular brush, use mouthwash to disinfect even more, and then apply fresh wax. The dental wax is used to coat any braces which are sharp to stop the sore rubbing on the inside of my mouth. I am really in love with dental wax right now!

• 7.       Pain. Not so much really. When they were freshly put on, my mouth and teeth ached, but I did not need painkillers at all, just got on with it. It was uncomfortable but bearable. Although Day 2 was the worst as I adapted to them and they consumed my every thought; that was a tough day. And every now and then I can feel an achy tightening going on but it passes and I remind myself that the end result will rock!

Overall, I feel this has been a positive venture for myself. I am excited to see straight teeth for the first time in my life, and feel it will be a healthy improvement. I know that as we age, teeth move about and the entire mouth structure starts to alter, so hopefully I am doing this at the right time in my life to prevent some of these issues and I can have lovely teeth right into an advanced elderly age. 

I shall update my braces journey again in the future....stay tuned!!