Re: Braces are now on - OUCH!!! Fran

[Guest guest]

Fran, sending you a huge hug and welcoming you on board the braces

happy wagon:-). I hope the pain subsides soon!

Sara

> > > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have seen

> many

> > > of

> > > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

> understand

> > > how

> > > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be that

> > > since I

> > > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

> small " ledge "

> > > (my

> > > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the name

> > right

> > > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from going

> > > beyond

> > > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets if

> my

> > > bite

> > > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my teeth

> even

> > > > come

> > > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

> forget

> > > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties

that

> > > people

> > > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful! I

> can't

> > > eat

> > > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My

> > tongue,

> > > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth

> that

> > is

> > > > too

> > > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to mobilize

> > food

> > > in

> > > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars,

but

> I

> > > > still

> > > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to swallow.

I

> am

> > > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > > >

> > > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the insides

of

> my

> > > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > > brackets,

> > > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is

> > already

> > > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of my

> lower

> > > > jaw,

> > > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two

> front

> > > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> > compomised

> > > by

> > > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that

ledge,

> > and

> > > > > that hurts!!

> > > > >

> > > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought I

> was

> > > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I really

> > > wasn't

> > > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can avoid

> the

> > > pain

> > > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so

small,

> > and

> > > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the

> brush

> > > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > > >

> > > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before?

> Please

> > > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it

will

> > get

> > > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing and

> > > > inability

> > > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have to

> deal

> > > with

> > > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > > Hugs,

> > > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

Actually today is much better. I even ate some semi solid food (

very slow and deliberate, and I swallowed more chunks than I

normally would. But it was DELICIOUS!!! mmmmmmmmmmmm! lol The

soreness is going down, but the teeth are still tender. At least it

is comforting knowing that it is better. YEAH!

Hugs,

Fran

> > > > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have

seen

> > many

> > > > of

> > > > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

> > understand

> > > > how

> > > > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be

that

> > > > since I

> > > > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

> > small " ledge "

> > > > (my

> > > > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the

name

> > > right

> > > > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from

going

> > > > beyond

> > > > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces brackets

if

> > my

> > > > bite

> > > > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my

teeth

> > even

> > > > > come

> > > > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

> > forget

> > > > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties

> that

> > > > people

> > > > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful!

I

> > can't

> > > > eat

> > > > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush. My

> > > tongue,

> > > > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my mouth

> > that

> > > is

> > > > > too

> > > > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to

mobilize

> > > food

> > > > in

> > > > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back molars,

> but

> > I

> > > > > still

> > > > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to

swallow.

> I

> > am

> > > > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the

insides

> of

> > my

> > > > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > > > brackets,

> > > > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which is

> > > already

> > > > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of

my

> > lower

> > > > > jaw,

> > > > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two

> > front

> > > > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> > > compomised

> > > > by

> > > > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that

> ledge,

> > > and

> > > > > > that hurts!!

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I thought

I

> > was

> > > > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I

really

> > > > wasn't

> > > > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can

avoid

> > the

> > > > pain

> > > > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so

> small,

> > > and

> > > > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit the

> > brush

> > > > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this before?

> > Please

> > > > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it

> will

> > > get

> > > > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing

and

> > > > > inability

> > > > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have

to

> > deal

> > > > with

> > > > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > > > Hugs,

> > > > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Hello, Fran - Sounds like you are surviving the initial hurdle - the

first week in braces. Glad to hear that the soreness is disappearing.

Your teeth will sometimes be tender for the duration, I'm sorry to

report. Oh, they won't be tender all the time, but with Continuous

Force Wires your teeth will hurt to bite and chew some of the time.

And, they will become loose, which is a good thing, because they need

to be loose to move. Don't worry: your teeth won't fall out. When

your teeth stop hurting, the constant pressure will remind you that

your teeth are moving. Sometimes the pressure gives me headaches. I

was told that eating, talking, and otherwise moving your jaws is good

because it adjusts the tension on the wires. So, I sit at my

microscope at work moving my jaws by opening and closing my mouth

whenever I feel that the tension on my wires becoming untense. My Co-

worker (the one with braces) does this too.(my other co-workers know

better than to ask what I'm doing: they probably think I'm nuts!) My

teeth continue to move like crazy and so will yours! The toughest

part of all this is to be patient. I'm just too anxious to get this

surgery of mine done. I hope my teeth break a world record on moving

fast and that I can get my surgery moved up to the spring. Fran, just

hang in there, and stay positive! Positive thoughts help to keep your

teeth moving. Pretty soon (3 weeks) it will be time for your first

Ortho Adjustment and that's when you realize you are really on the

Journey! Take care. Keep in touch. ~~ Diane :-)#)

> > > > > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have

> seen

> > > many

> > > > > of

> > > > > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

> > > understand

> > > > > how

> > > > > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be

> that

> > > > > since I

> > > > > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

> > > small " ledge "

> > > > > (my

> > > > > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the

> name

> > > > right

> > > > > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from

> going

> > > > > beyond

> > > > > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces

brackets

> if

> > > my

> > > > > bite

> > > > > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my

> teeth

> > > even

> > > > > > come

> > > > > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

> > > forget

> > > > > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties

> > that

> > > > > people

> > > > > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful!

> I

> > > can't

> > > > > eat

> > > > > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush.

My

> > > > tongue,

> > > > > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my

mouth

> > > that

> > > > is

> > > > > > too

> > > > > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to

> mobilize

> > > > food

> > > > > in

> > > > > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back

molars,

> > but

> > > I

> > > > > > still

> > > > > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to

> swallow.

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the

> insides

> > of

> > > my

> > > > > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > > > > brackets,

> > > > > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which

is

> > > > already

> > > > > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of

> my

> > > lower

> > > > > > jaw,

> > > > > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two

> > > front

> > > > > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> > > > compomised

> > > > > by

> > > > > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that

> > ledge,

> > > > and

> > > > > > > that hurts!!

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I

thought

> I

> > > was

> > > > > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I

> really

> > > > > wasn't

> > > > > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can

> avoid

> > > the

> > > > > pain

> > > > > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so

> > small,

> > > > and

> > > > > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit

the

> > > brush

> > > > > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this

before?

> > > Please

> > > > > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it

> > will

> > > > get

> > > > > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing

> and

> > > > > > inability

> > > > > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have

> to

> > > deal

> > > > > with

> > > > > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > > > > Hugs,

> > > > > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Fran,

I don't know if you're into wine but i always found drinking a class

or two of it after an adjustment helped. Also, I made sure to take an

Alleve or Motrin (sometimes 2) before I actually went in for an

adjustment to lessen the pain. As a last resort I used these drops

which you can find in most Duane Reades (or similar kind of store)

that are actually used for babies when they are teething. It

certainly numbs the pain for a while.

But I'm glad to hear that you're able to eat a little more now. I

think I lost 5lbs the first week I had on braces. A sort of inflicted

diet if you will. Keep up the positive attitude!! You're doing great!

Sara xx

> > > > > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I have

> seen

> > > many

> > > > > of

> > > > > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

> > > understand

> > > > > how

> > > > > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may be

> that

> > > > > since I

> > > > > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

> > > small " ledge "

> > > > > (my

> > > > > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember the

> name

> > > > right

> > > > > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite from

> going

> > > > > beyond

> > > > > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces

brackets

> if

> > > my

> > > > > bite

> > > > > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my

> teeth

> > > even

> > > > > > come

> > > > > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge. So

> > > forget

> > > > > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the difficulties

> > that

> > > > > people

> > > > > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is awful!

> I

> > > can't

> > > > > eat

> > > > > > > anything that has more than the consistency of mush.

My

> > > > tongue,

> > > > > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my

mouth

> > > that

> > > > is

> > > > > > too

> > > > > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to

> mobilize

> > > > food

> > > > > in

> > > > > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back

molars,

> > but

> > > I

> > > > > > still

> > > > > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to

> swallow.

> > I

> > > am

> > > > > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the

> insides

> > of

> > > my

> > > > > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to the

> > > > > brackets,

> > > > > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue, which

is

> > > > already

> > > > > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency of

> my

> > > lower

> > > > > > jaw,

> > > > > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my two

> > > front

> > > > > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has is

> > > > compomised

> > > > > by

> > > > > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on that

> > ledge,

> > > > and

> > > > > > > that hurts!!

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I

thought

> I

> > > was

> > > > > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I

> really

> > > > > wasn't

> > > > > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can

> avoid

> > > the

> > > > > pain

> > > > > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is so

> > small,

> > > > and

> > > > > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit

the

> > > brush

> > > > > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this

before?

> > > Please

> > > > > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of it

> > will

> > > > get

> > > > > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the chewing

> and

> > > > > > inability

> > > > > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I have

> to

> > > deal

> > > > > with

> > > > > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > > > > Hugs,

> > > > > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

Losing 5 pounds would be a nice bonus! lol I guess the trick is to

not substitute sensible meals with milkshakes! lol I am feeling

better. Good point about the Alleve too. I am actually supposed to

take one a day now for my right knee problem. I just finished PT

(again), and it is always a problem. I try to not take it every

day, but more often would not be a problem.

I am sure most of us go through some of this when we first get our

braces (this is my first time with them). I guess it just startled

me how much " getting used to it " it really takes. I have a whole

new respect for anyone wearing them now.

Hugs,

Fran

> > > > > > > > Hi Everyone,

> > > > > > > > Well, I did get my braces on Thursday. I know I

have

> > seen

> > > > many

> > > > > > of

> > > > > > > > you getting your braces on, still I really did not

> > > > understand

> > > > > > how

> > > > > > > > much they HURT!!! Part of my problem with them may

be

> > that

> > > > > > since I

> > > > > > > > have a really really deep bite, they had to put a

> > > > small " ledge "

> > > > > > (my

> > > > > > > > OD called it something else, but I can't remember

the

> > name

> > > > > right

> > > > > > > > now) behind my two front teeth that stop my bite

from

> > going

> > > > > > beyond

> > > > > > > > the point where they would sheer off the braces

> brackets

> > if

> > > > my

> > > > > > bite

> > > > > > > > went too deep. The result is that the only place my

> > teeth

> > > > even

> > > > > > > come

> > > > > > > > close to touching is on that very itty bitty ledge.

So

> > > > forget

> > > > > > > > eating! I have a new understanding of the

difficulties

> > > that

> > > > > > people

> > > > > > > > with open bites experience all the time. It is

awful!

> > I

> > > > can't

> > > > > > eat

> > > > > > > > anything that has more than the consistency of

mush.

> My

> > > > > tongue,

> > > > > > > > which has been always before been a prisoner in my

> mouth

> > > > that

> > > > > is

> > > > > > > too

> > > > > > > > small and with too deep a bite, has no clue how to

> > mobilize

> > > > > food

> > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > my mouth. I come fairly close on the right back

> molars,

> > > but

> > > > I

> > > > > > > still

> > > > > > > > can't even " chew " boiled veggies small enough to

> > swallow.

> > > I

> > > > am

> > > > > > > > having to chop up spagetti!!

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > My teeth are sore, which I was expecting, and the

> > insides

> > > of

> > > > my

> > > > > > > > cheeks, where there are little poles in addition to

the

> > > > > > brackets,

> > > > > > > > are raw - I also expected that. But my tongue,

which

> is

> > > > > already

> > > > > > > > pushed back into my throat due to the insufficiency

of

> > my

> > > > lower

> > > > > > > jaw,

> > > > > > > > is now even further back due to the ledge behind my

two

> > > > front

> > > > > > > > teeth. And it hurts! What little movement it has

is

> > > > > compomised

> > > > > > by

> > > > > > > > that ledge. It is raw too. I grind my teeth on

that

> > > ledge,

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > > that hurts!!

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Anyway, sorry to rant here about it, but while I

> thought

> > I

> > > > was

> > > > > > > > prepared for the braces and getting used to them, I

> > really

> > > > > > wasn't

> > > > > > > > prepared for this!! I am not eating, just so I can

> > avoid

> > > > the

> > > > > > pain

> > > > > > > > of using the brush to clean them out. My mouth is

so

> > > small,

> > > > > and

> > > > > > > > pulling my already sore cheek back and trying to fit

> the

> > > > brush

> > > > > > > > inbetween the wires is killing me.

> > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > Do you have any suggestions? Have you had this

> before?

> > > > Please

> > > > > > > > share with me how you coped with it. I know some of

it

> > > will

> > > > > get

> > > > > > > > better as my tissue becomes toughened, but the

chewing

> > and

> > > > > > > inability

> > > > > > > > to move the food bolus is going to be something I

have

> > to

> > > > deal

> > > > > > with

> > > > > > > > eventually. Can you help?

> > > > > > > > Hugs,

> > > > > > > > Fran

[Guest guest]

For what it's worth:

Some people have found lingual brackets a great success, but for many

folks they are a pain -- harder to get used to, slower to work,

requiring more time to adjust and accomplish their task. I wouldn't

be brave enough to try them, but folks who like them are very

enthusiastic about them.

As for the " ledge " damaging your upper teeth, I'd call the ortho and

tell him about that. If you do, you may wind up with more goop in

your mouth, but I know there are little acryllic blobs that might

help to protect your teeth -- and once those are broken, the repairs

are never as good as the original material. Wouldn't hurt to ask

before there's more damage, unless your doc specifically warned about

this. Or it may be that judiciously applied wax or silicone (Brace

Relief) can protect your teeth. I'd just be concerned if I were

chipping mine.)

But I'm glad it's easing up for you. Really, they'll get to be second

nature to you, and you'll be surprised by the new, slick feel once

you're all done.

Cammie