I have had my braces for 1 month and 1 day. When I first got them on, I had 3 rubber spacers and 5 metal ones because they couldn't fit rubber ones everywhere. The next week, I went in and got one band put in and then the rest of the spacers replaced with rubber ones. The reason was that the metal ones didn't create a big enough space for the bands to fit but did create a big enough space for the rubber ones. I had those in for 2 weeks (I got sick and had to reschedule my appointment). Since it was 3 weeks after my braces first got put on, they went ahead and replaced my wire. :) I also decided to go with hot pink ligatures. My teeth have been a bit sensitive but I'm getting used to it. They also move the tiniest bit - it's a little freaky but that's what's supposed to happen. My canker sores have healed but I do have 2 new ones. I think it's actually one though. I was grabbing my laptop last week and (I have no idea how this happened) I smashed my lip into my braces and cut my lip. It was horrible and it was bleeding but there was no damage to the bracket. So I have that sore and then I have a tiny canker sore right next to it, but they feel the same.
My next appointment is at the end of February. I'm very excited for that. I'll be getting green, I think.
Well, I'm sorry this is short, but nothing much has been going on.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Day 2
So today is January 1, 2010. I got my braces on yesterday around 8:45 AM. The process was a bit extensive with all the pictures, molds, brackets, wires, ect. The list goes on and on and on. It didn't really hurt, mainly because I was numb from just having two cavities filled right before hand. The only thing that hurt was the left side of my jaw from it being open during the filling.
I chose purple for the band color - I was going to go with white but I didn't want them to get stained. Unfortunately, I had to get spacers (like most people). I have 3 rubber ones and 5 metal ones. The metal ones hurt quite a bit yesterday when I would close my mouth and they would decend into the gum.
Eating isn't really an option right now - I can't chew anything since my molars don't fully touch. I've been having mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding, & Jamba Juice smoothies for my food intake. I have a feeling it will be that way for a few more days.
My teeth are starting to hurt already and I've actually noticed a little difference (as weird as that sounds!) My two front bottom teeth used to be a tiny bit crowed but now there is the slightly bit of a gap there. My teeth are really starting to bother me but at least I'm noticing a difference.
The canker sores on the other hand... They are horrible! My cheeks on the top, both sides, are so sore! The bottom too a bit but not as much. It started hurting last night when I was hanging out with my family and they made the joke that maybe it would stop me from talking so much - yeah right!
The girl who helped me, Liz, is the sweetest girl in the world! She gave me some Orabase which is kind of like Orajel but it's a paste and apparently avaliable only in a prescription. I put some of that on the canker sores and it definitely helped it but it wears off too easily.
I always sleep with my mouth closed. Well, I found out at 6 this morning that apparently when I close my mouth I slightly suck my lips to my teeth. When I woke up, my lips were stuck to my braces!! It was the worst pain I think I had ever felt at that point! That was until later in the day. I went back to sleep and was trying to keep my mouth open but breathe through my nose. It wasn't the easiest of tasks but it wasn't as difficult as I imagined it would be.
John (my husband) and I went to Target to get some Orabase (didn't know that you could only get it in a prescription) and we couldn't find it, duh, so we got some Kank-A. It has the same active ingredient as Orabase but it is a liquid instead of a paste and it has an applicator on it because it actually forms a white layer on the inside of your mouth. It works really well and I'm happy with it.
Brushing isn't that difficult, I just spend a little more time on it than I used to. Flossing on the other hand is nuts. I never really flossed until about a week ago when I would start doing it twice a day everyday (at least!). Now, I do it once a day (at night) because it is an ordeal! I have the put the floss thru a floss threader and then it put it under the wire between two brackets until the floss comes up, floss, take it out, and then do the same thing for all the other teeth! It is so time consumming.
I was told I would have my braces on for 18-24 months but my best friend who has had braces on THREE times (because she is a perfectionist among other legit reasons) and is a dental assistant told me that they tend to estimate high. I'm fine with having them on for 2 years, though I'd really rather not, if it means I'll have perfect teeth.
A lot of people, including my husband, didn't think that I needed braces. But I did and still do. It hurts like crazy now but I'm okay with that as long as it helps in the long run.
Tonight I'm going to sleep with wax on every bracket so that hopefully my lips don't stick to my braces. But I'm also going to put on some Kank-A to relieve the pain so I can fall asleep.
So, there are my first two days with braces on. I'll post probably about once a week for the first few weeks and then maybe once or twice a month after that. :)
For some reason I can't figure out how to post a picture. So, if you go to http://www.twitpic.com/w2dqp you can look at my picture right after my braces were put on.
-Nicole
I chose purple for the band color - I was going to go with white but I didn't want them to get stained. Unfortunately, I had to get spacers (like most people). I have 3 rubber ones and 5 metal ones. The metal ones hurt quite a bit yesterday when I would close my mouth and they would decend into the gum.
Eating isn't really an option right now - I can't chew anything since my molars don't fully touch. I've been having mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding, & Jamba Juice smoothies for my food intake. I have a feeling it will be that way for a few more days.
My teeth are starting to hurt already and I've actually noticed a little difference (as weird as that sounds!) My two front bottom teeth used to be a tiny bit crowed but now there is the slightly bit of a gap there. My teeth are really starting to bother me but at least I'm noticing a difference.
The canker sores on the other hand... They are horrible! My cheeks on the top, both sides, are so sore! The bottom too a bit but not as much. It started hurting last night when I was hanging out with my family and they made the joke that maybe it would stop me from talking so much - yeah right!
The girl who helped me, Liz, is the sweetest girl in the world! She gave me some Orabase which is kind of like Orajel but it's a paste and apparently avaliable only in a prescription. I put some of that on the canker sores and it definitely helped it but it wears off too easily.
I always sleep with my mouth closed. Well, I found out at 6 this morning that apparently when I close my mouth I slightly suck my lips to my teeth. When I woke up, my lips were stuck to my braces!! It was the worst pain I think I had ever felt at that point! That was until later in the day. I went back to sleep and was trying to keep my mouth open but breathe through my nose. It wasn't the easiest of tasks but it wasn't as difficult as I imagined it would be.
John (my husband) and I went to Target to get some Orabase (didn't know that you could only get it in a prescription) and we couldn't find it, duh, so we got some Kank-A. It has the same active ingredient as Orabase but it is a liquid instead of a paste and it has an applicator on it because it actually forms a white layer on the inside of your mouth. It works really well and I'm happy with it.
Brushing isn't that difficult, I just spend a little more time on it than I used to. Flossing on the other hand is nuts. I never really flossed until about a week ago when I would start doing it twice a day everyday (at least!). Now, I do it once a day (at night) because it is an ordeal! I have the put the floss thru a floss threader and then it put it under the wire between two brackets until the floss comes up, floss, take it out, and then do the same thing for all the other teeth! It is so time consumming.
I was told I would have my braces on for 18-24 months but my best friend who has had braces on THREE times (because she is a perfectionist among other legit reasons) and is a dental assistant told me that they tend to estimate high. I'm fine with having them on for 2 years, though I'd really rather not, if it means I'll have perfect teeth.
A lot of people, including my husband, didn't think that I needed braces. But I did and still do. It hurts like crazy now but I'm okay with that as long as it helps in the long run.
Tonight I'm going to sleep with wax on every bracket so that hopefully my lips don't stick to my braces. But I'm also going to put on some Kank-A to relieve the pain so I can fall asleep.
So, there are my first two days with braces on. I'll post probably about once a week for the first few weeks and then maybe once or twice a month after that. :)
For some reason I can't figure out how to post a picture. So, if you go to http://www.twitpic.com/w2dqp you can look at my picture right after my braces were put on.
-Nicole
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