Thanks to all of you for following my blog -- it's been a great adventure!!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Woohoo! Done with braces!
So, Tuesday was the big reveal! We took another set of impressions and made retainers on site. I'll wear these 24 hours a day (minus eating) until my bonded retainers come in next month. It was definitely a tough visit because of doing the impressions, but I can't complain since it was for a good cause. Below is a photo of me wearing the retainer...barely visible. Pretty big change from where we began. I'm also starting ZOOM whitening and am using it in my retainers each evening.
Thanks to all of you for following my blog -- it's been a great adventure!!
Thanks to all of you for following my blog -- it's been a great adventure!!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Less than 1 month to go before the braces come off!
December 17 will be a magical day in my book! Braces will COME OFF!! That day, I'll have the chips filled on my front teeth, and a whitening process down. The power chains will finally come off (whoo hoo!) and the brackets will be removed. Too exciting! I'll have to share some grand finale photos when it's all said and done. Can't believe I'm almost done with my Six Month Smile! (And if you count the months, it really was a six month process!)
Friday, October 12, 2012
4 Months of Braces - my Six Month Smile is nearly done!
WOW! Time is flying! Maybe it's because the school year is in full swing or because life's just going at full speed. All I know, is that I'm more than half way done with my Six Month Smile! And, just look at those straight teeth :)
I took this cell phone picture this morning, so it's a pretty accurate representation of what's going on right now. My bottom row of teeth have straightened out and my top row looks great. I'm SO happy with what I see in the mirror these days!
Working at a school, I have to have my photo taken annually for the yearbook. This year, I laughed with my kids that I'd have braces -- just like many of the students! (Actually, you could barely tell that I was wearing them because the final yearbook photo is so small -- thankfully!)
Things are still going fine with the braces overall. A couple weeks ago, I actually ate a bracket. Yes, it happened while eating a slice of California Pizza Kitchen thin crust BBQ. (Yum!) One bite of crust seemed particularly, well, crunchy. When I flossed later that night, I realized that a wire was poking out of the back (metal) bracket and the last plastic bracket was gone altogether. (Ooops.) I called my dentist the next morning and he had everything back in place within a few minutes.
Next week, I'll be entering the final phase of The Six Month braces -- power chains. I have a real fear about getting these on because my dental tech told me that they can definitely cause some soreness in your mouth. These power chains actually help link all of the brackets together even tighter to pull teeth back and close up gaps. It's the last step in achieving a great smile. I'll also get the final wire put on!
I'm still hoping to make my December goal of no braces for Christmas...guess we'll see how it goes! Hope everyone is doing well and thanks for all of your encouraging comments!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
10 Weeks Along in my Braces!
Just a quick check in! All is well here. No more brackets falling off and my teeth continue to straighten, slowly but surely. Here's a quick cell phone shot of me at week 10. If you compare this to week 6, (posted back in July) you'll see that my bottom row has straightened considerably. Not bad progress for just one month's time! At this point, I'm starting to notice some of the minor flaws -- like me chipped from tooth. But, until my braces come off, I can't do a darn thing about it. *sigh* The good thing is that that will be a quick fix once everything is off. (Or, at least the dentist has promised it will be a quick fix!!)
Hope everyone is well -- and that those of you starting your journey in the Six Month Smile are having an easy go of it. Signing off for now...
Hope everyone is well -- and that those of you starting your journey in the Six Month Smile are having an easy go of it. Signing off for now...
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| 10 Weeks! |
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Oh How Far I've Come
Last night, I ran across a photo of my before I had my braces. Amazing. Wow. Downright awful. I look back at my happy smile (I was holding one of my daughters!) and just think about how far I've come. New hair. Better teeth. This has already been an amazing makeover -- I can't wait to see how I look when I'm finished with my Six Month Smile braces!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
8 Weeks in Braces! (And a new wire to boot)
On Monday, I celebrated the two month mark in wearing my Six Month Smile braces! Celebrated might be a bit of a strong word, but still...two months is one third of the way there. At my appointment, my dentist decided that one of my upper canines wasn't rotating properly so he took off the bracket (more on that in a minute) and repositioned it by reapplying the glue and curing the bracket to my tooth. Then he used something that sounds totally harmless called a "Quick Tie" to apply the needed tension to that tooth. That was the part that REALLY hurt. In fact, I told him that there was no need to move the tooth TODAY and wasn't this called the six month smile -- not the 6 minute smile? (Dental humor...but wow, it hurt as he was attaching those.)
Going back to removing the bracket...he basically used pliers and popped it loose. Not the most comfortable experience, but nothing compared to the tension he put on my canine. I had been curious about how all of those brackets would come off -- and now I know.
After securing the canine bracket again, he placed the same wire back on my top row of teeth. However, my bottom row is moving up in the world and got a slightly larger gauge wire. The thicker the wire, the stronger the pressure it can put on your teeth. It honestly was a breeze to pop the lower wire on.
Needless to say, I'm eating somewhat gingerly on top. But, I suspect that in the next few days, I'll be back to normal again ;)
Hope this blog is helping those of you who are trying to decide if the Six Month Smile is right for you!
Going back to removing the bracket...he basically used pliers and popped it loose. Not the most comfortable experience, but nothing compared to the tension he put on my canine. I had been curious about how all of those brackets would come off -- and now I know.
After securing the canine bracket again, he placed the same wire back on my top row of teeth. However, my bottom row is moving up in the world and got a slightly larger gauge wire. The thicker the wire, the stronger the pressure it can put on your teeth. It honestly was a breeze to pop the lower wire on.
Needless to say, I'm eating somewhat gingerly on top. But, I suspect that in the next few days, I'll be back to normal again ;)
Hope this blog is helping those of you who are trying to decide if the Six Month Smile is right for you!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
10 Things Your Dentist Will Never Tell You About Braces
So, after six weeks of fun, I feel fairly well initiated into the braces "lifestyle". And just like labor and delivery, there are things that NO ONE will ever tell you. You just have to experience it for yourself! Without further ado...here's my list of things no one will ever tell you about what getting and having braces is really like.
1) When your dentist/orthodontist puts braces on, he or she will need to hold your tongue in place using a "tongue retractor." Reason being is that they need to keep your teeth very dry to make the brackets adhere. This torture device -- I mean, tool -- didn't work for me. It hurt to get into place! I have a very small mouth, so maybe that was the problem. Truly, I think the problem is with the guy (or gal) who designed the darn thing. If they can't fit that in your mouth, they'll use a large, soft rubber circle (looks like a huge bracelet) to prop your lips open. No pain involved there. I'd highly recommend you ask for that instead of the dreaded tongue retractor.
2) It doesn't matter what you eat, stuff is going to get stuck in your braces. If you eat a salad for lunch, I guarantee you'll find a piece of lettuce entwined in your back teeth later. Don't even get me started on how pasta -- or an entire chicken sandwich -- can hide out for hours in your braces. Gross. Bottom line: bring a toothbrush to work and make sure you brush after lunch.
3) Your lips/cheeks will be stuck inside your brackets every morning when you wake up. It's not pleasant, but as your mouth dries out at night, your lips and gums seem to find their way into your brackets. For me, it's my lower lip. Your best bet? Make sure you put a bunch of dental wax on at night to protect those areas that are most susceptible to being pinched.
4) Your bite will change. I've gone through stages where I suddenly feel that nothing "matches up" anymore. Meaning, when I bite into my food, my teeth don't feel like they're meeting properly. I've bitten the heck out of the inside of my cheek a couple times. The reason for this is that your teeth are moving and shifting. And, the top and bottom aren't always going to align perfectly as you transition to your new smile. A few days later, I'll adjust to my new way of eating. Take smaller bites than you did before braces and chew carefully.
5) I've said it before and I'll say it again -- dental wax is the only way to survive. As you get more adept at applying it, you'll use less and less. Buy stock in the stuff and don't skimp!
6) Your teeth will ache randomly and then they'll be fine a day later. I can only chalk this up to the fact that they may be adjusting to their new place -- or they just may be shifting slightly. Take some Tylenol or Motrin (with food) and wait it out.
7) You'll have to learn to floss a whole new way. Because of the wire going across your braces, you won't be able to floss like you used to. Instead, your dentist or orthdontist will give you special floss that can fit under each wire. You'll need to do each tooth individually. No one will tell you this before you get braces, but the whole maintenance and cleaning of your mouth takes a LONG time at night.
8) Speaking of, brushing your teeth is downright disgusting and challenging at the same time. You had NO idea how much stuff really was stuck in your mouth. Every time you spit out some toothpaste, a bunch of food particles will come out too. Of course, that's the goal of brushing, but before you had braces, you never "stored it for later" either. It's also a bit tricky to brush because you don't want to pull on the wires or brackets.
9) If your toddler gleefully tosses her blanket over your head and then pulls it off quickly in a game of peek-a-boo, make sure you're not laughing out loud with your teeth showing. It's very probable -- and downright likely -- that a spare thread from the blanket will get caught in your front brackets and blow your mind with pain and she whips the blanket away. Ouch. Sorry. No solution to that problem here.
10)Your teeth won't seem like they're changing much at first, and then suddenly you'll realize that your mouth looks just a bit different. Take photos and keep track of your progress. It makes a lot of the pain worth it!
1) When your dentist/orthodontist puts braces on, he or she will need to hold your tongue in place using a "tongue retractor." Reason being is that they need to keep your teeth very dry to make the brackets adhere. This torture device -- I mean, tool -- didn't work for me. It hurt to get into place! I have a very small mouth, so maybe that was the problem. Truly, I think the problem is with the guy (or gal) who designed the darn thing. If they can't fit that in your mouth, they'll use a large, soft rubber circle (looks like a huge bracelet) to prop your lips open. No pain involved there. I'd highly recommend you ask for that instead of the dreaded tongue retractor.
2) It doesn't matter what you eat, stuff is going to get stuck in your braces. If you eat a salad for lunch, I guarantee you'll find a piece of lettuce entwined in your back teeth later. Don't even get me started on how pasta -- or an entire chicken sandwich -- can hide out for hours in your braces. Gross. Bottom line: bring a toothbrush to work and make sure you brush after lunch.
3) Your lips/cheeks will be stuck inside your brackets every morning when you wake up. It's not pleasant, but as your mouth dries out at night, your lips and gums seem to find their way into your brackets. For me, it's my lower lip. Your best bet? Make sure you put a bunch of dental wax on at night to protect those areas that are most susceptible to being pinched.
4) Your bite will change. I've gone through stages where I suddenly feel that nothing "matches up" anymore. Meaning, when I bite into my food, my teeth don't feel like they're meeting properly. I've bitten the heck out of the inside of my cheek a couple times. The reason for this is that your teeth are moving and shifting. And, the top and bottom aren't always going to align perfectly as you transition to your new smile. A few days later, I'll adjust to my new way of eating. Take smaller bites than you did before braces and chew carefully.
5) I've said it before and I'll say it again -- dental wax is the only way to survive. As you get more adept at applying it, you'll use less and less. Buy stock in the stuff and don't skimp!
6) Your teeth will ache randomly and then they'll be fine a day later. I can only chalk this up to the fact that they may be adjusting to their new place -- or they just may be shifting slightly. Take some Tylenol or Motrin (with food) and wait it out.
7) You'll have to learn to floss a whole new way. Because of the wire going across your braces, you won't be able to floss like you used to. Instead, your dentist or orthdontist will give you special floss that can fit under each wire. You'll need to do each tooth individually. No one will tell you this before you get braces, but the whole maintenance and cleaning of your mouth takes a LONG time at night.
8) Speaking of, brushing your teeth is downright disgusting and challenging at the same time. You had NO idea how much stuff really was stuck in your mouth. Every time you spit out some toothpaste, a bunch of food particles will come out too. Of course, that's the goal of brushing, but before you had braces, you never "stored it for later" either. It's also a bit tricky to brush because you don't want to pull on the wires or brackets.
9) If your toddler gleefully tosses her blanket over your head and then pulls it off quickly in a game of peek-a-boo, make sure you're not laughing out loud with your teeth showing. It's very probable -- and downright likely -- that a spare thread from the blanket will get caught in your front brackets and blow your mind with pain and she whips the blanket away. Ouch. Sorry. No solution to that problem here.
10)Your teeth won't seem like they're changing much at first, and then suddenly you'll realize that your mouth looks just a bit different. Take photos and keep track of your progress. It makes a lot of the pain worth it!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Six Weeks in Braces
Hi all,
Just wanted to check in with the official weekly update! Today, I'm celebrating (is that the right word?) 6 weeks in braces. Yes, that's right, I've spent the last month and a half carefully choosing foods that won't destroy my braces (or my mood) when I take a bite.
So, what's new with me? Well, I had one bracket fall off last week after eating a Milky Way. (Oops.) But, my dentist and his staff were able to repair that in just under 20 minutes and I was on my way out the door. To put it back on my tooth, they dried the tooth thoroughly with their air tool, placed a bit more of what I swear tastes like Crazy Glue and then held the bracket in place for a minute. Afterwards, they cured the bracket with a tool that has a blue light at the end. (I'm sure there's a more technical term than that -- haha!) Lastly, they added a couple of fresh "donuts" to the brackets around that area and sent me on my way. (If you'd like to know what donuts are, you might want to search back through my blog -- I've mentioned them before.)
Mental note -- don't bring your five-year-old with you when you go to the dentist. She was on top of me (almost literally) gaping into my mouth while the dentist worked. And, being the smart kiddo that she is, she asked A LOT of questions. Thank goodness for my patient dentist, Dr. Joe Ramellini!
If you're in the Maryland area and are looking to talk with someone about the Six Month Smile, I've been having a good experience with Breton Bay Dentistry. (And, no, I'm not being paid to do this!) Thanks, Dr. Joe!
The photo below is a bit different than the ones I've shared previously. Reason being is that I wanted to show progress on the teeth on my lower jaw. I still see a lot of crowding, but it's getting better!
Just wanted to check in with the official weekly update! Today, I'm celebrating (is that the right word?) 6 weeks in braces. Yes, that's right, I've spent the last month and a half carefully choosing foods that won't destroy my braces (or my mood) when I take a bite.
So, what's new with me? Well, I had one bracket fall off last week after eating a Milky Way. (Oops.) But, my dentist and his staff were able to repair that in just under 20 minutes and I was on my way out the door. To put it back on my tooth, they dried the tooth thoroughly with their air tool, placed a bit more of what I swear tastes like Crazy Glue and then held the bracket in place for a minute. Afterwards, they cured the bracket with a tool that has a blue light at the end. (I'm sure there's a more technical term than that -- haha!) Lastly, they added a couple of fresh "donuts" to the brackets around that area and sent me on my way. (If you'd like to know what donuts are, you might want to search back through my blog -- I've mentioned them before.)
Mental note -- don't bring your five-year-old with you when you go to the dentist. She was on top of me (almost literally) gaping into my mouth while the dentist worked. And, being the smart kiddo that she is, she asked A LOT of questions. Thank goodness for my patient dentist, Dr. Joe Ramellini!
If you're in the Maryland area and are looking to talk with someone about the Six Month Smile, I've been having a good experience with Breton Bay Dentistry. (And, no, I'm not being paid to do this!) Thanks, Dr. Joe!
The photo below is a bit different than the ones I've shared previously. Reason being is that I wanted to show progress on the teeth on my lower jaw. I still see a lot of crowding, but it's getting better!
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| Six weeks in my Six Month Smile braces! Straighter teeth are giving me something to smile about! |
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Loose braces bracket -- time for a tune-up!
I was just eating lunch when I felt something funny in my mouth. (And no, the mayo on my Panera Bread sandwich was perfectly fresh!) If you have braces, you may know where this is going. Apparently, I had loosened one of my brackets and it had flipped over backward. Not necessarily the most comfortable feeling. So, I've called my dentist and am headed in this afternoon to for a quick fix. All part of the fun of having braces, I guess! I'm sure they'll need to remove the wire and then take the loose bracket off in order to fix it. Keep your fingers crossed that this is a quick and painless fix!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Five Week Comparison Photos with Braces
Sitting at work this morning, someone looked straight at my smile and said -- your teeth have REALLY straightened a lot in the last few weeks. Can I just tell you how nice that was to hear? So, of course, I had to break out my cell phone and take a quick picture. Here's my five and a half week shot compared to the day I got my Six Month Smile braces put on.
What do you think? I think we're seeing progress! Weirdly enough, even the staining on my front teeth seems to be lessening a tad. These are un-retouched photos. (Hey, if you can't be honest in your own blog, where can you be?)
What do you think? I think we're seeing progress! Weirdly enough, even the staining on my front teeth seems to be lessening a tad. These are un-retouched photos. (Hey, if you can't be honest in your own blog, where can you be?)
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| Here's me today, at 5.5 weeks into my braces adventure |
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| Here's me just moments after getting my braces on. |
Monday, July 16, 2012
Fresh Donuts? Yup, I got 'em on my braces!
Today, marks the 5th week of my adventure into the world of braces. I visited with my dentist and instead of changing out the wire like I expected, he gave me "fresh donuts"...something that greatly interested my five-year-old. Donuts for braces aren't quite as tasty as the Dunkin variety, but they do add additional tension. (For those of you who are curious, donuts are small round pieces that go around the brackets.) They were a bit uncomfortable to put on, but not bad. All in all, my visit took about 20 minutes.
The verdict? Some of my molars are closing together nicely and my front teeth are slowly moving into place. Woohoo!!
So without further ado, here are the 5 week shots:
The verdict? Some of my molars are closing together nicely and my front teeth are slowly moving into place. Woohoo!!
So without further ado, here are the 5 week shots:
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| I love that you can hardly tell I'm wearing braces! |
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| And the close-up. The bracket on my front tooth isn't lighter than the rest, but I took this photo in a room that had a bit of sunlight glinting and it showed up in the photo. |
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Getting a New Braces Wire Tomorrow!
If you can believe, and I can barely, tomorrow marks my 5th week in braces. I have an appointment to get my first wire changed out, and I have to admit that I'm a bit nervous. After all, last time I sat in the dentist's chair, I left feeling a bit...tied up. Anyway, I have an idea of what to expect -- and I'm also excited because I've heard that you can definitely start to see some movement in the second month. Woohoo -- bring it on!
I'll update with some new photos tomorow as well as give an update on how the appointment went. Hope all of you considering the Six Month Smile braces are getting something out of this blog! It was great to hear from one of you who is...makes this whole blogging 'experience' worthwhile for me too!
I'll update with some new photos tomorow as well as give an update on how the appointment went. Hope all of you considering the Six Month Smile braces are getting something out of this blog! It was great to hear from one of you who is...makes this whole blogging 'experience' worthwhile for me too!
Monday, July 2, 2012
Week 3 -- Braces you can barely see -- and a new hair 'do!
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| My new 'do! |
Since I'm in a "makeover" mode, I chopped many (MANY!) inches off my hair and have a whole new look. I was able to donate my hair to Locks for Love, which makes and provides wigs for those going through cancer treatment. I feel cooler (and lighter) and left the salon with the feeling that I've helped someone else. By the way, can you see my braces? Probably a little bit, but my guess is that they're not the first thing you notice!
Monday, June 25, 2012
2 Weeks In Braces
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| Here I am (taken two days ago) -- you can hardly notice my braces -- one of the best things about having the Six Month Smile! |
Two weeks ago today, I was in the dentist's chair getting "fitted" for my Six Month Braces. So, what's new? Well, I'm eating many of the same foods that I did before I got braces...just a bit differently. I haven't been able to bite directly into a food that isn't inherently soft. In other words, a big turkey and swiss sandwich is still out of the question. However, I did join my five- and two-year-old little girls with a PB&J the other day. I've found that I can chew my foods much more easily than I could just a week ago -- especially if I simply cut them up with a fork first. (Last night, we ordered pizza and it was no problem. We also enjoyed Chinese and the tender sweet and sour chicken was great!)
I'm still waxing most of my brackets before I go to sleep at night. The wax stays on really well and I don't wake up with any indentations in my lips or gums like I did the first few nights. I leave the wax on during the day and it stays put for the most part -- especially if I'm eating softer foods like applesauce or soups.
The most disgusting thing I've noticed? If you don't take your wax off before eating a "real" meal, you end up eating it. Gross.
The best thing about the Six Month Smile? It doesn't seem to show up much in photos! I'm adding a photo of my that we took this weekend while we were out at a playground. No mouth full of metal here!
The pain factor is pretty minimal at this point. I feel like I've recovered nicely from the process of the braces being put on and the tight wire. I was warned that the first two weeks are the worst -- and now that they're over, I'm hoping for some smooth sailing until July 16th when I have my first wire changed.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wait, I think I see movement!!
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| Finally broke out my real camera to take a photo at one week - black and white photography lets you see more detail. Think I'll document my braces experience like this from here on out! |
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| 1st Day -- this was the day my braces were put on. |
Wait a minute...I happened to look back at my "first day" photo and my one week photo and do you see what I see? No way...my front two teeth actually look like they don't overlap anymore!
Trust me, this little discovery makes a lot of the pain worth it.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Week One in Braces
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| Here's what I look like after one week in my Six Month Smile braces! (No movement...but no pain, either!) |
It's Tuesday -- exactly one week and a day since I had my Six Month Smile braces put on. I'm actually amazed at how much better I've begun to cope in the last couple of days. Last night, I inhaled (yes, not pretty) Parmesan chicken, Alfredo pasta and cake. Not exactly all soft foods anymore! I've also managed to chew grapes without much discomfort anymore. And, I'm proud to announce that I'm officially off Motrin.
As far as discomfort, I'm still waxing nearly every bracket before I go to sleep at night. It just makes for good mornings. And, I've learned that if I eat carefully, I can leave the dental wax on for the most part. I just stopped at Chick-Fil-A for my girls at lunch and did a not-so-shabby job eating a few chicken nuggets.
In the last 48 hours, I've noticed that I'm not thinking about my braces around the clock anymore. There are moments that I actually forget they're in. Several days ago, I was literally in pain around the clock and couldn't think of anything else. I'm thrilled to tell you that I seem to be past that point for now.
My next appointment is in the middle of July. I believe they'll be changing out the first wire at that piont. (And my guess is that I'll be back on a diet of smoothies and cottage cheese for a few days.) But for now, I'm doing much better!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Six Days In Braces -- One Hamburger Down!
The Six Month Smile is tough, no doubt about it. But, I was able to veer off the path of soft foods today and tore through a hamburger. Granted, it was the smallest patty ever from Burger King, but still...a hamburger is a hamburger. (And I discovered that if I took off the crunchy ends of the french fries, I could easily enjoy the soft centers...yum!)
Friday, June 15, 2012
Day 5 - Relief (Slightly)
Day 5 of my Six Month Braces experience and I'm still feeling sore...but not QUITE as sore. I think there may be light at the end of the tunnel. I'm still waxing every bracket, which makes me look pretty ridiculous. (Although, my husband claims that he doesn't notice...isn't he sweet?) Today, I made it through the day with just one dose of Motrin. Compared to the three doses I'd been on per day, I think that's saying something!
This evening, I'm not wearing any wax on the front brackets. Yup, trying to toughen up those lips a little! We'll see if it works. It's not actually as bad as I thought! I'm still putting quite a bit of wax on the side and back brackets. I have a couple of small ulcerations on the inside of my cheeks and those are pretty painful. But, other than that, I'm fine.
Because my brackets are covered with wax, I've started noticing more of the "tension" feeling from the wire. I haven't seen any movement yet, but I sure feel the pressure.
I'm beginning to eat like a human being again, too. Pasta for dinner tonight and the inside of some garlic bread! YUM! I also indulged in a fruit smoothie at Panera Bread today too. Definitely making the most of my "soft foods" diet.
My thoughts so far on "Six Month Braces":
* Painful brackets -- wish someone had warned me about how pokey they are
* Not as noticeable as I thought they would be
If you're considering the Six Month Braces for yourself, I'd want you to be aware of the initial pain and discomfort. Of course, everyone's experience varies and there's probably some soul out there who's willing to tell me that he ate steak with no problem the same day he got braces. But, for MOST adults out there, I'm willing to bet you'll feel a bit more pain than your dentist warns you about.
This evening, I'm not wearing any wax on the front brackets. Yup, trying to toughen up those lips a little! We'll see if it works. It's not actually as bad as I thought! I'm still putting quite a bit of wax on the side and back brackets. I have a couple of small ulcerations on the inside of my cheeks and those are pretty painful. But, other than that, I'm fine.
Because my brackets are covered with wax, I've started noticing more of the "tension" feeling from the wire. I haven't seen any movement yet, but I sure feel the pressure.
I'm beginning to eat like a human being again, too. Pasta for dinner tonight and the inside of some garlic bread! YUM! I also indulged in a fruit smoothie at Panera Bread today too. Definitely making the most of my "soft foods" diet.
My thoughts so far on "Six Month Braces":
* Painful brackets -- wish someone had warned me about how pokey they are
* Not as noticeable as I thought they would be
If you're considering the Six Month Braces for yourself, I'd want you to be aware of the initial pain and discomfort. Of course, everyone's experience varies and there's probably some soul out there who's willing to tell me that he ate steak with no problem the same day he got braces. But, for MOST adults out there, I'm willing to bet you'll feel a bit more pain than your dentist warns you about.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Day 4 - Bracket Pain!
Okay, I've discovered that in order to survive this, I'm going to buy stock in dental wax. It's really the only way I can see surviving this process. The six month smile should be re-named the "I'm going to poke the heck out of your lips/cheeks smiles". However, if I cover every single bracket with wax, I'm good to go.
Today, I placed an order online from Walgreens for 9 boxes of dental wax. Yes, I told you I love the stuff! I still have some left from my initial office visit on Monday, but there's no way I want to find myself without. (If you're a parent, this is akin to reaching into your baby's diaper basket and finding no new diapers left...at 2 a.m.) Not good.
No sign of movement yet...but we're only four days into this so I didn't expect to see anything. (Although, my father, ever the optimist, claims he sees a difference...love my dad!)
Today, I placed an order online from Walgreens for 9 boxes of dental wax. Yes, I told you I love the stuff! I still have some left from my initial office visit on Monday, but there's no way I want to find myself without. (If you're a parent, this is akin to reaching into your baby's diaper basket and finding no new diapers left...at 2 a.m.) Not good.
No sign of movement yet...but we're only four days into this so I didn't expect to see anything. (Although, my father, ever the optimist, claims he sees a difference...love my dad!)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Day Two of My Six Month Smile....Ouch
Okay, I'll be completely honest. This hurts. Like you know what. This morning, I woke up very sore. It's not just my teeth that are sore from the tight wire, but also the brackets. Those brackets are brushing up against my gums and the inside of my cheeks. If you can imagine something poking you constantly in the mouth, that's how this feels. Not good. The brackets are not really rounded pieces. Instead, they have pokey edges that seem to find the same spot on the inside of your lips and cheeks and irritate them constantly.
I managed to mash a banana against the roof of my mouth and quickly found that it was getting caught in my braces causing even more discomfort. But, I needed to eat something so that I could take the Motrin, so down it went. I can definitely see how this will be weight loss plan! Eating a lot just isn't worth the pain.
I also discovered the wonders of dental wax this morning and rubbed it over a couple of the "meanest" brackets I have. Ahhh..instant relief. Whoever invented dental wax for braces should be kissed!
This morning, I foolishly checked for movement. Nothing yet, of course. But, I have a feeling that I'll do that often. Each week, my husband will take a photo of my from the front and side so that I can compare. Yesterday, I was told to expect about two-weeks' worth of discomfort. Let's hope it passes quickly!
I managed to mash a banana against the roof of my mouth and quickly found that it was getting caught in my braces causing even more discomfort. But, I needed to eat something so that I could take the Motrin, so down it went. I can definitely see how this will be weight loss plan! Eating a lot just isn't worth the pain.
I also discovered the wonders of dental wax this morning and rubbed it over a couple of the "meanest" brackets I have. Ahhh..instant relief. Whoever invented dental wax for braces should be kissed!
This morning, I foolishly checked for movement. Nothing yet, of course. But, I have a feeling that I'll do that often. Each week, my husband will take a photo of my from the front and side so that I can compare. Yesterday, I was told to expect about two-weeks' worth of discomfort. Let's hope it passes quickly!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Braces are on!
Today, I got my braces put on! And, I'm now officially a brace face. Was it an easy morning? NO! The first thing the dentist did was try to strangle me with a tongue restraining device. Didn't work. (And it hurt!) So, we ended up going with this large rubber circle to hold my lips back while they placed the brackets. That didn't hurt at all...it was just bizarre having my lips open!! It's very important to have your teeth extremely dry so that the brackets can be glued/applied to your teeth properly. The glue that is used smells a bit like crazy glue and is somewhat bitter if it happens to hit your tongue.
The procedure itself to put on the brackets was long, but didn't really hurt. The irritating part is actually getting your wires put on. The wires are what actually move your teeth, so the dentist was putting some pulling pressure on to get them nice and tight. At one point we stopped for a bathroom break and I said that it should be called the two-month smile rather than the six-month smile -- it just felt tight and uncomfortable.
Now that I'm home, I'm trying to figure out life with braces. My teeth don't hurt per say, it's just that the brackets keep catching on my lips and gums. Very irritating. And, I've got a bit of a headache from the whole procedure. The dentist stressed that taking Motrin and Tylenol was really important over the few days. I've also been given some dental wax and will be making that my new best friend. The wax can be applied to the brackets that are rubbing against your lips/gums the most. I've applied a bit and it does seem to make a difference!
The procedure itself to put on the brackets was long, but didn't really hurt. The irritating part is actually getting your wires put on. The wires are what actually move your teeth, so the dentist was putting some pulling pressure on to get them nice and tight. At one point we stopped for a bathroom break and I said that it should be called the two-month smile rather than the six-month smile -- it just felt tight and uncomfortable.
Now that I'm home, I'm trying to figure out life with braces. My teeth don't hurt per say, it's just that the brackets keep catching on my lips and gums. Very irritating. And, I've got a bit of a headache from the whole procedure. The dentist stressed that taking Motrin and Tylenol was really important over the few days. I've also been given some dental wax and will be making that my new best friend. The wax can be applied to the brackets that are rubbing against your lips/gums the most. I've applied a bit and it does seem to make a difference!
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| This is me! Braces on and we're headed home. In a regular photo, you can barely make out the outline of the braces. Don't mind the tired look on my face. (No make-up and my two-year-old kept me up most of the previous night!) |
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| My crooked awful teeth -- with braces! |
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
First Impressions
I'm getting braces!
Let me introduce myself. I'm a 37-year-old mom of two who has wanted straight teeth for awhile. My front teeth protrude quite a bit -- that's something that's happened in the last ten years. I'm also unhappy with the crowding on my bottom teeth. I decided on the Six Month Smile when my dentist suggested them as an easier route than traditional braces.
Here's some more information on the particular braces I'm having put on:http://www.6monthsmiles.com/
And a link to my dentist's website: http://smileschanginglives.com/
Today, I had my impressions done. Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with that term, impressions are what a dentist and orthodontist use to see what your current bite looks like. It involves using a dental tray and some play-dough type material. The tray is inserted in your mouth for five minutes and held there firmly by the dental assistant until the dough begins to harden.
I won't lie. It was tough to get through. In fact, I goofed the top tray pretty badly because I felt like I was going to throw up. Thankfully, the dental assistant let me take it out before that happened. We ended up using quite a bit of topical numbing medication on my top palette. Once she applied it, I had no problem finishing the impressions. (Whew!)
One of the questions I asked about the Six Month Smile procedure was -- will it hurt more because the whole process takes six months rather than the normal one to two years? I've been told no, but I guess only time will really tell! (Of course, I can't compare it to having regular braces since I only experienced the retainer side of things in grade school.)
In one month, I'll get my braces! Stay tuned!
Let me introduce myself. I'm a 37-year-old mom of two who has wanted straight teeth for awhile. My front teeth protrude quite a bit -- that's something that's happened in the last ten years. I'm also unhappy with the crowding on my bottom teeth. I decided on the Six Month Smile when my dentist suggested them as an easier route than traditional braces.
Here's some more information on the particular braces I'm having put on:http://www.6monthsmiles.com/
And a link to my dentist's website: http://smileschanginglives.com/
Today, I had my impressions done. Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with that term, impressions are what a dentist and orthodontist use to see what your current bite looks like. It involves using a dental tray and some play-dough type material. The tray is inserted in your mouth for five minutes and held there firmly by the dental assistant until the dough begins to harden.
I won't lie. It was tough to get through. In fact, I goofed the top tray pretty badly because I felt like I was going to throw up. Thankfully, the dental assistant let me take it out before that happened. We ended up using quite a bit of topical numbing medication on my top palette. Once she applied it, I had no problem finishing the impressions. (Whew!)
One of the questions I asked about the Six Month Smile procedure was -- will it hurt more because the whole process takes six months rather than the normal one to two years? I've been told no, but I guess only time will really tell! (Of course, I can't compare it to having regular braces since I only experienced the retainer side of things in grade school.)
In one month, I'll get my braces! Stay tuned!
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