BracedHonda

Oooooops

Love your attitude Honda!

Keep the offending brackets well covered with wax, so the wax can toughen your mouth, instead of the brackets causing sores, then the toughening process having to begin all over again. The rinses will help soothe your mouth and hopefully speed up any healing that's needed. Remember to wear the wax when eating and for at least 24 hours after you think you no longer need it.

The 'lifts' have many names, we call them 'bite turbos', and they often cause eating problems for a few days to a week. Keep trying to eat, as you'll find a way that works for you and you'll soon be back to eating most things you've eaten in the past. You may need to talk to your ortho about the jaw tension and pain, should that continue. Some patients need a 'relaxant' type medication, so that the jaw joints get a rest. Hopefully your jaw pain will go away without any hassles, but in case it doesn't, please give your ortho a call.

Hopefully your mouth will feel a little better each day, until within a week or two you'll hardly notice your new hardware! Good luck!

... and I did it again ... sorry Honda!

Hi Honda---hope you are doing well! I also have a bite which will need correcting. My lower teeth are very straight, but had to be braced anyway--for when I get elastics I guess. I wonder when that will happen. Some days I look in the mirror and wonder how it is going to be fixed!!! I'm on day 9 now, and the pressure and pain has eased but now have 2 ulcers in my mouth that I am dealing with. I am still not eating normally, prefer soft food, but can handle chicken, or similer food. I just have to take it slow. Very hard to chew gracefully though--anyone have tips with that???? It's hard to close my mouth and chew because I can't bite down right and all that. I do though, and look very awkward when I am eating. I only eat when I have to sadly, I love food and miss the joy of eating....but now if I eat, I have to brush, and pick and floss....aghhhh, just not worth it. I only eat to no get hungry
good luck to you----keep us posted!

Candy in the early days it's important to cut (or rip your food) into small pieces and only take small amounts of food into your mouth at a time. As you get used to chewing and I guess more to the point, less concerned about what others think ... you'll find you return to enjoying food as you did pre braces.

It's important to eat like you did pre braces, so that your body is able to get on with the work it needs to do to change your teeth. If you become lacking in food, vitamins, minerals etc ... your whole health ... including the progress of your teeth, will be affected.

Having some water (or wine ... or whatever you prefer) while eating ... gets rid of most of the food that would stick to your brackets. I rarely brush after a meal, unless it's been a 'sticky' one. I do use my pick often, and always have a small dental kit with me, if I'm away from home, so that I can brush if I need to. Flossing ... that's left till my night time clean, as it only needs to be done once a day.

It will get easier ... I promise ... but your attitude will be one of the main reasons for success in this are!

I know exactly how you feel, because I really love eating as well, and when I got my braces on, I barely ate anything. It just wasn't worth the pain and the fuss. I've had them on for a little over a week now, and I've just started to be able to eat normally again, so don't worry - it gets better! Good luck!

thanks Sunny, I have been doing the small bites thing, and do okay for the most part. I started out flossing after every time I ate..and yesterday started just using the little wire brush and brushed my teeth really good after. So I can I get away with that, and just floss before bed each night?? YAY --- then that would make it easier. I have water with each meal and through out the day....the cold water feels like an ice pack on my teeth. I just popped in some sugar free gum to practice chewing...my right side is tender but okay, the other side is really sore and I almost can't bite down. right in the spot where I used to be able to fit floss easily enough, and now I have to fight it in there.
I still am not sure what kind of braces I have, I am assuming if he asked me if I wanted colors or natural, then I have traditional? I can't really see any bands, maybe they are just blending in with the ceramic..I don't see them on my metal lowers either..I am confused! LOL...I guess I'll just have to ask him. Oh and one more question...on some brackets one latch, hook..not sure what to call it is left down and the other are up and closed....what is that about? My daughter had braces for 2 years and I think I should know all this, but I don't!!!

I love your positive attitude. Hope that you are doing well.

Good luck and I look forward to seeing more updates.

Candy if you have a 'door' on a lower bracket, you have a type of self ligating brackets. Your upper ceramics may have ligs, or silver doors ... hey it doesn't really matter, as they all do the same job ... hold the archwire to let it move our teeth. The brackets are tools ... attached to our teeth, but cannot do anything without the archwire! About the 'door' that's not closed ... give your ortho's office a call. This may have accidently opened, or it may have been left that way for a reason. Best to check and get the correct answer.

Flossing once a day is sufficient, and the rest of the time a pick or interdental brush to remove food from between the teeth is sufficient. Brushing after every meal, makes us feel good, but may not be necessary. Also be careful to brush gently, especially across any area of gum. A small soft tooth brush is recommended for brushing our teeth and gums.

Sounds like you need your water a little warmer ... and supplement your teeth care, by using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, like sensodyne.

It's great that you're chewing, as there's been studies done that show that chewing helps with tooth movement and discomfort.

Good luck!