ksmoguy

Hang in there! The first two weeks for me, were nothing short of a miserable hell. I was popping ibuprofen like candy. My brackets cut holes in my cheeks, my teeth were so sensitive I couldn't bite through an olive. But I can promise you that your mouth will adjust, and you'll pretty much develop a tolerance for how braces will change how you eat and what you can eat. Pretty soon you won't be thinking twice about it. There are a few foods I simply can't eat (apples, carrots to name two), it's too painful for me so I just avoid them. But otherwise I've learned how to eat pretty much anything. Just remember, chewing, even when painful, aids in tooth movement - and cut your solids into small pieces, it helps to chew them. You'll be eating slower than everyone else probably, but at least you'll be able to eat. Good luck!

Fantastic that your comfort level is so good ksmoguy! It's amazing how comfortable this experience is for some people. Remember if any brackets do rub, cover them generously with wax. Also make sure your hydration levels are great and increase your fluid intake.

Hopefully you won't have the molar buildup for long and from what I've seen at work, the patients who cope best with the buildup are those who use those molars to chew their food.

Here's to the next 48 hours continuing to go so well!

Any thoughts as to when I might begin to see movement? Its only been 3 days but so far no movement, very little tenderness and no sores on the cheeks. Honestly I hardly feel any force from the arch wire.

The only advil I took was before the initial appointment just as preventative care but I didnt even need to take that.

Give it about 4-6 weeks - that's about the time I began to actually see the difference in my teeth. If you want, take a photo every Sunday or something, in the same spot (maybe an area where you're expecting the most change) and then compare the photos and see how long it takes to notice a change

How much alignment do your teeth need? If there's heaps, you may notice movement quite quickly ... if not, it may be more difficult to see.

Photos are a great way to pick up progress. Take a photo of your natural bite, your profile and each arch. Do this monthly and compare the progress ... amazing what you can see this way that your eye won't pick up due to seeing your teeth so many times each day.

Flossing is another great way to find changes. If teeth are closer together or further apart ... you have changes. Also noticing how your teeth meet when you bite.

It's great that your archwire is working without you feeling it. This is how it's been for me for all my treatment ... and ghee I'm grateful for that!

Good luck!

I am taking photos. For the most part I dont need alot of movement except in one area as I had a canine come in over another tooth so its like 2 teeth holding the same position. They couldnt bracket the back tooth and scheduled me to come back in 4 weeks to get it bracketed so obviously they feel that space will be created within 4 weeks to make room for this tooth. Thats why I expected to see some movement quickly in this area.

They have a spring on the archwire to push my teeth apart.

I'm glad to hear its not so painful! Mine were so sensitive at first I was miserable but it sounds like you're doing well

You'll adjust to not biting your tongue - TRUST US LOL