3 Week Torture of Pain

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Originally Posted by abuja

Hahaha my bad!

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you didnt know.dont say sorry

I feel your pain be glad you don't have the horrible teeth i do, i had braces from 3rd grade until i was a junior in high school, i had an expander on my lower & upper jaw plus i had to have head gear too after they pulled 8 of my teeth to make space. The best part was when i was 18 and my wisdom teeth started coming in and made my lower teeth crooked again, needless to say with all that work/pain i'm perfectly happy now with my un-perfect teeth. i hope for your sake you don't have go through what i went through, it was a lot of pain for really no benefit.

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Originally Posted by abuja

Oh Tiff, I was in the same position about 6 months ago. The separators will hurt for about a week, then they'll stop and just be annoying.

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I had the spacers on for two weeks, and today at the orthodontist I felt the spaces between my teeth where the spacers used to be, and my God that is crazy how fast they moved.

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Now the expander, I get mine off in February after getting it on in august. Several things:

1. FOOD. Get a WaterPik, it'll help so much with all the crap that gets stuck in your palatal expander. It is a lifesaver!!! And only bout 20 dollars. Also, watch for certain foods like lettuce, bacon, noodles, etc that get stuck for forever up there!

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I will really have to remember to purchase a WaterPik. I can't seem to find any at SafeWay, but I got some picks that I used to get the food out of the top of the expander. When food gets up there (like every time I chew on something -.-) I try to get it out by like forcing air through it by kind of like making this quick hissing noise (that's the best I can explain it).

I watch for all foods that get stuck up there.. Mostly everything I like gets stuck up there. The thing I can have it like smoothies and shakes, which is the only thing that I actually like that won't get stuck up in my expander.

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2. KEY. It's hard to first few turns, make sure your orthodontist lets one of your parents turn it AT THE ORTHODONTIST to make sure they know how.

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My parents know how to do it--my sister used to have the expander in (for 6 months). The orthodontist turned something in the expander with a key and my dad watched so he can refresh his memory. So, my parents do know how to do it, and I think my sister knows how to also.

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3. PAIN. Separators, I'm sorry, are nothing compared to this contraption. You'll turn in for about 6-8 weeks once a day/night. The first 2 weeks, it'll hurt. It'll give you a headache for about 30 minutes after each time for a little while, so be prepared with advil or tylenol. Take a bath, it'll relax you.

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So far, the spacers were the worst. My expander barely even hurt. The expander is a lot better than the spacers, but a lot more annoying with all of my food getting stuck up in there. I did get a headache today though, and I do have Advil in a cabinet, so I will be using it.

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4. STRANGE. It'll feel so weird in your mouth (out of context quote, i know) but you'll get used to feeling it and everything will become habitual and normal for you.

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It does feel kinda weird, and I do tend the feel it with my tongue A LOT, but it's not as bad as the spacers were.

I have to have this epander in until January 6 and they get a checkup on me. They will tell me if I need to keep it in longer (hope not LOL) or take it out that day and begin with the braces. I kinda wish I had just a few hours without anything in my mouth so I can enjoy stuffing my face with food and then I'd be ready for the 2 year trip with braces.

Braces are from the Devil! They hurt so bad. Every time I got mine tightened, my teeth hurt so bad I could barely eat. Things that were too hot or too cold were a no. I survived on very very overcooked noodles, and usually swallowed them whole because I could not chew to save my life. Pain killers are your best friend. Lots of ibu!

I had to have braces because when I was 5 I fell out of a ferris wheel. Now, even after a few years of braces and a bottom retainer, one of my teeth is still turned slightly. Wear your retainer! I didn't wear my upper one because it was uncomfortable.

Soft noodles, luke warm soups, cream of wheat, basically things you don't have to chew will be the only thing you can eat every time you get them tightened.

I don't know if this was mentioned... but when the ortho says clean your teeth, you need to make your teeth sparkle. Your teeth can and WILL get stained if you don't floss / brush regularly, and you get lovely white spots surrounded by grungy brown when the braces are off. (This happened to a lazy friend of mine - her teeth looked just awful after. She NEVER flossed.)

I had to deal with braces for four years, along with headgear to help with a dreadful overbite. (The headgear hurt WAAAY worse than the braces ever did. My entire jaw ached every bloody morning because of it. Not to mention all the drool...) They aren't bad at all after the adjustment weeks, and as was said - getting them off is the best feeling ever. You won't regret going through it! :)