3 Week Torture of Pain

Well, lucky me, I'm on a 3 week schedule for torture. I have very low pain tolerance, so if something hurts I complain a lot, which I am right now.

Anywho, this week I got separaters. For those who don't know what those are, they are these rubber pieces (sort of like rubber bands that looks like a bead) that you stick in between your teeth to create space for an expander. So, today after school I got these separaters in, and now I'm feeling the effects. The left side of my upper jaw doesn't hurt (I took Motrin) but on the right side of my upper jaw it hurts BAD.

Next Monday I'm going to get the separaters taken out and an expander put it. Yay.. Then, on December 21, I'm getting braces. Lucky that one of my friends gets his braces off the day I get mine on. I really hate this. I really want to take this one separater out, but I can't. Even though it hurts I just gotta bare through it.. hopefully after the separaters nothing will hurt as bad..:please:

I hate braces.. they hurt like hell everytime you go to see your orthodontist.... and seperators only hurt the first day or two... but I will finally be done with these little tourture machines in 6 months....

You have my sympathies. I had to endure over 3 years with braces.

It sucks major.

I had braces, But not the metal ones, they were InvisAlign or whatever. Only had them for about 15months, and changed them every two weeks. Those things hurt like crazy every time. And sadly i need them again because i never wore my retainer and my teeth are back to where they were, if not worse.

I hated the pain and all, but the end result was worth it. Well, would of been worth it had I not gotten lazy.

I don't think braces hurt that badly... I got mine off last September, and I had them for 13 months.

If you're in a lot of pain when they tighten them (put new bands on or switch the wire), you can tell them that you're sensitive to pain. They can slow down the correction and it won't hurt as much, though it'll take longer.

The end result is totally worth it.

Just remember this famous quote from the Marines...

PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY.

Good luck, hang in there!

I'm totally in for braces to make my teeth straight, just the pain makes me feel uneasy. I'm supposed to have my braces on for 20-24 months, so about under two years which isn't that bad.. I hope. I don't like pains in my mouth. I'd rather have a headache than pains in my mouth LOL. I'm jealous of my brother and sister.. my brother doesn't need em' and my sister has never had them. Though, my second oldest sister had them, but for less time than I'm having mine on..

How many times a year would I be making orthodontist appointments to tighten the braces?

Should be a monthly appointment with the ortho. They'll change your bands because they stretch and loosen over the month, so they replace them with tighter ones to keep your teeth moving.

thank god i was born with perfectly straight teeth!!!!

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Originally Posted by het.pied

thank god i was born with perfectly straight teeth!!!!

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me too!!!
Then I rode my bike into an electric pole and knocked my front tooth out. =[

Wait till you get the expander in:D

Then, you get to look forward to the scheduled adjustments they make, those feel good as well:gj:

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Several things on the braces:

1. PAIN. It'll hurt every time you get them adjusted. With your expander in, there will be NO WIRE on your top jaw for a few weeks/months, so that's good.

2. MOVEMENT. Expect SO MUCH movement in your lower teeth. Over the last 4 months, my bottom teeth are completely straight. They move FAST.

3. FOOD. Food will get stuck, believe me. Get a WaterPik.

4. CARE. What I do, and the ortho always says I'm doing wonderfully, is brush 2 times a day, morning and night, and WaterPik at night. Once a week, I floss, brush, WaterPik, and mouthwash: the whole shbang! It works for me.

5. FOOD 2. For the first 2 weeks your teeth are UNBELIEVABLY sensitive, so listen closely. Get yogurt, milk, cheese, thinly sliced meats, thin breads, etc. That'll be your diet for 2 weeks.

I hope my advice helped! Trust me, if I had known all this a few months ago, life would've been WAY easier.

EDIT: Look up pics and vids of the palatal expander. Helps to understand it A LOT.

You just need to reprogram yourself. Its easy to brainwash yourself into thinking that the pain is good. And you will crave it. Put the expanders in and let it hurrt a while. Take them out and let the pain go away. Dwell on that pain like you miss it. Put them back in and relax, telling yourself that your glad they're back and you missed them. You need them. You love them. Drive small spikes in between your teeth because you love it. You need it.:cool:

I had them for two years when I was younger. They hurt but you'll be fine, you kinda get used to it after a while, just like anything else

Yup, me too--those long long years of junior high, but everytime I smile at myself in the mirror, I'm reminded that no pain, no gain. ;)

I had to wear braces for 3 years. The day that you get them off will feel like the best day of your life. Keep your eyes on the prize. I currently have a permanent retainer on my lower teeth in the front. I'm thinking about having that thing ripped out as well. It's been in for 15 years or so.

I'm glad i don't need braces! lol sorry. I am getting my wisdom teeth in right now and they don't feel too great.

how come you aren't doing invisalign?

I had braces for about 2 and a half years. It sucked, but at least my teeth are straight now. Just be glad that you didn't have to get teeth pulled or have to have orthodontic surgery to have impacted eye teeth exposed lol.
I haven't had braces for 3 years now, but my teeth are still very sensitive from all of the stuff they did......I don't ever want to see a dentist again.

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Originally Posted by the_Ryno

I had braces, But not the metal ones, they were InvisAlign or whatever. Only had them for about 15months, and changed them every two weeks. Those things hurt like crazy every time. And sadly i need them again because i never wore my retainer and my teeth are back to where they were, if not worse.

I hated the pain and all, but the end result was worth it. Well, would of been worth it had I not gotten lazy.

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Yeah I'm going to for sure wear my retainer until I don't need it anymore because I'm not going back to the way my teeth are now.. They aren't that bad, just a little overcrowded because my top and lower jaw is more narrow, so all of my teeth can't fit in perfectly.. I guess this is why I need the expander.

I would go with the pain just to see the end result. I think I would get them off before my 16th birthday, so it would be nice to have perfectly straight teeth for my birthday:D

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Originally Posted by sassy-pants

I don't think braces hurt that badly... I got mine off last September, and I had them for 13 months.

If you're in a lot of pain when they tighten them (put new bands on or switch the wire), you can tell them that you're sensitive to pain. They can slow down the correction and it won't hurt as much, though it'll take longer.

The end result is totally worth it.

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Oh I bet it is worth it. I'll just take in whatever pain I have, there are pills for a reason:D +1 for Motrin:gj:

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Originally Posted by revxus

Just remember this famous quote from the Marines...

PAIN IS WEAKNESS LEAVING THE BODY.

Good luck, hang in there!

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LOL I've seen that quote plenty of times, and I find it somewhat true with me.

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Originally Posted by sassy-pants

Should be a monthly appointment with the ortho. They'll change your bands because they stretch and loosen over the month, so they replace them with tighter ones to keep your teeth moving.

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Monthly isn't so bad, but I do hear every time you go in to get the braces tightened they hurt. I'm still wondering which hurts more... the spacers, the expander, the braces, tightening the braces, etc...:weirdface

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Wait till you get the expander in:D

Then, you get to look forward to the scheduled adjustments they make, those feel good as well:gj:

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LOL, I'm ready for those!:D:bow:

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Originally Posted by Darkice

You just need to reprogram yourself. Its easy to brainwash yourself into thinking that the pain is good. And you will crave it. Put the expanders in and let it hurrt a while. Take them out and let the pain go away. Dwell on that pain like you miss it. Put them back in and relax, telling yourself that your glad they're back and you missed them. You need them. You love them. Drive small spikes in between your teeth because you love it. You need it.:cool:

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LOL I'm not that good of a brainwasher when it comes to pain, but I'll try LOL.

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Originally Posted by MattU

I had them for two years when I was younger. They hurt but you'll be fine, you kinda get used to it after a while, just like anything else

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Yeah, I was hoping I would get used to them. Two friends of mine just got theirs on, and they already seem used to it.

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Originally Posted by p3titexburial

Yup, me too--those long long years of junior high, but everytime I smile at myself in the mirror, I'm reminded that no pain, no gain. ;)

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Hey that's pretty true, without pain you never know when to push yourself, but I have no choice LOL:D

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Originally Posted by orphan

I had to wear braces for 3 years. The day that you get them off will feel like the best day of your life. Keep your eyes on the prize. I currently have a permanent retainer on my lower teeth in the front. I'm thinking about having that thing ripped out as well. It's been in for 15 years or so.

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LOL I hear once you get them off and bite into something it feels really good, and when you get them off your teeth feel like slimey or something LOL.

My sister wears that bottom retainer, and my orthodontist said that I could get that and get a clear retainer for the top jaw, or just get the clear retainers for the top and bottom jaw.

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Originally Posted by matt71915

I'm glad i don't need braces! lol sorry. I am getting my wisdom teeth in right now and they don't feel too great.

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Lucky for you that may be the only pain you get. Get this, after I get the braces off, they are taking my wisdom teeth out.... why is everything so painful:tears:

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Originally Posted by redpython

how come you aren't doing invisalign?

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It would be too hard for me to use them. I eat a lot of stuff that would stain them, and that 'lot of stuff' is delicious, so I can't miss out:( LOL, I hear invisalign hurts worse than the actual metal braces, and since I'm so sensitive to pain I don't think I can take it. I actually took a nap earlier because I didn't wanna go through the pain from my spacers LOL.

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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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Several things on the braces:

1. PAIN. It'll hurt every time you get them adjusted. With your expander in, there will be NO WIRE on your top jaw for a few weeks/months, so that's good.

2. MOVEMENT. Expect SO MUCH movement in your lower teeth. Over the last 4 months, my bottom teeth are completely straight. They move FAST.

3. FOOD. Food will get stuck, believe me. Get a WaterPik.

4. CARE. What I do, and the ortho always says I'm doing wonderfully, is brush 2 times a day, morning and night, and WaterPik at night. Once a week, I floss, brush, WaterPik, and mouthwash: the whole shbang! It works for me.

5. FOOD 2. For the first 2 weeks your teeth are UNBELIEVABLY sensitive, so listen closely. Get yogurt, milk, cheese, thinly sliced meats, thin breads, etc. That'll be your diet for 2 weeks.

I hope my advice helped! Trust me, if I had known all this a few months ago, life would've been WAY easier.

EDIT: Look up pics and vids of the palatal expander. Helps to understand it A LOT.

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sam took wat i was gona say.:banana:but dont feel bad i got to get the seperaters today:(

I've never had braces Tiffany but I wanted to say I am sorry you are in pain and I hope you feel better soon :gj:

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

It would be too hard for me to use them. I eat a lot of stuff that would stain them, and that 'lot of stuff' is delicious, so I can't miss out:( LOL, I hear invisalign hurts worse than the actual metal braces, and since I'm so sensitive to pain I don't think I can take it. I actually took a nap earlier because I didn't wanna go through the pain from my spacers LOL.

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Yeah, lots of stuff will "stain" them, such as colored drinks like gatorade. Its easy to clean though, just brush them with a tooth brush to clean time. You also have to wear them for 22+hours a day. Every set of trays is for 2 weeks, so every two weeks you are in pain for a few hours, unless you do what I did and change them before you go to bed and take some good painkillers. That way when you wake up, your mouth is sore, but it isn't that intense pain. Your teeth are sensitive for a few days though, but I imagine thats the same with metal braces.


Oh and I forgot, the smell of the trays is horrible unless you clean them every day.

The invisaline stuff won't fix nearly as much stuff as the actual braces will. That stuff is better for more minor adjustments, and anything requiring an expander isn't a minor adjustment.

I've have my braces for about a year now, and have one more year to go. You really do get used to them pretty quick. The first few appointments that you have where they adjust your braces you will probably be sore for a few days, but after a couple of appointments, the soreness only lasts for a day or so. It gets easier as you go.

Quick word of advice... do whatever the ortho tells you to do. If s/he says wear the elastics, wear them. I know so many people that just don't b/c they don't want to, but they don't get the same results they could, or it takes longer. My ortho has been so shocked my how my teeth have responded that he talked about sending my case to a teaching hospital, to show what can happen when things go properly. I'm 23, so it should have actually taken longer to get the results that I have than normal.

And sugar-free gum helps a lot... it takes some practice to keep it from getting stuck in the braces, but just brush every day and it won't cause any harm. Chew the gum after your appointment, or the next day... it will hurt like the devil, but by the time your done with that piece, most of the pain will be gone, and it won't be back until your next appointment. My ortho actually suggested it.

Good luck with it! Motrin/Advil/ibuprofen...they are all life savers, but use them sparingly so they still help by the time you are done! :D

i didnt read the other posts, so im not sure if someone mentions this, but after you get your braces taken off (which probably wont be for a while as you havent even gotten braces yet) Make sure you wear the retainer they give you!!! I had braces for about 2 years.. I got them off, and i had the straightest teeth out of everyone i kneww!!! Everyone would give me compliments on what a NICE smile i had, etc... But i never wore my retainer because i wanted to show off my perfect smile... Well.. When you dont wear your retainer your teeth shift... And mine did... I cant fit my retainer back on anymore to re-align them, so now i have to get braces put back on.. Smart me huh?
~Brandon

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Originally Posted by bloodpython19

sam took wat i was gona say.:banana:but dont feel bad i got to get the seperaters today:(

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Hahaha my bad!

I have had orthodontic stuff in and out of my mouth from age 7-17. I have had 3 or 4 palette expanders (top and bottom), bite planes, braces a few times. The whole shebang. You name it, I got it.

It sucked. I am glad its over with. It will go by quickly. Especially because you won't have to have nearly as much done to you as was done to me.

D:

Aw, Sorry Tiff! I wish I had gotten braces when I was your age, but my parents couldn't afford it. I've done all the dental stuff - fillings, root canals, crowns, surgery, wisdom teeth... Even had a root canal gone bad, and had to be sent to a specialist cuz the dr broke off a tool IN my root. Fun stuff.

My BF had braces for 8 years (Somewhere along that number, I can't remember for sure). His teeth were really messed up. He doesn't talk about it a whole lot, but I know if was in pain alot. He's got beautiful teeth, but they did shift back a little. I'm sure he didn't wear his retainer. Tsk tsk!

5 years of braces. I understand how much they suck.

Lucky me I was graced with perfect teeth ;) Never had to deal with braces or any of that crap! Although I did have wisdom teeth pulled... that surprisingly didn';t hurt either. It was painful for about a week while the teeth were pushing into my jaw, but once they were out it was like a relief and I had very little pain at all.

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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! :)