Those of you who have seen me without a mask on would know I have braces. I've had them on since my freshman year, and I can say with all my heart that I hate these things. Sure, I know that they are going to make my teeth look better than they used to be, but this does not distract from the fact that they are so, so painful sometimes. Plus, there are so many other annoying things about them, I could go on and on.
I decided to write about my braces this week for a very specific reason: as I am writing this post, I am in a great deal of pain. Yesterday, I went to the orthodontist for my final adjustment. It sounds like a good thing, sure, but it's really not. You know why? My mouth is probably in more pain after this visit than they've ever been since the time when I first got my braces put on two years and four months ago. Since I'm going to be getting my braces off in February, the orthodontist did all kinds of weird things to ensure that when I get them off, my teeth come out looking perfect. This all sounds great, but my teeth still hurt very, very much. However, I've been counting the days until I get my braces off, and 40 days cannot be over soon enough. In the mean time, I can barely bite down on anything and can really only eat soft foods, like mashed potatoes and yogurt. In addition, I can always feel a constant pressure in my mouth, especially in my bottom teeth. This situation is not fun at all.
Having these braces on for so long has made me forget what it feels like to not have metal in my mouth. I can't remember the last time I was able to eat something without having to worry if the food got stuck in the wires. Sometimes, I wake up with random pains in my mouth that turn out to be scratches from my braces that I somehow gave myself as I was sleeping. Other times, I don't even have to be sleeping; I can feel when the metal gets caught in my mouth somewhere. The worst is when I get hit in the mouth by accident; that can be pretty painful. As terrible as this sounds, though, I think the most annoying part for me would have to be the food dilemma. I hate the feeling of food being stuck in my braces, it is not pleasant at all. Another reason to hate my braces is the rubber bands. I've had to wear rubber bands in one way or another ever since I got my braces. Whether I had to wear them all day or just at night, they still make my teeth hurt a bit. Yes, I know that I should wear them when I'm supposed to if I want to fix my teeth, but it's so hard sometimes. I either completely forget, or I remember but just don't want to feel my teeth aching. For the longest time, I only had to wear my rubber bands at night, but at the final adjustment, they told me I had to start wearing them 24/7 again, which is doing nothing to help the discomfort that I am already experiencing.
The only thought that is keeping me going at the moment is that the pain will be over in 40 days. In 40 hopefully short days, I will no longer be a metal-mouth. I can't wait!
I remember the final adjustment hurting SO much! The pain went away in a few days, but I definitely know what you're talking about. It is a really odd feeling when you first get your braces off, and you won't stop feeling your teeth for like a week haha, but it is so exciting when they finally get taken off!!
ReplyDeleteAfter having braces for 3 and a half years, I can relate to your pain and annoyance. I hated going to the ortho because my teeth were always so sore for days after. I too have so many bad memories of food issues and waking up with cuts in my mouth from the brackets. Like Kaelan said, it's the best feeling to get them off! Just remember, you only have 37 more days!
ReplyDeleteI had braces for two years, and I can definitely relate to your experience. I remember how much pain I would be in after ortho appointments and having to be careful about what I eat. Braces are probably the most annoying and painful thing ever, but they are so worth it in the end. It's so exciting that you get them off next month!
ReplyDeleteFunny story about braces. During the first week of their installation, my teeth were obviously extremely sore. My diet was limited to no solid foods, so mostly soup. After the first week, what I was eating wasn't really filling me up anymore, in fact, it almost felt painful to consume liquid all the time. I needed solid sustenance. I took the softest solid food I could find, and in my case it was this whole wheat bread that only my dad I ate, compressed it into a tiny ball of bread, and swallowed it whole. I did this in secret and told my parents about it months after, we all seemed to share a hardy laugh out of it.
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