That’s right, folks!  I made it through the first month of orthodontic treatment!  Can I get a “Woohoo!”?   They haven’t become second nature just yet, but I’m getting there.  I almost can’t believe it’s been a month already.  Wait, yes…I can.  Because I miss gummy bears every day.

The first adjustment appointment went well.  I passed with flying colors!  They removed the original bands on the upper arch, as well as wires.  I didn’t want to stray too much away from my Tampa Bay Lightning themed rubber bands, since the team is trying to move ahead on the ranks to make it to the play offs.  I wouldn’t dare change my band colors at a time like this!  What if they didn’t make the playoffs?  It would be my fault!  Cobalt blue and silver is clearly the way to go until the end of the hockey season.   The team’s logo tattooed on my foot is clearly not enough team spirit.

I’m getting off topic.

To get back on track,  I am happy to report that I’ve seen a lot of movement so far in the last four weeks.  Can you see the difference?  The biggest difference to me is how when I bite down, my lower canine is no longer hitting the same spot on the upper arch.  :-)

Slowly but surely…

This has been a brace face update.

The thing about braces is that you know they are going to be uncomfortable, and you know they are going to be annoying – but they really sugar coat just HOW uncomfortable and annoying!  For someone who is as OCD as me, I am kind of rethinking this idea.  My upper braces were put on Thursday morning, and it’s been a treat ever since.   Granted,  moving teeth around in your head is not something that is easy.  I knew enough going into this since I’ve worked at a dental office for the last six years, but ugh!

Here is what they don’t tell you when you go for your consultation:

1. You can’t eat pizza crust (If I had known that from the beginning, I may have rethought this!)
2. When they adjust the arch wire and bands,  it actually takes about three days for the soreness to go away.  (Start taking a OTC pain reliever before your appointment to ease some of it)
3. The moment they get put on, you instantly feel like your teeth are getting loose.  To the point where you become convinced that if you bite down on something a weird way, you will split your tooth in two.  Or is that just my OCD coming out to get me?
4. You have to completely retrain the way you eat food, and how you bite.  More importantly,  you have to relearn how to brush, and floss your teeth.  What used to take 5 minutes, now takes about 20 minutes – three times a day.

Apparently so does Andrew.    A few moments ago, I checked out my braces in the mirror in our bathroom when I also noted that it’s time to dye may hair because my grays are popping.  Andrew stated that I must be having an identity crisis.  Old or young?

“You’re a 25 year old cross between a 15 year old and a 65 year old.”

Gee! Doesn’t that just warm the cockles of my heart?

Despite my current disdain towards my metal mouth,  I plan on keeping a photo log of the progress.  Every month expect to see a post with new photos showing movement.   My hope is that once I see a visual of the transition,  I’ll shed some of my current hatred.

Please enjoy my very close up and slightly gross, before and after photos.  :-)

If anyone has any advice on now to get through this nonsense, please feel free to leave it in the comments.  I’ll take any pearls of wisdom to ensure swift treatment!