As you read this, I will be sitting in the orthodontist office with my daughter because today, she’s getting braces.
I have to tell you, she’s been a real trooper about the whole thing. I’m a FREAK when it comes to dentistry. I punched my dentist when I was eight. (In my defense, he was coming at me with a big needle after promising me, before I shut my eyes, that he wouldn’t give me a shot.) I never went back to him. In fact, I never went back to ANYONE for many, many years. I still despise the idea of going to the dentist and when I was getting a crown, actually preferred the pain of childbirth.
I was very careful when selecting my daughter’s dentist because I didn’t want to transfer my horrendous fears onto her. I picked a woman, very well respected in the area, who specialized in children. My daughter’s dentist experiences have always been good. So of course, when it came time to pick the orthodontist, I deferred to the dentist. Luckily, both her husband and her (good-looking) son are orthodontists who have their office right next door to hers. Convenient!
She’s not exactly excited about it, but she knows she has to do it. I have the refrigerator stocked with soft foods that she likes and promised to make her creme brulee, Sorrento pie (it’s an Italian shepherd’s pie) and egg salad…her favorites. I’ve got my Advil ready to go.
But otherwise, I don’t have any advise to give her. I never needed braces (thank GOD) but on the downside, I can’t give her any advice about what she can/can’t eat or what she should/shouldn’t do.
So I’m looking to the jungle…any advice to offer about surviving braces, especially in the first few days?
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Blazing Midsummer Nights
Dirty Little Secrets
Karma
Through The Night
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I’m not much help today, Jules. Never having worn braces, I couldn’t tell you what is a go at all. I do know no gum chewing is one of the noes. tell your daughter I’m rooting…lolololol…fo her.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I could use some advice, too…I have a feeling that we will soon be a family of braces (because I had them as a kid, I seem to be the only one escaping braces…my husband has admitted that he needs them and I am sure my boys will).
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I got braces on my lower teeth when I was 30 to keep my front teeth from hitting and wearing away. $1,000, 1 year of time and my teeth quickly shifted back which the dentist did not mention was a possibility. I no longer see him.
I will say that the experience wasn’t really painful for me, just some mild tenderness after they were adjusted.
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I had braces (top and bottom) TWICE for a total of four years. Keep some soft (but yummy) food around — ice cream, pudding, etc. Also aspirin/pain killers for when they tighten those brackets (worst pain ever in the first few days). And definitely brush well. And the day those things come off, celebrate by eating something you couldn’t eat when they were on. :) My teeth look great now, and I barely remember those four years.
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Hi Julie,
I had braces way back in the late 70′s. nobody told you anything except what not to eat. Both my girls had braces during the mid 90′s and 2000′s. They were told to take a pain reliever before the appointment and to take during the first couple of days other than that they really never complained about it.
One thing I always did before a tightening or when they first got them on was I made sure then had a good meal. That really seemed to help a lot.
good luck.
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Not a former wearer of braces… but had adult friends who ended up with them.. to the point of having jaws broken and realigned…
A blender is your friend…
and ask about pre-medicating before getting the darn things tightened…
I however, go to a periodontist… ie gum disease.. my guy uses a swab that pre-deaden’s me before putting in the serious stuff prior to involved procedures…
FLOSS!!!! EVERYONE PLEASE FLOSS!!! DAILY!!! OR MORE!!! trust me on this!
And for those of you with small children… there’s similar stuff for use before shots in arms…
This isn’t going to hurt is the 2nd big lie….
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Braces these days are not nearly as painful as they were when we were kids — when braces were the kind that wrapped around each tooth! Both my girls had braces and while the first few days were uncomfortable, there was no excruciating pain. Give Alyssa a shot of Tequila and I’m sure she’ll be fine! (And YES, I’m just JOKING!!!
)
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You know, my grandmother used to give us whiskey and/or wine when we were sick…but only when my mother wasn’t looking. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?
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Well, when my sister had braces 20+ years ago she would eat stage 3 foods for babies. Only some things she liked but she got the nutrients she needed as well. Good luck!
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If you get a milk shake to help numb the pain in the first few days after getting the braces tightened, go somewhere that makes the shakes by hand (like Sonic) and ask for the shake to be thinned. Trying to suck a triple thick milkshake through a straw is painful to teeth sensitive because of a tightening. Or, you could ask for a spoon instead of a straw.
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That’s a good one! I also have her favorite ice cream and milk here at the house. And a blender, of course!
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I never had braces so I am no help at all. Both my younger grandkids have them & they seem to be surviving just fine. The orthodontist should have a list of do’s & don’ts. Good luck to your daughter.
I love Janelle’s advice!!!
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UPDATE: So, due to miscommunication, she did NOT get her braces today. She got her spacers OFF and had new molds taken with the rings. She gets two weeks of FREEDOM from any restrictions and then we go back at the end of March for the braces. I was so confused! (Ask Carly, who I was talking with on the phone when my daughter came out and declared she was DONE! and had nothing on her teeth, LOL!)
But keep the advice coming…it’s only a few weeks away!
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I had braces about fifteen years ago – I don’t recall needing pain relief when they were put on or tightened, but I definitely recommend soft food when they were tightened.
I was told no gum. I also found that I could eat toffee because it would end up stuck around the braces. Check with the orthodontist which kind of toothbrush they recommend – I know mine recommended a soft brush, but things may have changed by now.
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My two oldest had braces–oldest for FIVE YEARS!! Of course, she then lost her retainer and went away to college and started getting wisdom teeth and her teeth entirely shifted so they’re a mess again. Fortunately, I had taken youngest to get her checked out for Invisalign instead of braces, and she was a candidate. So oldest decided to go that route since she’s getting married in October and no way would she do braces again.
I have to say I am astounded at how quickly youngest’s teeth are shifting. She looks fantastic and has only been using the trays for 3 months. The entire course of treatment will be finished in under one year and unless you’re standing within a couple of feet of her, you have absolutely no idea she’s got anything on her teeth. A fantastic option, if your mouth is right for it.
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I got married in braces. My daughter also had to have them. She always took an aspirin before an adjustment just to make sure. I bought a waterpik to help clean around the metal tabs. I vaguely remember she was told no hard sticky candy. I do remember that if you eat something with shredded lettuce, make sure you check a mirror. It likes to wrap itself around the tabs and wires. Not pretty. And make sure to wear the retainer when you’re done. I didn’t and my bottom teeth shifted a little. They’re not bad but after all that money and time, I should have stuck it out a little longer.
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I should of, but couldn’t afford them. The Spawn refused to get them (now she wants them). I hope she is doing ok.
What is Sorrento Pie?????
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A delicious Italian version of Shephard’s Pie. My mother/grandmother made it…I’ll have to post the recipe!
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My son had braces for 6 years; he never complained, went through his check ups so well the orthodontist told me he fell asleep in the chair. I never had any problems with feeding him other than his own fussiness.
Good luck to your daughter, I’m sure she’ll be fine.
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Having gone through this with my husband, I can honestly recommend that you stay in front of the discomfort. Ibuprofen (or whatever works best for your daughter) should be taken before the appointment or as soon after as possible. Keep taking it for a couple of days as things settle into place. WAX, lots of wax. Keep it anywhere and everywhere. I had it in the car, my purse, nearly every room in the house… and encourage them to use it at the first sign of irritation (theirs, not yours
Cheerful support mixed with tough love (i.e. “I know that it isn’t a lot of fun but it will be worth it” combined with “because I said so!”) Try to make it fun. Every month a young friend would pre-select the colors for the bands to be used. We had some pretty interesting combos but my DH (who was in his 40s actually got a kick out of what his surprise was). Hope this helps. I survived the 2 years of whining that my big, strong husband tortured me with so hang tough, it’s not the rest of your life (it will just feel like it!)
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What is this wax you speak of? Where does one get it and what does it do? (I assume you put it on the brace that is rubbing against the skin?)
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I forgot about the wax. yes, it’s for the irritation that the metal can cause. I believe its beeswax but it was a long time ago. The dentist should be able to give you a supply.
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or you can look in the dental area at a drugstore/box store..
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Lucky me, I got my second full set a braces in my 30′s but here a few tips that help me to cope. Lots of milk shakes for the the first day or two and graduate to soft foods. I found that by day four, I was was ready for solid foods. I found that the chewing of solid foods help with the pain. Your daughter will also experience this pain again when she goes in to have her braces tighened. Just remember milk shakes, soft food and soilds. Advil will also help. Be sure to use the wax at the first sign of any sore spots in the cheek and gums. But don’t forget to take the wax out before brushing! I know first hand with a mess it is to get if off your braces.
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Luckily I never had to wear braces. They’re a horror which never should be placed on a child.
My friends on the other hand, were not so lucky. They had to endure having them on the top and bottom teeth. And what they hated the most — was getting teased about those “railroad tracks” in their mouths.
Today, there are invisible ones. They do the same job, but there’s less of a stigma for those wearing them.
Which ones is your daughter getting, if I can ask.
REMEMBER = Be true to your teeth and they won’t be false to you.
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The best advice I can give is GET THE WAX! lol
It’s a wax you can put on the edges of the braces which will rub your mouth sore until you’re lips get used to them. But wax was a lifesaver. Also, whenever a wire snapped and it was at night or I was out of town, the wax was easy to mold on the end of the wire to alleviate some of the poking till I could get in to see the dentist to fix it. Make sure to brush and floss even though it’s a HUGE pain to floss between the wires and such. I regretted it later when I had cavity due to not flossing enough. Braces trap food you can’t see or reach with toothbrush.
If her teeth are as bad as mine were, then tightening will feel brutal and she’ll have headache so be aware that the day of/after advil will be your friend. But as teeth get in line it won’t be any pain:)
But right after they first put them on wil be when theyre most sore, so have soft foods like pudding, applesauce, soups, mashed potatoes, or whatever. After that first month or two so she won’t feel them as so foreign.
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Take a pain killer 30 minutes before an appointment for pain and continue taking for a day. Use dental wax to keep the lips from pulling into the braces and getting all torn up. Start eating normal food as soon as possible. Helps with the pain and the teeth move faster. Brush well.
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I’ve gone thru all 4 of my children with braces, retainers abd headgear and I am so glad it is DONE! Wax is a good thing snd the orthodontist gave me some when the braces were out on. I think the best thing ican tell you is for after the fact. When they are wear tge retainers make sure you get a container for the lunchbox, car, backpack abd home. Oldest daughter put hers in a wrapped up napkin and they got thrown away. Bad part was we had to go thru bags of trash because we were at a pool party!
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I wore braces for 5 years. UGH! Here are some other things to eat, if she can:
Pudding, Jello, Mac and Cheese, mashed potatoes, ice cream, soup, oatmeal, grits (I live in the south), yogurt. That’s just a few things that I can come with right now.
Good luck and I hate the dentist, too. :*&#!:
Marika
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Best thing we did for my daughter was to make sure she had Advil/Motrin an hour ahead of the appointment so that it was already being metabolized by the time she got them placed. Then, we bought her a gift card to Jamba Juice (which she used sparingly).
Whenever she got things tightened we would plan easy-to-chew meals like Shepherd’s Pie, home-maid soup, mac & cheese. Avoid rice dishes if possible, and soft breads because they get caught up in the wires and is a major pain to remove.
Since our daughter was close to getting her driver’s permit she was highly motivated to be compliant with the orthodontist so she could get the braces off before she had her picture taken for it. A great carrot.
Good luck to your daughter, I hope her experience is a good one.