Firstly, I was constantly pouting (it takes a while until you get used to having loads of stuff glued to your teeth!!). Secondly, I had to learn (and re-learn) a few things, as for instance:
- to speak properly (despite the braces);
- to speak without drooling (I seem to be producing extreme amounts of saliva..);
- to speak without spitting;
- to eat without drooling;
- to eat without looking like the Beast from the movie Beauty and the Beast (you know that scene where Bella and the Beast are having breakfast and the Beast tries to eat using a spoon? - Ok, I'll explain this better.. After an adjustment my teeth are really tender. I just cannot eat properly. So after a few days, I am soooooo famished that I kind of find a new technique to swallow the food, as I don't really manage to bite it!) ;Beauty and the Beast Breakfast
- to kiss (OMG! Kissing with braces.. no comments!);
- to brush my teeth without losing my patience (it takes at least good 20 minutes until I am finished with it!);
- to use lipstick without transferring it to my braces and making a fool of myself;
- to be patient with people (when you constantly have to repeat what you are saying because they do not understand you, or, when they understand something completely different from what you said!!!);
- Not to make faces when trying to get out (using my tongue) the food that got stuck in my braces;
- to carry my new BFF (Best Friends Forever) with me everywhere (By that I mean all my tools: toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, wax, etc);
- not to smile for photos if I had just had something to eat (especially if the food was colourful, like curry..);
- to deal with ulcers.
Now, I can keep on on listing the joys of having braces forever and ever, but I don’t want to bore anybody, any further, with that. All I can say is that from everything I mentioned above, what bothers me the most are the ulcers. They are a pain in the…mouth! But like everything in life, you will eventually get used to it! You may even grow fond of your braces too! By the way, my sincere apologies if you are reading this post and were considering getting braces, I don’t mean to put you off.. Sorry! :-)
As for my fellow friends suffering from ulcers caused by braces, here is a tip: Try out the toothpaste and mouthwash from a brand called Meridol (I know it is available in Austria and Germany, but I am not sure if you can find it in other countries). I found whenever a hook (from my braces) or even the end of the wire digs into or gets caught on my cheeks, giving me an undesired ulcer, I heal quicker when I use their products (believe me, I tried several different brands, only this one worked for me). Another tip; my lips get really dry from constantly breathing from my mouth at night. Dry lips and braces are definitely not a good combination… For that I recommend the Elizabeth Arden 8 hour Skin Protectant Fragrance Free Cream. This is definitely my Holy Grail product! Amen!
P.s.1: Meridol also offers mini sizes of their products. It really makes life easier (traveling too) for those wearing braces (Everything is light weight and fits easily into a small toiletry bag that you can carry everywhere with you).
P.s.2: VERY IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: I am not being sponsored to mention the products above but dear marketing soon-to-be-my-new-friends members from Meridol, Oral-B and Elizabeth Arden, I am free for hire! I also accept donations! LOL! :-)))
So, enough bubbling for today! I wish you all a wonderful week!
Loads of love and peace!
Andy
P.s.3: Here are some photos of my new best friends..
P.s.3: Here are some photos of my new best friends..
That’s really helpful article! My sister is also going to have dental braces from a reputed dentist Hermosa Beach. She has got all instructions before having surgery. Still I’ll tell her about your post. She’ll definitely get motivated!
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