Ouch!

[lookout123]

So, I'm 32 and have had crooked teeth since '94 when I was deployed to Saudi Arabia and my wisdom teeth came in. They wouldn't extract them while deployed so by the time I got back to the US my teeth were overly crowded. Then they said "no braces while in the military". (i just found out that was a lie, but too late to do anything about it now)

Anyway, having left the military permanently in January I made the decision to straighten my teeth. I got my braces on today. Ouch!

It never really occurred to me the activities that would be impacted by having braces until a female friend jokingly said "so much for kissing you." holy crap. Because I'm not getting any right now, I never even thought about the impact on sexual activities.

Not good. not good at all. Anyone else have braces as an adult? Any advice?

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by lookout123

Not good. not good at all. Anyone else have braces as an adult? Any advice?

I had 'em as a teen so I knew better than to have them as an adult. Most of us would have warned you before you went ahead and did something like that.

I will say, after my braces were done I had an entirely new threshold for pain. Broken bone? It is to laugh!

You'll feel better when it stops hurting.

[romuh doog]

I have no braces, but was thinking about the future and all the wicked little things you'll be able to do with pretty teeth. Congrats!

[lumberjim]

you're getting divorced and you're getting braces?
Go buy some Acne medicine. That's probably next.

[lookout123]

well, i figured now is better than waiting another year or so. right now dating isn't exactly at the top of my priority list. this year my priorities are 1) little lookout, 2) sorting through my mangled life, 3) work.

if someone doesn't like the ways they look this year, who cares? i'm not capable of anything but one night stand type relationships and i've had enough of those in my life, not looking to get back into that.

and now that you mention is LJ - i do have a zit on my lip. dammit.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Don't go here. NSFW

[lookout123]

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude! how am i going to get the vomit out of my braces now?

[zippyt]

Floss man Floss !!!

[footfootfoot]

Actually, when I had braces, the waterpik thing really rocked. but that was um 30 years ago, do they still make those things?

OK here you go. buy one today, stinky mouth.

http://www.waterpik-store.com/produc...1=WAT%20WP-350

[Clodfobble]

There's another side to the pain--it means they're working. They'll try and tell you that "it will take a year and a half" to get your teeth straight, but this is only because it stops hurting after about a week, and then you wait another five weeks before going back. If you make an appointment to have them tightened every time they stop hurting, they will be done much, much faster.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

There's another side to the pain--it means they're working. They'll try and tell you that "it will take a year and a half" to get your teeth straight, but this is only because it stops hurting after about a week, and then you wait another five weeks before going back. If you make an appointment to have them tightened every time they stop hurting, they will be done much, much faster.

I've never had braces, but I have eaten nuts or popcorn and gotten a piece jammed in between teeth where I feel that almost-painful sort of itchy stretching feeling until I flossed. Then I mentally multiplied that feeling by 32, which is why I've never had braces.

[footfootfoot]

Originally Posted by richlevy

I've never had braces, but I have eaten nuts or popcorn and gotten a piece jammed in between teeth where I feel that almost-painful sort of itchy stretching feeling until I flossed. Then I mentally multiplied that feeling by 32, which is why I've never had braces.

Actually it is 2 to the 32 power, but you got the idea.

Also what clodfobble said, but for a lot of us those few weeks of no pain were a welcome respite. But it made returning harder.

[lookout123]

apparently the braces i've got adjust and tighten on there own, so they straighten faster anyway. instead of going in every 4-6 weeks, there are only supposed to be about 5 appointments over the next year and a half so that they can make major adjustments as needed. but i plan on moving all those appointments up. i've already moved the first check up by more than a week.

i can take pain. i want braceless teeth as soon as possible. i want steak.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Are you sure this isn't an exercise in flagellation?

[lookout123]

huh?