ONE Month!!

So, on month ago today I got my top braces put on! Yay! 17ish or less more to go. Boo. The first month wasnt horribly bad - the farther I got away from when they were intially put on - the better my mouth felt and the more foods I have been able to eat.

And then today, just when all seemed well, I went to the ortho and got my braces tightened. Oh, and I got a larger arch wire.

My first arch wire was a 14 (what exactly that is measuring, im not sure) What I do know is that the larger the numbers get....the bigger and stiffer the wire gets which means more pressure/pain. :( From the time the wire got put on and it was getting tightened into place i was SOOOO sore already! Last time it took a few hours before I noticed anything....this time...I hadn't even left the office and I was already feeling it. Hence the reason I went straight to Target and got a bottle of ibuprofen. :)

It's been about 10 hours since I was at the ortho....and the pressure isn't too bad. Im SURE i will really feel it when I wake up in the morning :(

So....here we go again.

one of many lessons.

Kissing with braces (for the first time, and probably many times after this) = VERY awkward.

2 weeks.

So, today is 2 weeks since I got my uppers put on. Pain really hasn't been all that bad at all. I have had to be significantly more selective about what I eat- making sure that it't not too hard to bite down into. A favorite snack/food desert that I have become a huge fan of is

Yoplait Whips - preferably in Strawberry :)

It's yogurt....but it has a different kind of whipped (hence the name) texture that just makes it SOOO much more appealing that your standard yogurt....and at 50 cents each.....I definitely stock up on these!!

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch....and started messing with my teeth and realized that they are able to rock back and forth a lil bit now - YAY they are moving! I can't wait for my next appointment *July 20* to see if and how much progress I have made....I know its only going to be my first appointment since getting them placed....but I am just interested to know.

So all in all not doing too bad. Still learning to get used to smiling more with them on - it's just a work in progress!

First appearance with braces. Check.

So as previously mentioned, I'm on a dance team - so, we had an appearance on Saturday....and from the time I started getting ready, everytime I opened my mouth I was FILLED with regret about deciding to get these....even when I was there. Normally, I really like to smile....but I tried so hard to not do it. We took a couple pictures while we were there....and I felt a lil better after I saw some of the pics....b/c the braces really are not that noticable in them.

Then again - the picture was taken with an iphone....so that really doesn't say too much for quality....but NONE the less....you can really notice them. This hurdle of mine is not completely cleared...but it's a start....I will have to see how I feel about these things once our season starts in November.

If I could...I so would...

...take some pliers and pull these things off my teeth.

It't not b/c they hurt or anything, I am used to the pressure now...but sometimes I just forget that I have these things on my teeth and I want to try and get whatever is in my mouth out....and then I remember....'oh yeah, i signed on for this.' I feel like I can't quite talk right b/c I can't get my upper lip all the way over my top teeth. Sometimes, I have noticed I make a whistling noise when I talk. And I totally feel like a 14 year old....rockin the braces....I should have gone all out and gotten metal with colored rubber bands!

yeah. right.

Eating has still been a task....just having to select foods which I don't really have to chew into right now is kind of annoying....hopefully my back teeth will start to get a little less sensitive...even though I kind of doubt they will :( I feel SO negative right now. Back to my dinner of mashed potatoes. :)

Not too bad.

Woke up this morning with a little bit of pain....it's more like pressure honestly. Took some ibuprofen - and now I'm ok. Breakfast this morning consisted of applesauce....just really didn't feel like putting in too much effort. I had a meeting at work today....and they had oatmeal rasin cookies there....my fav! Of course, there was no way I was going to turn that down....so I just broke it into really small pieces and managed to get some of it down. Now lunch...which I am tackling right now is two chicken soft tacos from Taco Bell - everything in it is really soft. It hurts kind of bad to actually try and chew on my back teeth - I find myself pushing food up against the top of my mouth to make it smaller that way.....I think that will work out at least till I am able to tolerate constantly chewing on my back teeth more.

So....all in all, not as bad as I expected. Still trying to get used to looking at myself in the mirror and seeing these things (granted not as visible as metal) sticking to my teeth. :$

Ouch.

Just woke up from a two hour nap - my mouth is definitely starting to be a lil more sore now. Ate some applesauce. yum.

Time to make some dinner!