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| Yeah, it's like that--only not nearly as cute. |
My third visit to the orthodontist produced new, longer,
tighter wires. Having been warned by nearly everyone that “tightening” visits
were the bane of brace wearers, I was pleasantly surprised by how good I felt when I left the office. I was the lucky one for whom tightening was no big deal! Instead, conditions in my mouth were much better. No longer
did I have wires that stopped half-way to the back of my mouth, waiting to gaff my cheeks like fish the minute I let my guard down. The rubber bumpers that kept me from biting on the bottom front braces (and also kept my teeth from meeting) were also gone. Everything seemed smooth and manageable all the way
around. Finally, I could see what people meant when they said, “Pretty soon,
you won’t even know you have braces on.”
Four hours later, my lower front teeth finally felt the vice-like grip of the new wire and I understood what people were talking about. The pressure was intense (though slightly alarming, I’m not sure I’d give it an eight,
like my niece did—maybe a six and a half). Fortunately, a few Advil did the trick and
once again I was feeling good about things.
A day later, I got another surprise. I could neither bite
with my front teeth nor chew with my molars—well, I could, but it my front teeth felt weak and loose and my molars were sore. So, back to soft food and drinks for a while. Some of the sore spots in my
mouth have changed places and certain spots just won't toughen up. Though everyone I talk to recommends wax, I have yet to get it to work--it doesn't seem to stick where I want it to and invariably ends up falling off soon after I put it on. I put it in the "contact lens" category--something that everyone else I know can manage, but that's simply beyond me. One thing that gives me relief is puffing up my cheeks blowfish style. I just need to remember that it's kind of a strange thing to do while I'm at work.
During this latest appointment, the doctor pointed out a tooth my dentist should look at—a possible crown candidate. Fortunately, it’s work that can be done with the braces on. That should be interesting. I do hope I'm not spending thousands on teeth that aren't even going to stick with me once they're straight!
So, onward. A little discomfort and a lot of "inarticulation," which, while embarrassing, is nothing I can't deal with. The weeks fly by! It doesn't seem possible that the big holes my pulled teeth left will ever be filled. I look forward to that, but there's so much else to look forward to in between!
