Braces--as in the kind for your teeth

[indysteel]

So, I promised myself that after I paid off my law school loan, I'd literally put my money where my mouth is and get braces. I paid my loan off in June and met with the orthodontist today. While I was secretly hoping that Invisalign would be a viable option, it's not. Instead, he'd like to use something called Damon braces. They look, more or less, like regular braces, although part of the bracket is ceramic, but they work a little differently. They shoudn't be as painful and will likely take a bit less time. It's still going to take about 2 years, however, and will cost me the equivalent of a custom Ti, full Campy Record, bike. Sigh....

Have any of you worn braces as an adult? Any tips, advice, words of wisdom? I'm a little worried about my on-the-bike eating. Bananas will still work, but certain things like nuts and Oreos are now out of the question at SAG stops. What foods worked for you?

I know this is something that I need/want to do, but it will take some adjustment, both emotionally and physically. When I see adults with brackes, I personally don't think anything much of it. I hope that's the way most people respond. I may not have another date for a while though! The end result will hopefully be worth it.

K-

[teigyr]

Hi there and welcome to the community. Hmmm...I had braces for a year, then jaw surgery, then braces for a year then they were off...and now I am half braced on one side to close up gaps. My freedom was short-lived.

I did not have Damons but I've heard nothing but good things about them. They are less bulky and they work more quickly than traditional braces. They are self-ligating so you don't have ligatures (those colored things on metal braces) either.

I was recently divorced (as a present to myself) when I got them. I remember being uneasy about eating a lot of things. Oreos will be fine! Even nuts though they get stuck. I ate almost everything that I would have eaten before though unsliced apples and corn on the cob were difficult. Pizza is messy because bread and cheese get stuck bigtime! Same with pasta and spinach. You will need a waterpik (or something equivalent) and I know a wonderful source for a "kit" to take with you to work. It comes in a purse-like pouch and contains everything you'd need when you're not at home. Let me know if you want the link, I can send it to you.

I did date. My first dinner date (first time eating in public) I decided to test swishing water to dislodge food in my braces. I was so nervous and as I swished the water, I ended up spitting it out onto my date. I ended up marrying him

The things that might be challenging are small things. I always used to open cycling water bottles with my teeth...it's difficult when they're sore. You can't bite off hang nails or scraggly nails though you CAN file them down (a bit) on the wire. Don't ask me how I know. I know it is scary, especially as a single person, but look at it like this. If someone looks at it the right way, they'll see someone with insurance, who has money to spend on braces, and who is concerned about their health. If they can't see beyond that, they aren't worth your time. That isn't to say I didn't have my share of "feeling sorry for myself" days but it gets better.

If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know. Please also ask any questions at all that you might have. Oh as an adult I learned that if my braces hurt (like after a visit to the orthodontist) Patron Tequila is perfect. Works better than advil.

As a postscript, my retainers (until I got half-rebraced) were of the Invisalign sort. To be honest, I don't like them. They feel bulky in my mouth, I drool when I take them out to eat, and I hate putting them back in if I can't clean them. I think you are better off with the Damons.

[indysteel]

Teigyr, thanks so much for the advice and words of encouragement. I love, love, love your first date story. The fact that you ended marrying him warms my heart and gives me hope.

I'd love a link for the pouch. If I think of any additional questions, I'll PM you if that's okay. I'm glad to hear that you've heard good things about Damon. I haven't talked to anyone who has used them. The literature I've seen, however, is very promising.

K-

[teigyr]

Here's the link:

http://www.dentakit.com/denforad1.html

This woman also has a forum called Archwired (Archwired.com) which is specifically for adults in braces. You can search through there to find out all sorts of info. It was my lifeline when I first got braced and if you look hard enough, you'll see the post I made pleading for information about how to go out for dinner on a date!! That'd be the infamous date now. I've met some of the NW people in RL and they are pretty great.

I think adults in braces is a lot more common now but there is always that internal feeling of being different. By the time I got mine off, I was almost proud of them. I liked them, don't ask me why. I'll post one of my wedding pictures when I get home (if I remember) and they all show me with braces! Everyone wondered if I wanted them photoshopped out and I said no because they were part of who I was when I got married.

Please do PM me if you have any question, no matter how small. There IS hope and keep remembering that even if you are spitting when you talk (a delightful thing that happens when you first get used to them). You know patience from both being a cyclist and going through law school so this is nothing compared to other things you've been through.

[Crankin]

I just recently finished 18 months with Invisalign; I had regular braces as a kid, obviously they didn't work (what did they know back in the olden days?). This was a present to myself when i finished paying the college tuition and it cost slightly more than my Kuota! They worked really well, but were a pain for riding, since you cannot eat or drink anything but water with them in and I was not going to bring a toothbrush on rides. I would take them out at the first nutrition stop. So, I complained, but they worked and I mostly did as I was told. I now have Invisalign retainers and where them only when I go to bed, sometimes i put them in after dinner if I am home.
So, if you put your mind to it, you can put up with the hassles. I hated having to cut my lunch short to brush my teeth at work and at the end of last year I didn't do such a good job. This has resulted in some problems which I am now taking care of. So, take care of your teeth when you have the braces and I am sure you will be satisfied.

[teigyr]

Hah re Invisalign...when I first got my retainers, I was at work and was starving. I didn't want to take them out and go through the whole teeth cleaning thing after (had brushed my teeth not all that long ago) so I took a small piece of chocolate and sucked on it with my retainers in.

What I didn't realize is the chocolately stuff seeped into the retainers and when I went into the bathroom I saw my teeth were BROWN

With the retainer my intentions were initially good but they are a pain. I think metal braces aren't so bad especially when you think about eating on the go, etc.

[kerrybelle]

I am an orthodontic assistant and have been for many years now. The Damon brackets are good. They are made by Ormco. I personally like the Inovation brackets by GAC. The difference between these and 'regular' brackets are that they are self-ligating. They have a door that opens & closes to hold the wire in place. The main advantages are there is less friction on the wire and they are more hygienic.

The big difference in having braces as an adult is that we are generally less tolerable to them. It will take a bit longer to adjust. Once you're used to them it shouldn't be a big deal. However, eveyone is different.

My recommendations would be to take Advil before your appointment and follow with that every 4-6 hours for the first day or two. You won't feel the discomfort on your teeth for a couple of hours. You want the Advil in your system before you feel it.

I don't have any specific food suggestions other than to avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods. You're right about the Oreo's they would leave a bit of a mess. Swishing with water is certainly a good option, for when you can't brush.

Good Luck,
Kerry

[redrhodie]

I had braces as an adult. I'm so glad I did it. My teeth were pretty crowded, and it made a big difference in the way I looked, ate, smiled and felt about myself. Here's me now

Foods to avoid for me were broccoli and baguettes. Broccoli was just messy, and baguettes, or anything too hard and crusty for that matter, would break my brackets, but that was probably due to bonding issues with my particular teeth. It wasn't painful, just annoying, as it meant another visit to the orthodontist.

If your brackets rub the inside of your cheek, get dental wax and cover the offending area with it. This may not happen with your kind of braces. I had the old fashioned metal ones, and the wax was a godsend. Also, since your musculature is already fully developed, your teeth are going to want to slip back to the way they were, so it's important to wear your retainer. I still wear mine almost every night.

I also met my BF while in braces. We've been together for 16 years now! I never spit at him (ha! teigyr, that's too funny!). True love will overlook a lot!

[indysteel]

Wow, that website and message board have a wealth of information. I wish I'd found it before my consult. I've read some pros and cons about the Damon braces and have some additional questions to ask my ortho. Despite the cons, I still like them as an option though because they address one of my bigger issues--narrow arches. Widening my arch will do the most to improve not just the appearance of my teeth, but my overall appearance.

Anyway, thanks for the advice, gang. I'm ready for the journey to begin.....

K-

[Cindyloo]

I had braces in 9th and 10th grade. I needed a wider upper arch to make more room for my teeth. They cemented in this retainer sort of thing that criss crossed the roof of my mouth. My mother had to use a key and turn something in the middle of the contraption that slowly widened out the top of my mouth. It sounds quite awful now! I'm sure they do things different now as that was about 16 years ago.

I can say for sure that having braces was worth it!

[Tuckervill]

My recommendations would be to take Advil before your appointment and follow with that every 4-6 hours for the first day or two. You won't feel the discomfort on your teeth for a couple of hours. You want the Advil in your system before you feel it.

+1 for the Advil.

I've never had braces, but I've gone through it with two of my teens. We load this last one up with Advil the morning of his appointments, because there is quite a bit of pressure as the day goes on.

Also, my other son is now 22 and his bottom teeth are no longer straight, because he stopped wearing his retainer at some point. Don't waste your money by not wearing the retainer.

It will take longer for you to see changes because you don't grow fast like kids do.

Those Damon brackets sound lovely--wonder why they didn't offer them to my son? (He got his done at a place that is almost like a factory, heavily advertised and churning out the pearly white smiles--but the price is right!)

I think you should do it, if it will make you feel better about your smile. Good luck!

Karen

[Tuckervill]

I had braces in 9th and 10th grade. I needed a wider upper arch to make more room for my teeth. They cemented in this retainer sort of thing that criss crossed the roof of my mouth. My mother had to use a key and turn something in the middle of the contraption that slowly widened out the top of my mouth. It sounds quite awful now! I'm sure they do things different now as that was about 16 years ago.

I can say for sure that having braces was worth it!

No, they don't do it differently! We split Will's palate every day for weeks. It does seem rather like putting him on a rack, but his teeth are so beautifully straight now.

Karen

[crazybikinchic]

I was a senior when I got my braces. I also had an expander. My mom freaked the first time we had to turn it (she was a single mom), fortunatly, a friend in school had one and knew exactly what to do. Mom had turned it about halfway. I went to my friend and she finished turning it and showed me how to do it. Mom never had to do it again after that. It made a huge difference in my personality is what most people noticed.

The Advil is a great idea, and the wax. The wax is made by Gum and is found with the dental floss.

Do it. You will be glad you did.

[annie]

Indy,

I was almost 50 yrs. old when I finally got my braces. They estimated I'd wear them for 2 years. It was 3 1/2 years before they were removed, and then I was in retainers for another year. I am just now graduated to retainers 12/7 instead of 24/7. I have the retainers for the rest of my life, or risk my teeth moving back to where they were. And I would choose to do it again. I have NO regrets. I hated my teeth most of my life. Could not afford to do anything about it. When I could, I did. I NEVER smiled with my mouth open. I do now, all the time. I did, even with the braces, as soon as my teeth started to straighten out. I did not mind the braces, or the pain, or not being able to eat certain foods. I even gave up my beloved popcorn! I would second everything Teigyr said. She gave you some awesome advice. Don't worry too much about eating while on the bike. There's always the goo/gels. They go down easily. No advice about dating, as I am married. But I can tell you that the braces were never a problem. Honestly. Just be careful, if needed.

Annie

p.s. Do feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

[DrBadger]

I was a senior when I got my braces. I also had an expander. My mom freaked the first time we had to turn it (she was a single mom), fortunatly, a friend in school had one and knew exactly what to do. Mom had turned it about halfway. I went to my friend and she finished turning it and showed me how to do it. Mom never had to do it again after that. It made a huge difference in my personality is what most people noticed.

The Advil is a great idea, and the wax. The wax is made by Gum and is found with the dental floss.

Do it. You will be glad you did.

Oh man... I had one of the palatal spreading devices also... that was NOT fun! The worst part was the day they put all my braces on, and the spreading device, they turned it once to show my Mom how to do it, and them made her do it also, so the first day they turned it TWICE in 15 minutes!!!

Good luck with the braces! It sounds like they have made a lot of improvements since I had them!