To ask about your experience of adult braces? Fitting tomorrow!

[SubTemp]

I’m finally in my mid 30s getting my very wonky teeth sorted and I’m having my braces fitted tomorrow, standard train tracks on the bottom and ceramic on the top with silver wire. Apparently I’ll have them on for around 2 years and I’m extremely nervous about it! I don’t like the dentist at the best of times and I’m panicking that I’ll have a terrible lisp afterwards (telephone job) and everyone will laugh at me 😩 has anyone had similar at my age that can calm my nerves?

Hi, had mine done seven weeks ago - I’m early 40s. One extraction at same time as fitting. It was was SO much easier than I was anticipating. And I’m used to them now. Just so glad I finally took the plunge. You’ll be fine. I was so nervous, but there was really no need.

Yep, I had mine done in my 30s. So glad I did. The retainer afterwards is a bit of a pain but getting fixed wire at the bottom was a huge help. Really glad I did it.

I'm in my early 50s and had braces fitted just under a year ago. They can be a bit painful for the first few days, but it settles down quite quickly. Normal painkillers will be sufficient to calm any discomfort.

You will get used to them, but I would say the first 4-6 weeks was the worst.

I haven't got a lisp with mine, so assume you probably won't either. Good luck with them. It will be worth it in the end.

Yup, late thirties, had my train tracks on for just over a year. Felt weird at first but I didn't lisp. Mine were painful for first couple of days but ibuprofen helped. Make sure you have wax to put on brackets if they are rubbing your cheeks or inside of lips. Get the non-silicon stuff. I couldn't get the silicon stuff to stay on.

I'm so pleased I had mine - teeth lovely and straight now, and braces coming off soon.

Had braces put on my top teeth three months ago. I'm 39. Really quick and painless getting them on. Was also really nervous but there was no need.

Have been back twice since and have had my wire changed. That's also really quick.

Thought I sounded a bit funny for the first week but no one else really noticed.

Teeth cleaning routine will take a bit longer but you'll get used to it and get faster as you go along.

I have tooth coloured wire ask if your orthodontist has that. Quite a lot of people never noticed I had them.

Happy to answer any other questions.

Hi Op, I have them in my late 20s - ceramic train tracks across my top row for 18 months. I had a huge gap between my front teeth which I didn’t mind but it was gradually widening and also affecting the others (i assume they were all fighting for space). It was fine, I barely noticed them after a while and nobody was bothered. I know some people have terrible pain but mine were always OK, just slightly achey after a tightening.

A sweet thing that happened was when I came across other adults with them we bonded! A waiter in a busy cafe got me a great table once after our braces chat

So glad I did it, I love my smile now and it’s done incredible things for my confidence. I never noticed that I never smiled with teeth in photos before until after they came off.

My only advice would be remember to wear your retainer when you’re done, so all your hard work isn’t undone!!

I had six months smiles a few years ago in my thirties. Done in four. Was murder having them tightened. Didn’t like having them on, but could see a difference so quickly it was worth the ‘journey’.
Braces suck, but they are so worth it. My new gnashers have boosted my confidence no end

Just to add, the first few hours of having them on feels really weird, but that soon settles down and my speech wasn’t really affected after the first few hours.
Get them to give you stuff to put on the brackets to help prevent blisters.
All this stuff dies down in the first couple of weeks

So they are on! And I hate them! I can’t close my mouth properly, I can’t drink from a glass and my mouth is permanently dry 😩 the silver brackets on the lower front are HUGE! and really obvious, oh and I hurt a lot!

@SubTemp

I'm mid 30s and I have fixed ceramic braces; I get mine off in 8 weeks after having them fitted Oct 2017 so I'm just coming to the end.

I hated them the day first year they were on! How long will you have yours fitted for? Is it to fix crowding? What type do you have?

The most important thing is to keep them as clean as possible. And use an electric waterfloss! Use an electric toothbrush and floss using those brushes at least twice a day.

Secondly, WAX. Orthodontist wax - Wax up those brackets if you have them, it'll really help.

If I'm honest, prepare for discomfort and pain BUT you do get used to having them. I'm so glad I had them fitted and now I only have 8 weeks' left I'm friggin dancing around. The improvement is astounding.

I had mine taken off 4 years ago, they were on for about 18 months . You will get used to them eventually. Avoid curries and food that stains they will make the little white bits go yellow. I hadn't mine tightened every 8 weeks and to if I knocked my face they would hurt. Very sensitive. But worth the endless trips back and forth and worth the cost.
Had mine done a thing about aged 36 but with I'd hadn't them done years ago.

You will have a bit of a lisp for a day or two until it all settles down. Make sure you buy some pain killers because they are a bit tight for 24/48 hours. I had mine done recently and it was well worth it.

Give it a week. Those first few days are the worst - co-codamol and ibuprofen and lots of soup.

Oooh this has made me consider getting mine done... please may I ask roughly much it costs from start to finish including all the appointments etc?

I've got ceramic Damon braces (train tracks) on at the moment, had them 4 months and seeing such a difference. I hated them at first thought they were so obvious, huge, couldn't close my mouth but now I don't mind them and forget most of the time. Lots of people don't notice for a while either. I've seen so much change in my teeth and am really glad I did it but I am looking forward to getting them done! It might not feel like it now but I promise you'll get used to them

@Scottishgirl85

My orthodontist assessment cost £200, three extractions carried out by my dentist cost £120 and fixed ceramic brace treatment for 2 years (with fixed wire retainer behind bottom teeth at the end and removable retainer for overnight) £4000. Appointments are every 6-8 weeks and last between 20-40 minutes.

I paid the £4000 over 16 months (interest free).

I also see the hygeinist every 6 months at a cost of £36 per visit.

I bought a new electronic floss, new electronic toothbrush and go through 1 replacement head every 4 weeks. And I buy a bulk load of floss sticks from eBay. £100ish for all of that.

I think that's everything!

Best money I've ever spent.

So the pain today is so bad I could cry. I haven’t been able to eat since I got them on, even drinking water is impossible. My face is swollen and I have ulcers appearing all over my mouth. I want to rip them off!

Oh OP I've been there! The first few days are hell. But honestly once you're over this week, you'll feel much better.

It's a huge adjustment and nothing quite prepared you for it. You'll see changes really quickly and that helps keep motivation.

@subtemp have you got ortho wax? You can buy it in boots and you put a little ball of the wax over any bits that are rubbing it really helps with the initial ulcers. I really regretted it when I first got them but it will get better. Try ice lollies, yoghurt, soup, mashed potato to eat for the first few days

Def get some wax! Boots /Asda.

I lived off smoothies for the first week - nuti bullet was best buy ever!

I got some wax from the orthodontist, it’s almost finished already, it just seems to come back off really quickly. I’m about to order some more on Amazon. The ulcers are about an huge long ones all around my mouth, I counted 12. I’m not sure not sure why the bottom brackets are so big! They don’t look like photos I’ve seen on google and I can’t close my mouth. She also put some stuff on my back teeth to build them up but now I can’t chew anything. I can’t cope with any food in my mouth at all actually , really regretting this, how do children cope!

Don’t give up, this bit is the hardest! I remember being in so much discomfort with the tightness and the sores, but it WILL get better and you will get used to having them in your mouth.

You just need to ride out this tough bit.

And stuff your mouth full of wax...

You poor thing 😕I hope it calms down soon,

Push through, op! I promise it will get better, and when it's all over you will be SO HAPPY you got them. My grandmother got braces in 1978 at the age of 54 and she was thrilled with the results.