When I first got my pendulum and braces on, it was tough! I had a really hard time adjusting to swallowing, speaking, eating, and pain, and while I was going through all that sharing the experience just wasn't emotionally possible. (Yes, I'm sensitive, get over it.)
But now! As I'm approaching getting my pendulum out (February or April!) I think I'm ready to start talking about it. And it NEEDS to be talked about! There's so little info out there for pendulum appliances, it was truly shocking to me.
How would one look something up online and come up with absolutely zero useful responses??! My goal is to have some resources up so folks don't have to go through what I did and feel like RPE appliances or bite turbos are the only expanders used by orthos!
So...just wanted to say it, more to encourage myself to post than anything: Info is coming!!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Pendulum First 3 Days
I got my pendulum in on Tuesday, July 27th. While the actual procedure itself went fine, the aftermath is amazingly difficult to deal with.
The Procedure:
I went in, sat down, and they took out the spacers and placed metal molar bands on my upper molars, except the last two on either side. Bands are metal and actually encircle the molars and are glued on.
Then they placed the pad on the top of my mouth and attached the wires and springs. At some point I got to rinse the glue taste out and I remember thinking "DEAR GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE!??!?!"
Here's a picture of someone elses pendulum once installed: http://www.kidbraces.com/appliances.htm#pendulum
They said I'd need to get used to the appliance, but I had already done my homework, and the general concensus of these pendulums is that they are medieval torture devices. So far, I agree wholeheartedly!
The aftermath:
It's hard to swallow without your tongue on the top of your mouth. And since there's something semi-permanently stuck up there right now, it makes it hard. My tongue is super swollen and you can easily tell where the holes from the appliance have cut away the first layer of skin.
My first attempt at eating was soup. It went fairly well but took me forever. Second attempt was rum and diet coke and let's face it - that went fairly well and made me sleepy so it was easier to relax.
I have a hard time saying need/greed, and for some reason "Terry is doing vouchers". Certain sound combinations cause me to gag when my tongue hits the back portion of the appliance. I'm certain I'll become used to it, but from what I've read, it takes about two months.
Swallowing is second nature unless you have something the size of a small child stuck to the roof of your mouth. Suddenly, what should be natural causes one to gag and feel as if they were drowning in their own saliva. Yay for panic attacks regarding drowning. Cause I don't already have THAT nightmare regularly.
Yesterday (Wednesday) I talked a bunch at work (mistake number one) and was unable to catch my breath and swallow for a good 30 minutes. Leading to a severely upset and overwhelmed Bee!!
I went home for lunch and tried my second attempt at eating. This time was solid foods! Did canned corn beef hash and eggs. It was a mistake. I was able to eat it, slowly - but it was way to much tongue movement, and I was still unable to catch my breath. Each swallow took so long to set up and attempt that I was out of breath just trying not to inhale spit.
I stayed home the rest of the day and tried to practice breathing and swallowing. I found that by pushing my tongue fairly hard against the pendulum/where the roof of my mouth should be, swallowing comes more easily. However, this morning I have a side effect of this that will eventually require me to cut off my tongue.
Pressing my tongue against this satanic tool of torture has caused indents in my tongue from where the appliance is (see first paragraph in this area). You can literally see largish holes in my tongue where the skin has been rubbed away. The skin rubbed away is still hanging to the rest of my tongue and it's super gross.
I'm focusing very hard on breathing, swallowing, not talking, and being at least a little productive. The productivity comes and goes, but the breathing and swallowing requires constant attention!
I tried putting wax on the pendulum hole that is most offending my poor tongue but now there's just wax between the roof of my mouth and this thing. Anbesol helped a little bit, and I'm trying to stay hydrated so the rest of my mouth doesn't get chewed up.
I'll have soup for lunch today, and will try some warm salt water rinses. Someone recommended some diluted peroxide which I'll try later. For now though, it's just a constant struggle to stay upbeat and happy.
If ONE MORE person says "This will all be worth it when your teeth are straight" it won't be pretty. :(
The Procedure:
I went in, sat down, and they took out the spacers and placed metal molar bands on my upper molars, except the last two on either side. Bands are metal and actually encircle the molars and are glued on.
Then they placed the pad on the top of my mouth and attached the wires and springs. At some point I got to rinse the glue taste out and I remember thinking "DEAR GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE!??!?!"
Here's a picture of someone elses pendulum once installed: http://www.kidbraces.com/appliances.htm#pendulum
They said I'd need to get used to the appliance, but I had already done my homework, and the general concensus of these pendulums is that they are medieval torture devices. So far, I agree wholeheartedly!
The aftermath:
It's hard to swallow without your tongue on the top of your mouth. And since there's something semi-permanently stuck up there right now, it makes it hard. My tongue is super swollen and you can easily tell where the holes from the appliance have cut away the first layer of skin.
My first attempt at eating was soup. It went fairly well but took me forever. Second attempt was rum and diet coke and let's face it - that went fairly well and made me sleepy so it was easier to relax.
I have a hard time saying need/greed, and for some reason "Terry is doing vouchers". Certain sound combinations cause me to gag when my tongue hits the back portion of the appliance. I'm certain I'll become used to it, but from what I've read, it takes about two months.
Swallowing is second nature unless you have something the size of a small child stuck to the roof of your mouth. Suddenly, what should be natural causes one to gag and feel as if they were drowning in their own saliva. Yay for panic attacks regarding drowning. Cause I don't already have THAT nightmare regularly.
Yesterday (Wednesday) I talked a bunch at work (mistake number one) and was unable to catch my breath and swallow for a good 30 minutes. Leading to a severely upset and overwhelmed Bee!!
I went home for lunch and tried my second attempt at eating. This time was solid foods! Did canned corn beef hash and eggs. It was a mistake. I was able to eat it, slowly - but it was way to much tongue movement, and I was still unable to catch my breath. Each swallow took so long to set up and attempt that I was out of breath just trying not to inhale spit.
I stayed home the rest of the day and tried to practice breathing and swallowing. I found that by pushing my tongue fairly hard against the pendulum/where the roof of my mouth should be, swallowing comes more easily. However, this morning I have a side effect of this that will eventually require me to cut off my tongue.
Pressing my tongue against this satanic tool of torture has caused indents in my tongue from where the appliance is (see first paragraph in this area). You can literally see largish holes in my tongue where the skin has been rubbed away. The skin rubbed away is still hanging to the rest of my tongue and it's super gross.
I'm focusing very hard on breathing, swallowing, not talking, and being at least a little productive. The productivity comes and goes, but the breathing and swallowing requires constant attention!
I tried putting wax on the pendulum hole that is most offending my poor tongue but now there's just wax between the roof of my mouth and this thing. Anbesol helped a little bit, and I'm trying to stay hydrated so the rest of my mouth doesn't get chewed up.
I'll have soup for lunch today, and will try some warm salt water rinses. Someone recommended some diluted peroxide which I'll try later. For now though, it's just a constant struggle to stay upbeat and happy.
If ONE MORE person says "This will all be worth it when your teeth are straight" it won't be pretty. :(
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Adult in Braces = Beware!
I've been really lucky since May 26th, the day I was first braced. Hard to imagine that being true, of course - but sometime it's takes the misery of others to prove how easy we have it.
Got braced May 26th. Was (and still am) unable to chew properly, but that's a whole 'nother story!
July 13th went in for spacers. Had almost ZERO problems with them! How awesome is that?! They made me sore, and I only forgot not to floss between those teeth once.
July 20th went in for a mold of my top teeth. Easily the most intense and horrible dental experience I've ever had. I've never been more horrified or affected by something.
Since I've been braced I have only not flossed twice. Pat and I decided once a month is an acceptable "I don't want to floss tonight" limit. It's been two months - I've used both. What am I gonna save it up for? Not like I can go on travel without there being severe issues with having fun and eating!
I have discovered that alcohol and/or not drinking a metric ton of water is painful. Dehydration is one of my biggest fears. Within moments of waking up the brackets have rubbed my cheeks sore.
I tried chewing food I (apparently) shouldn't have and ended up breaking two brackets. One on chicken nuggets (Wendy's June 20th - Rancho Cucamonga for my birthday) and one that next weekend on tater tots. Because the ortho was out of town and my appointment was in a few weeks they decided to wait.
They still haven't re-done them yet. With all the work I had done this week, the ortho decided to wait. I've got a lot going on in my mouth right now.
In the mean time I eat rice, panang curry with shredded chicken, slimfast shakes, biscuits fresh out of the oven with honey and butter! microwavable veggie packs with zucchini and carrots.
I eat soups of all kinds (Split pea, cream of mushroom, cream of potato with lots of crackers soaked in it), and english muffins cut in to mushable sized pieces.
I asked my technician about build ups/bite turbos and she really recommended against them, though she maintained it was my decision. She said if I could be adult about not chewing on what I shouldn't - she'd stay away from them, if she was me.
Since she's in braces as well, I took her word for it and went 100% for the "I'm an adult, I don't have to chew to have a good time". Apparently though, half the fun of eating comes from chewing.
Got braced May 26th. Was (and still am) unable to chew properly, but that's a whole 'nother story!
July 13th went in for spacers. Had almost ZERO problems with them! How awesome is that?! They made me sore, and I only forgot not to floss between those teeth once.
July 20th went in for a mold of my top teeth. Easily the most intense and horrible dental experience I've ever had. I've never been more horrified or affected by something.
Since I've been braced I have only not flossed twice. Pat and I decided once a month is an acceptable "I don't want to floss tonight" limit. It's been two months - I've used both. What am I gonna save it up for? Not like I can go on travel without there being severe issues with having fun and eating!
I have discovered that alcohol and/or not drinking a metric ton of water is painful. Dehydration is one of my biggest fears. Within moments of waking up the brackets have rubbed my cheeks sore.
I tried chewing food I (apparently) shouldn't have and ended up breaking two brackets. One on chicken nuggets (Wendy's June 20th - Rancho Cucamonga for my birthday) and one that next weekend on tater tots. Because the ortho was out of town and my appointment was in a few weeks they decided to wait.
They still haven't re-done them yet. With all the work I had done this week, the ortho decided to wait. I've got a lot going on in my mouth right now.
In the mean time I eat rice, panang curry with shredded chicken, slimfast shakes, biscuits fresh out of the oven with honey and butter! microwavable veggie packs with zucchini and carrots.
I eat soups of all kinds (Split pea, cream of mushroom, cream of potato with lots of crackers soaked in it), and english muffins cut in to mushable sized pieces.
I asked my technician about build ups/bite turbos and she really recommended against them, though she maintained it was my decision. She said if I could be adult about not chewing on what I shouldn't - she'd stay away from them, if she was me.
Since she's in braces as well, I took her word for it and went 100% for the "I'm an adult, I don't have to chew to have a good time". Apparently though, half the fun of eating comes from chewing.
Home Today
A lot to share since I got the braces, but haven't been sure how to share it, so there will be a series of posts updating progress and issues.
Firstly, a huge thanks to the people at Arch Wired Metal Mouth forums. Always good to think that everyone's treatment is different, and we all react differently to adjustments, medications, and the issues that our braces bring up.
Secondly - I have such an amazing husband. He has handled my response to braces, the heat here in hell...I mean Ridgecrest, and the emotional issues that come with everything with such grace, patience, and love - that I am truly overwhelmed by his caring.
What is to follow will be, to the best of my ability, a run down of what I have experienced since May 26th - My first day in braces.
Firstly, a huge thanks to the people at Arch Wired Metal Mouth forums. Always good to think that everyone's treatment is different, and we all react differently to adjustments, medications, and the issues that our braces bring up.
Secondly - I have such an amazing husband. He has handled my response to braces, the heat here in hell...I mean Ridgecrest, and the emotional issues that come with everything with such grace, patience, and love - that I am truly overwhelmed by his caring.
What is to follow will be, to the best of my ability, a run down of what I have experienced since May 26th - My first day in braces.
Monday, May 31, 2010
The Nightly Routine
I have my evening routine down to about 30ish minutes, so far. I highly doubt it's going to be less than that, mostly because I enjoy the winding down routine.
It helps clear my mind and gets me ready for bed.
My routine is, so far, this:
After eating dinner (and my last diet coke), I swish once or twice with water, and use an interdental proxy brush to get any food particles from in between, in front, and behind the braces, followed by more swishing.
I wait 30-60 minutes to brush, because the acid in the soda weakens the enamel on the teeth, and I don't want to be brushing immediately after weakening that!
Before brushing I swish once just to make sure there's no food particles laying around, then I get my Sonicare toothbrush and stick some Arm and Hammer stuff on it (Note to self: Make sure to ask the ortho if this toothpaste is acceptable!), and go to town!
The Metal Mouth boards directed me to some great Brushing with Braces and Flossing with Braces videos! It helps to make sure you're doing it right, since de-calcification can occur without the proper care!
After brushing I rinse a few times (I haven't yet gotten the hang of spitting out liquids with this thing!!!), and then I get my floss and threaders and head to the front room (the previous steps take place in the bathroom). I like the front room cause I can chill in front of the TV and use my lit vanity mirror (on the non-zoom side).
Watching closely as I do it helps me to make sure I'm not skipping teeth, or being lazy. This evening I got through 2 of the 3 sets of teeth I thought could have had sealant or glue keeping them together - which was very exciting! But now the braces feel VERY weird again!!!
After the flossing, and making sure to get between both sides of each tooth (OMG EXHAUSTING!), I rinse with a fluoride rinse - after which there is no eating and drinking for 30 minutes (but it's bed time so no drinking anyway!).
Then I coat my lips with some LOVELY chapstick and get ready for bed! Chapstick has turned out to be THE most lovely invention ever, topped only by wax, of course.
I'm enjoying Blistex Deep Renewal currently, though I am really trying to get in to that Burt's Bees stuff. But it's just not doing anything for me.
This evening's routine is a little more, since I decided to sit down and write this post. But now it's time to lay out clothes for tomorrow, read a bit of Tolkien and hit the sack. Got a busy week of not chewing and coming ever closer to the pendulum appliance being installed!!
NOTE: No links on this blog lead to any sort of monetization of any kind!
It helps clear my mind and gets me ready for bed.
My routine is, so far, this:
After eating dinner (and my last diet coke), I swish once or twice with water, and use an interdental proxy brush to get any food particles from in between, in front, and behind the braces, followed by more swishing.
I wait 30-60 minutes to brush, because the acid in the soda weakens the enamel on the teeth, and I don't want to be brushing immediately after weakening that!
Before brushing I swish once just to make sure there's no food particles laying around, then I get my Sonicare toothbrush and stick some Arm and Hammer stuff on it (Note to self: Make sure to ask the ortho if this toothpaste is acceptable!), and go to town!
The Metal Mouth boards directed me to some great Brushing with Braces and Flossing with Braces videos! It helps to make sure you're doing it right, since de-calcification can occur without the proper care!
After brushing I rinse a few times (I haven't yet gotten the hang of spitting out liquids with this thing!!!), and then I get my floss and threaders and head to the front room (the previous steps take place in the bathroom). I like the front room cause I can chill in front of the TV and use my lit vanity mirror (on the non-zoom side).
Watching closely as I do it helps me to make sure I'm not skipping teeth, or being lazy. This evening I got through 2 of the 3 sets of teeth I thought could have had sealant or glue keeping them together - which was very exciting! But now the braces feel VERY weird again!!!
After the flossing, and making sure to get between both sides of each tooth (OMG EXHAUSTING!), I rinse with a fluoride rinse - after which there is no eating and drinking for 30 minutes (but it's bed time so no drinking anyway!).
Then I coat my lips with some LOVELY chapstick and get ready for bed! Chapstick has turned out to be THE most lovely invention ever, topped only by wax, of course.
I'm enjoying Blistex Deep Renewal currently, though I am really trying to get in to that Burt's Bees stuff. But it's just not doing anything for me.
This evening's routine is a little more, since I decided to sit down and write this post. But now it's time to lay out clothes for tomorrow, read a bit of Tolkien and hit the sack. Got a busy week of not chewing and coming ever closer to the pendulum appliance being installed!!
NOTE: No links on this blog lead to any sort of monetization of any kind!
Questions for my Ortho!
I think I have sealant stuck between two different sets of teeth because I can't floss there at all! What the hell do I do?!?
I can't floss between two other sets of teeth because the bracket is sitting on top of where the gap is. Is this okay?!
Can I use fluoride toothpaste, and a fluoride rinse and not worry about white spots or discoloration after the braces come off?
The entire Metal Mouth message board seems adament that I not brush my teeth *immediately* after eating, especially if I'm drinking diet soda. Which is correct?
Also, I am drinking more than the one drink a week limit - try and stop me!!!
When will I be able to chew? Right now, I can use my tongue and the top of my mouth to fake chew. When I get the appliance in late July that won't be do-able. What then?!?
What is the possibility of getting bite turbos and what are the downsides? I keep trying to chew on the bracket covering my (currently) last bracketed tooth (molar) on the left, and it's a crown and I'm worried about making it snap!
I can not bite nor can I chew anything. When will this change?!? OMG I WANT THE CHEWING OF MY FOOD BACK!
As an aside to people who are not my ortho.
If one more person (especially people I work with) say: "You'll be back to eating normal food in no time" one more time I SWEAR TO TUNARE I WILL BRING THE HAMMER OF PAIN DOWN UPON THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do not have the issues normally braced people have of not being able to chew because it hurts! It really doesn't hurt any more. Just the normal getting used to them issues (cheeks and such).
I CAN NOT TOUCH TEETH DOWN TOGETHER! And I am getting an appliance in less than 2 months that will cause the roof of my mouth to also be off limits. So shut yer yaps and mind your own business!!!! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Whew, that feels better. Okay, off to be productive my last day of being off work for this marvelously long weekend!
I can't floss between two other sets of teeth because the bracket is sitting on top of where the gap is. Is this okay?!
Can I use fluoride toothpaste, and a fluoride rinse and not worry about white spots or discoloration after the braces come off?
The entire Metal Mouth message board seems adament that I not brush my teeth *immediately* after eating, especially if I'm drinking diet soda. Which is correct?
Also, I am drinking more than the one drink a week limit - try and stop me!!!
When will I be able to chew? Right now, I can use my tongue and the top of my mouth to fake chew. When I get the appliance in late July that won't be do-able. What then?!?
What is the possibility of getting bite turbos and what are the downsides? I keep trying to chew on the bracket covering my (currently) last bracketed tooth (molar) on the left, and it's a crown and I'm worried about making it snap!
I can not bite nor can I chew anything. When will this change?!? OMG I WANT THE CHEWING OF MY FOOD BACK!
As an aside to people who are not my ortho.
If one more person (especially people I work with) say: "You'll be back to eating normal food in no time" one more time I SWEAR TO TUNARE I WILL BRING THE HAMMER OF PAIN DOWN UPON THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I do not have the issues normally braced people have of not being able to chew because it hurts! It really doesn't hurt any more. Just the normal getting used to them issues (cheeks and such).
I CAN NOT TOUCH TEETH DOWN TOGETHER! And I am getting an appliance in less than 2 months that will cause the roof of my mouth to also be off limits. So shut yer yaps and mind your own business!!!! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Whew, that feels better. Okay, off to be productive my last day of being off work for this marvelously long weekend!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Before
These pics were taken on either Tuesday, May 25th or Wednesday May 26th, before braces were put in. They will, hopefully, serve as a guide line of where I started, and how things progress, as this process continues over the long and exhausting journey.
Seriously, I'm exhausted after 3 days of these things, imagine if I was trying to cross the mid-west in wagons. I'd have died already, or been killed by someone who was tired of my incessant whining.
But here we are!
Seriously, I'm exhausted after 3 days of these things, imagine if I was trying to cross the mid-west in wagons. I'd have died already, or been killed by someone who was tired of my incessant whining.
But here we are!
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