Onward and upward - time ticking down for Braces

Today I had my ortho checkup - a 10 minute affair where the orthodontist checked my bite, the integrity of the bands, carriere' and lingual arch and grinned. I asked if he was going to do a happy dance. He admitted he could only offer a happy face. Although moment later he stood and wiggled a little bit and his team applauded kindly. He was pleased. I was too.

I admitted to him that my adjustment wasn't an easy thing. I told him that in those first 2 weeks I had to constantly reason with myself to wait until my first 2 week appointment to ask him to remove them. By the first appointment I reluctantly thought that I was adjusting - and thought I could make it until the next appointment. And then the next.

Today, my lingual arch and carriere' have been on my teeth total of 10 weeks. Today he said that the next appointment I would receive my braces. The real deal. Ceramic. Clearish. Wires. The carriere' will be removed (yay! my least favorite part) and the lingual arch will remain for a while. It's ok. Hardly anyone else notices my lisp - especially if I talk slowly. :)

I asked when the next appointment was  - he said 6-8 weeks. I offered 6 weeks with a question in my voice. He agreed. And so, in 6 more weeks - I return to his office for a 2 hours extravaganza. At the end of the 2 hours I expect to hear applause and see balloons drop. I will walk out of there with the last segment of my journey in front of me: Adjusting to braces as an adult. A 58 year old adult.

Can I make it 6 more weeks? You betcha! Can I make it on the rest of my journey - yes.

The adjustment has been substantial. The annoyance level enough to remind me regularly that I have stuff in my mouth. (I have yet to forget it is there. I suspect this is because I'm an adult who doesn't even tolerate tags on the back of my shirts.)

And yes, thank you for asking. I'm down 10 pounds today. This isn't quite the weight loss plan I had dreamed about.

Down another pound, Week 9 completed.

I go to my checkup next Monday for the orthodontist to see the progress. I can see progress. My crooked tooth in the front is only mildly crooked now. The other teeth have moved back away, giving it enough room to stretch out. I imagine this is how it will be. Another few months and the tooth will have enough room to straighten out and braces will go on to fix the bite which is now definitaly off.

Which is the biggest reason why food is a challenge.

I still can't eat food normally. Biting down on molars is tender feeling on my right side. Impossible on my left (where teeth are moving)

So now completing 9 weeks with the lingual arch - i'm down 9 pounds.

And I have a bit of wax but will run out again shortly. Am I supposed to reuse this stuff? Doesn't that sound awful?

What do you do? Reuse your wax or do you keep getting more?

Lingual Arch and Carriere' - week 8

More movement noticed in my left side with the elastics and the carriere' (the name of the gizmo I keep calling a bar on my top left teeth) and lingual arch. I do notice more tenderness around the bands holding the lingual arch in place. I can only suspect that this is from the pressure applied (think physics experiment) when you anchor solid masses with wire, attach rubber bands on moving parts) between the lingual arch, bands, carriere'.

Atleast I hope.

We are preparing for a thanksgiving trip to the northeast. A fun trip into the cold polar vortex. Or perhaps a polar blizzard. I'm hoping it doesn't snow. Does that sound awful? I'm from the south and remain in the south because I do not like the cold. But packing has been a challenge - long underwear, socks, gloves and hat. Then I'm a bit worried about eating. Here at home I've figured out I can make do with a bowl of oatmeal. A banana. A tangerine. Scrambled eggs. But being out for the entire trip - it might be a challenge. And yes, I'm down more pounds. 8 pounds lost so far. Perhaps more. My jeans are loose but I don't want to have to go buy more.

And I'm worried I'll forget my wax. My friend forever - my wax. Thankfully I have enough for the trip.

Happy Thanksgiving!