instant pain - just add new wire

Saturday morning, I turned on my trusty SonicCare toothbrush, ran it over my teeth, and OUCH!, hit a majorly sensitive tooth.  It was one of my front bottom teeth, and man, I could barely touch it.  By now, I should be used to such pain and not so concerned, but as usual, my brain had blocked out all previous painful experiences so this seemed horrible.  What if it was a cavity?  What if I’d injured the tooth?  Augh! 

Nope, it wasn’t so bad on Sunday and today is fine.  Must have just moved a bit.  Huh.

And of course, that tooth won’t bother me at all, now that I’ve got a new wire on the top teeth.  O.M.G.  The last new wire (bottom) didn’t bother me at all, even after they repositioned a bracket (which, come to think of it, was probably on the tooth that hurt on Saturday…hmmm…).  I got a new rectangle 18.5 wire on top this morning, and less than 3 hours later, it is making itself known.  Eek.

I go back in 4 weeks to have several more bottom brackets repositioned, or “repo’d” as the orthodontist’s assistant kept saying.  I was a little worried that they were going to take them back for nonpayment… J  The ortho was using big words like “gingial” and “mesial”…huh?  Oh, well.  Whatever does the trick! 

mouthwash problems

So, earlier this year, in an attempt to buy an alcohol-free (and therefore less-stinging) mouth rinse, I purchased a big bottle of the Crest Pro Health stuff.  Naturally, being the total noncommittal type person that I am, I’ve used it like 6 times.  My DH, on the other hand, started working his way through the bottle a month or so ago.  He emailed me this week claiming that his bottom teeth have turned brown and that there have been numerous reports this year of this particular mouthwash causing stains.

 

Has anyone else had this issue?  I suppose if I’d used it like I was supposed to (oops), I might be having the same problem, but I also wonder if I’d have noticed because of the brackets…  Oh, well, back to good ol’ burns-like-fire Listerine for us!

 

mmm...apples

Mmm…my CSA share this week included some apples.  I don’t think I’ve had an apple since I got my braces on, partially because I try to buy local fruit and they haven’t been in season until now, and also because I wasn’t sure if I could handle them… but I can.  Me and my trusty paring knife.  

 

I finally got to sit down last night and catch up on the other braces blogs that I follow.  Wow, it sounds like a lot of people are having a difficult go of it right now.  Hang in there, guys!  It’ll get better.  Whether you’re having insurance problems or surgery complications (or just irritated gums) I’m rooting for you!

Owwww...

Must be moving again on the top row.  My top lip isn’t fitting properly over my teeth this week.  My poor cheeks are all scratched up and I’ve had some tooth pain.   I suppose I should be happy! :-#  I have my next orthodontist appt in approximately 11 days.  I can’t believe it’s been almost 8 months!  Dr. Weber told me it’d take 12-16 months to get “surgery-ready” so that puts me in the January –May timeframe (a large window, I know).

 

I hope everyone else is doing well.  I haven’t been home much lately, so I desperately need to do some catch-up reading on my braces-buddies’ blogs…