Day 74: Flossin

Here is a low quality self portrait of me getting the flossing needle between my front bottom tooth. I haven't been able to do this for 73 days. Proof the teeth are moving.

Day 54: Hold the Popcorn

This is really about how the braces affect my eating. Today was the second time in 3 days I had the opportunity to eat popcorn and didn't.

Popcorn isn't like pretzels (see earlier post) -- though I'm not eating too much of those. I just don't want the popcorn splintering and lodging in the braces.

See, I've learned my lesson. I had garlic bread Wednesday night, and biting through the crust left my front teeth sore the next day. Not worth it!

Bread, challah in particular, has lost all enjoyment. I have to kind of gum my food, using my front teeth to hold it in place while I tear off a piece. Then I maw it with the back teeth. Softer foods, such as bread, tend to get stuck in the braces. Harder food just makes my teeth hurt.

I'm also watching for signs of movement. The bottom teeth - by far the ones needing re-allignment most - don't seem to exhibit any progress.

Is there anything I can say that's not complaints? The hygiene ritual has gotten pretty easy. I ran out of the flouride rinse while I was out of town. I buy more a) because it wasn't convenient to get to a pharmacy; and, b) it was more liquid than I could fit in my carry on luggage. But I bought some more the day I got home. It was a great relief to use it again!

Week 5: Photo Highlights

Day 36: Friend or Foe?

Tomorrow is my first maintenance appointment. What can I expect? A new wire? That bending, pushing, pulling, pressing feeling again? I've been told no adjustment will be as severe as that of the first couple of weeks. But given that it was only this weekend that the last of my teeth gave up their insistence on inflicting pain, I'll wait and see how things turn out.

If they do remove the existing wires (and I hope they do), unless they've strapped me down to my chair I will be over to the mirror and out with the floss in a nanosecond. Those bottom choppers in the 1-2 range haven't been flossed in weeks.

The last holdout of pain included what I think is the no. 4 molar on the top right. That sucker just insisted on making my life miserable. I finally figured out that I better just lay off certain foods, no matter how much I like them. So no hard pretzels this week. Carrots that don't look like they've been through a paper shredder? No thanks. Hard rolls? I'll pass. That means I've left the table hungry a couple of times in the past several days. But look at the bright side: I'm getting down to my training weight. Maybe braces are the secret ingredient I needed to unleash my six pack?

Day 22: Bite Me?

I've noticed my bite doesn't line up. As my muscles draw my jaws together the bottom jaw wants to meet the upper jaw so that my incisors line up. The feeling is a little like trying to set my teeth on edge. Then the bottom jaw slides back until the rear molars interlock.

The fact I can bite, even in this obtuse way, is huge improvement over the first week of my life with braces. But the lack of natural alignment explains why chewing can be so ungratifying. It takes a lot of work, it's not happening automatically, and I have to bite carefully so that I'm not in fact chewing on the edges of my teeth.

Definitely an issue to take to Dr. W. He had mentioned earlier he might need to shave some of my teeth to compensate for my physiological inability to have a perfect bite. (BTW, when he does this I think I will figure out a way to send in my teeth without me having to be there.) But the lack of alignment I'm experiencing now is more than a little shaving can fix. I presume things have to get worse before they can get better. More shall be revealed.

Day 21: Can We Talk About Flossing?

I've definitely adjusted to the braces, as best as one can adjust. Eating a hamburger remains a challenge; it feels like more of the bun gets caught in the braces than I actually eat. Chewing soft foods, such as bread, is really odd. I kind of move the bite to my molars and have at it until it's reasonably ready to be swallowed. I don't get the taste sensation I'm used to. Rather, I'm experiencing a facsimile taste, a reminder-of-bread taste.

In a dark moment, wondering what health problems lie in store for me as I age, it occurred to me braces are a voluntary modification to my body. It turns out Vicki's aunt, with whom we are staying while vacationing in Salt Lake City, had braces in her 50s. She held out the promise that when it's all done it will well be worth it. The cynical part of me could only respond, 'That's what they keep telling me.'

And I still haven't gotten my mind around the real reason why I'm doing this: the jaw device that will open the back of my throat so I can breath better at night, reducing my mild sleep apnea. What if that device is terribly uncomfortable? Yet another adjustment I'll have to make.

On the bright side, I've gotten really good at re-using my floss loops. I've used one loop for 4 days now. That could make the 8 I have remaining last nearly to February. Maybe my goal should be to make them last to my next appointment, when I can pick up more.

Another thought. The flouride rinse bottle holds 532 ml. I use 10 ml per night. So the bottle will last for 53 rinses. I'll need a little more than 5 bottles for my 270 day treatment. I'll keep tabs on how many bottles I use to see if I'm right.

And I do need to give myself credit. 3 weeks down, and I've done the hygiene routine every single night. Also, I can hardly wait until Dr. W or Alda takes out my wire. I am going to insist on flossing all my teeth!

249 days to go!

Day 16: No. 4 May Have Moved Into Place

Just a quick thought. I think No. 4 (if I'm counting correctly) on the bottom left moved into place. it doesn't feel wiggly so much as it feels a little spongy. Like it's where it's supposed to be but hasn't gotten perfectly solid yet in that spot.

Made through Chinese food for dinner. The noodles were a little too thick to eat easily, but I made it through.

Stopped by the office of Dr. W and the gang to pick up floss threaders. Want to make sure I have enough for my out of town trip (Salt Lake City until just before New Year's). Ania said I'm a great patient. And she noted I row crew. Not much more she could say to make my day!

254 days to go!