Updates: Monday, December 11, 2006
7 weeks later, I'm still eating soft food and end up swallowing without proper chewing because the teeth are still sore and some actually hurt. I noticed that the canines on the left side touch now... really painful when they do.
Last Friday as I was fed up and on the verge of shouting out loud from my frustration, I went to the mirror looking for some positive sign of change, and sure enough, I noticed that some teeth have moved. First I didn't believe it so I came to the picture here and compared.. YES! THEY MOVED!! You can't imagine my joy. At last I can see a result for all this pain. For more reassurance, I took the mini brush that is supposed to clean between the teeth behind the wires. This little thingy this time passed in between teeth that used to be much tighter not allowing it to go through. YES YES YES!! All these little noticeable changes compensate for the pain and the new diet.
Speaking of diet, it has completely changed. Food has to be cut into small pieces; it has to be soft and shouldn't require too much effort chewing. Apples are replaced with applesauce masalan. Cookies have to be soaked in milk or juice so they become easier to eat. Nothing crunchy, no nuts, no nachos, no toasted pita bread :( I still attempt to eat a sandwich with no luck enjoying it and go back my soups :( I now understand how and why babies with new teeth use their whole mouth and involve their tongue a lot in the chewing process.. It's the only way to break the food into smaller particles when the teeth are inexistent or useless :)
W to be continued...
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
I finally did it!
This post was originally added to my other blog on October 24, 2006, the day this journey started. Today, and since this is a 3-year commitment and evolving experience, I decided to open a separate blog for it, and zere you go! :)
Hello,
My name is Coco, I'm 37 years old and I could finally afford to fix my teeth and create the beautiful smile I always dreamed of... The braces are finally on and for the next 24 to 30 months.
Right now, everything feels tight, my head included. The little braces on the teeth feel weird in my mouth. What's also weird is that they're here to stay... for the next couple of years; I can't even remove them before I go to bed.
Having lunch today was interesting, I think I inhaled more than I chewed.
Aie, they're moving. Time for Advil.
To be continued...
Teeth Extraction
Updates: Thursday, November 16, 2006
Monday November 13/06, part two of the teeth saga continues; an unpleasant experience I must add. Extracting 3 teeth. Long story short, never ever extract teeth without full anesthesia. It's simply not worth it. And now on to the long version of the story.
The experience began with the numbing gel rubbed where the needles need to go. I like this part, it numbs everything and it's not painful.
Then came the "laughing gas". It's a hose going across my face, with an opening over the nose shooting cold air in. I didn't feel anything different at first then I was feeling heavy (kinda drunk) but I think it was the cold air and all this breathing from the nose. Definitely no laughing sensation what so ever.
Then came the needles. I don't know how many but each one was more painful than the one before. My tears started coming down (and I was worried I will be laughing hysterically from the "laughing gas") and I couldn't breath from the pain. You know how kids cry hard when they're hurt? eh I was exactly like this.
After I relaxed and the effect of the anesthetics worked, the extraction started. Oh yes, I had more needles for the upper tooth where the area was still not totally numb.
First tooth, upper molar to the left, I think that a piece of my brain was pulled out with it. I was literally shouting and crying from pain. I was about to tell the Doc that I was done, but then I thought that I'll have to go through this again, so I let it be. Remember I said that it took more needles to numb that area? Eh I don't think it was enough!
Second tooth, lower molar to the left, was less painful but I still felt all the pulling, cracking and pulling and cracking. When will the f***** laughing gas start to work? I can't cry any more!
Third tooth was not straight, so the doc needed to cut it. He was worried that this would be the most difficult one. I heard the saw, I felt and smelt the heat; and after that, a crack and by the time I started to get worried about the pulling, I was told that it's all done. Phewwwww
All this and I couldn't stop my tears from falling, and my breathing was definitely heavy, close to non existent most of the time. Laughing gas my ass (I was charged $100 for it).
The sutures were OK, I didn't feel that, and of course I didn't look at any of this excruciating operation.
I left the doctor's office with gauze in my mouth, drove to the pharmacy close to my house, bought the pain killers; always with the gauze in my mouth, now red and oozing. I wrote to the pharmacist what I wanted to say. I don't know why she was shouting back at me. I couldn't talk but my hearing was A-OK :) Yalla bassita, as long as I get the drugs and go home.
My mouth was numb and crooked for a few hours then I was able to drink without wetting my shirt :) Until this day (3 days later) my face is sore and I can't open my mouth too much, the upper hole stings like hell from time to time. I can't wait to brush my teeth properly.
Exciting, eh?
To be continued....
Hello,My name is Coco, I'm 37 years old and I could finally afford to fix my teeth and create the beautiful smile I always dreamed of... The braces are finally on and for the next 24 to 30 months.
Right now, everything feels tight, my head included. The little braces on the teeth feel weird in my mouth. What's also weird is that they're here to stay... for the next couple of years; I can't even remove them before I go to bed.
Having lunch today was interesting, I think I inhaled more than I chewed.
Aie, they're moving. Time for Advil.
To be continued...
Teeth Extraction
Updates: Thursday, November 16, 2006
Monday November 13/06, part two of the teeth saga continues; an unpleasant experience I must add. Extracting 3 teeth. Long story short, never ever extract teeth without full anesthesia. It's simply not worth it. And now on to the long version of the story.
The experience began with the numbing gel rubbed where the needles need to go. I like this part, it numbs everything and it's not painful.
Then came the "laughing gas". It's a hose going across my face, with an opening over the nose shooting cold air in. I didn't feel anything different at first then I was feeling heavy (kinda drunk) but I think it was the cold air and all this breathing from the nose. Definitely no laughing sensation what so ever.
Then came the needles. I don't know how many but each one was more painful than the one before. My tears started coming down (and I was worried I will be laughing hysterically from the "laughing gas") and I couldn't breath from the pain. You know how kids cry hard when they're hurt? eh I was exactly like this.
After I relaxed and the effect of the anesthetics worked, the extraction started. Oh yes, I had more needles for the upper tooth where the area was still not totally numb.
First tooth, upper molar to the left, I think that a piece of my brain was pulled out with it. I was literally shouting and crying from pain. I was about to tell the Doc that I was done, but then I thought that I'll have to go through this again, so I let it be. Remember I said that it took more needles to numb that area? Eh I don't think it was enough!
Second tooth, lower molar to the left, was less painful but I still felt all the pulling, cracking and pulling and cracking. When will the f***** laughing gas start to work? I can't cry any more!
Third tooth was not straight, so the doc needed to cut it. He was worried that this would be the most difficult one. I heard the saw, I felt and smelt the heat; and after that, a crack and by the time I started to get worried about the pulling, I was told that it's all done. Phewwwww
All this and I couldn't stop my tears from falling, and my breathing was definitely heavy, close to non existent most of the time. Laughing gas my ass (I was charged $100 for it).
The sutures were OK, I didn't feel that, and of course I didn't look at any of this excruciating operation.
I left the doctor's office with gauze in my mouth, drove to the pharmacy close to my house, bought the pain killers; always with the gauze in my mouth, now red and oozing. I wrote to the pharmacist what I wanted to say. I don't know why she was shouting back at me. I couldn't talk but my hearing was A-OK :) Yalla bassita, as long as I get the drugs and go home.
My mouth was numb and crooked for a few hours then I was able to drink without wetting my shirt :) Until this day (3 days later) my face is sore and I can't open my mouth too much, the upper hole stings like hell from time to time. I can't wait to brush my teeth properly.
Exciting, eh?
To be continued....
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Hi Coco,
I know exactly what you mean. I had braces about 9 years ago. I cried when I saw them on. Plus, I cried again when I showed them to a guy I was seeing back then. Your teeth are going to feel tender for a few days everytime you go to the ortho to get the braces tightened. I remember eating was not very convenient during these days. & just to assure you, the weird feeling in your mouth will go away. You'll get used to them. Plus, when its time to take them off, you'll also feel weird for a few days. The pain, cuts in your inner lip every now and then, tenderness, plus the not so great look of them for a couple of years is WORTH IT. The end result is A GREAT SMILE. Just make sure your ortho is a good one....You don't want to end up with TMJ problems. I've become an expert about this unfortunately!! Good luck with your new braces :)
AM said...
Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
Mabrouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk!
The bigger mabrouk will be in a couple of years inshallah, they will pass :D
doha said...
Ow ,may God be with u
:))
cg said...
bonjour Coco, Wow! you look even younger :-). You know that some guys like girls with braces....
2 years is not that long for having the smile you always wanted to have.
claude
Coco said...
Hi Dareen, thanks for visiting my blog and sharing your experience, and for the encouraging words. I appreciate that a lot! I guess I'm lucky I don't have a boyfriend to worry about showing him my "Ugly Betty" look lol
It's gonna take some getting used to these suckers on my teeth, scratching the inside of my mouth. However, I must admit, I have a great orthodontist (and great to look at too) and his staff is fantastic. You should see the home care they gave me, including some wax stuff that I can stick on the metals that scratch too much. Of course they only last the period between brushes but at least he thought of that and they make a big difference. What are the TMJ problems? And BTW, I'm in Toronto, where are you?
AM, Doha, Claude, thank you too for the cheers and encouragements!
Bonjour Claude, welcome my friend! You made me blush with your sweet comments, merci :)
Chloe said...
:) i had some on a few years ago, its gonna be a great experience (seriously!)..enjoy :)
Coco said...
Thanks Chloe
(they call me Chloe here sometimes too, when they can't say Clo!!)
So far my experience has not been too peachy. After the sore teeth, headaches and pain the first 10 days, it's discomfort all the way. I still can't bite on the front teeth and stick to processed "baby" food (how I wish we had Cerelac here lol). The worst part is the damn pins that stick in my mouth, it's like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! you know what I mean of course; and I already "ate" one box of wax.
Yalla, on the bright side, at least I'm loosing weight with the loss of my appetite lol
bodhisattva said...
Congratulations Coco, be patient with your braces and never underestimate the power of a little knife, especially when you're eating apples! i gave my dentist headaches, he had to repair them so much, lol.
Be Happy :)
and smile now
Delirious said...
Mabrook and good luck!
I'm supposed to wear braces too, but I still haven't summoned enough courage to do it~
Haven't gotten myself yet to go have those X-rays before I visit my orthodontist again... Bass inti shajja3tini halla2!
Coco said...
Hi bodhisattva, how did you guess I'm using the knife to cut apples? Thank God at my office they're not too worried about safety and terrorism lol Thanks for your input. I had no idea apples might harm the braces, I'll be careful ;)
Delirious, ooops! Don't let the update discourage you. All you have to know from this horrible story is that for teeth extraction, take the full anesthesia. It's more pleasant this way. Ana tlo3et 7mara w fakakret enno el laughing gas will be enough, or actually work!
Bass seriously, go for it girl. The end result is worth it, sadd2ineh. Let me know what happens with you.
Dareen said...
Hi Coco,
Keefik? Well, I see how you are doing :) God, reading over your post brought back so many memories....the tender teeth...not being able to chew anything. Forget the idea of biting into a sandwich girl....That is too painful. Bes wala yhimmik!! The end result will be worth all the pain & frustration you are going through. :) Keep us updated..and maybe in a couple of months, you can post a pic of the progress!! Hope all is well! How is the weather in Toronto?
Coco said...
Hi Dareen :)
Walla it's quite an experience I tell you, more than I bargained for, or maybe I wasn't fully aware of the impact braces will have on my life.
Thanks for checking on me, seriously hearing other experiences makes me feel much better. I think of what you wrote me earlier every time I feel the pins sticking inside my mouth, I dare not look at the damage anymore but as you said I got used to it and can handle it better now. Masalan, when I drink water, I pinch my cheek out; and I'm making great use of the wax for the pins in the front when I need to enjoy my meal.
I will definitely post updated pictures soon, and keep updating the post. It's becoming like a journal I guess.
Toronto has been great so far. This week's temperatures (mid December) are above zero, no snow so far, so Coco is very happy :) Not dreaming of a white Christmas, that's for sure lol