2nd visit

Hi there! 

So glad that I have something to post about again! Albeit a belated post...

I've just gone for a tightening about 3 days ago. Actually, I wasn't due for another almost 2 more weeks, but since I was there, the nurse actually asked if I wanted to do it. So I said yes.

Wait up, but if I wasn't yet due, why was I even there??? Yeah.. that's what I wanted to write about haha.

Rewind to a week before, I was happily nom-ming on my thick cut fries from around my neighbourhood when the bracket suddenly broke off. It was so weird because the fries were definitely not hard to chew. Okay, granted that I was chewing on the end of the chips (which is naturally slightly more crispy) BUT that's no reason for it to crack off so easily! Yes, it cracked off because it really had the crack sound when it fell off (I had initially thought that my tooth chipped off or something). Honestly, I think one of the reasons why it came off so easily was because the putty thing at the back of my molars were actually touching the brackets when I chewed, right from the beginning. Problematic teeth *shakes head*. However, as it was a Saturday afternoon, the clinic was not open till the Monday, so I had to wait :( And I had to wait for another few more days because work was hectic and I really just could not spare the time to travel down to town.

I have a few photos of the model of my teeth that I want to show, but technology is failing me right now. I'll probably post it some other time. Fret not, my friends! Meanwhile, I'll show you my current teeth!

Above: Changed the colour to purple! I initially thought it was maroon when I selected it from the range but... I guess the lighting from overhead distorted the shades. I don't dislike it though! :D

p.s. look at those thick bands in the frontttt.. anyone can enlighten me what and when it is used on patients?

p.p.s. my teeth at the back is now able to meet so I don't have any speech lisp anymore YEAAAYYYY!!!

Goodnight lovelies,

thearach

Speech Lisp

Hullo! It's been a week since I got my braces on and I thought that I should write a little update on my experience so far.

As I type, my mouth cheeks are kind of hurting as the braces wires at the end are poking right into the flesh. Of course, this can be easily solved with the dental wax, but I'm trying to go slow on the wax. Firstly, they take so much effort to mould in and so easily come off when I brush, and two, I really don't wish to have so much wax in my digestive system so.. yeah, definitely trying to go slow on it.

I am also trying to get used to this speech lisp I'm having. Try this:

"I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch"

I'm practicing! :p

More importantly, there has definitely been a greater change in my diet. No more hard food, less sweet stuff, no sticky food, less snacking. Over the past week, I've been on a soft/liquid diet, especially during the first 2 days. Man, the teeth hurts so bad I felt so frustrated not being able to eat. Also, I like to have quick meals and the eating process usually does not last more than 15 minutes. But with these wires in my mouth, i'm taking 3 times longer to eat. The first few days were the worst, trying to get used to this new life. I have this putty/cement thing on my molars at the back of my mouth which makes it even harder to chew food because my teeth can never meet. Apparently it is so that my teeth don't bite unto the brackets... of which I don't see the point because the cement is already touching the brackets when I bite, because of my cross bite haha.

Well, if it's any consolation, I am actually happy that I stopped all my tidbits snacking/eating as my tummy wants but not need. I feel healthier... sort of.

Just to put it down, the kinds of food I've been eating so far:
- mee sua fish soup
- yoghurt
- hot milo with biscuits soaked in (yumm!)
- oats
- tofu & tau kwa

Good thing I don't get tired of eating the same foods repeatedly... 'cuz I see myself eating loads of these within the next one and a half years.

Till the next update!
Cheerio!

Brace up!

Well hullo there! Today I finally got my braces on. What new experience! I keep salivating excessively and slurping them to swallow. Great, I'm just gonna be making really weird noises from now on.

The orthodontist (Dr. Wee) who put my braces on was somewhat gentle :) The procedure was much less painful than I imagined. When I entered the room (before I even got a chance to sit down), I was already asked to select my preferred colour of the bands. I was kind of stunned that it suddenly came all so quickly that he had to confirm that I was doing the metal braces. Hurhur. I selected dark grey and quickly settled down on the chair. 

Dr Wee then studied my teeth a little before officially beginning the procedure, starting first with a little polishing of my teeth. I'm thinking that this is not the usual first step because my sister (who had her treatment a few years back) did not have to go through that. I'm not exactly sure what it was for; will check with the orthodontist during the next visit. After which, he put on something on my teeth, that had its sour residue dripping deeper into my mouth and tongue. That part felt like it took foreverrrrrr. I tried to distract myself from thinking when it would all end by staring the lights and air-con vents on the ceiling of the room. It's quite interesting, really. 

Thereafter, he glued on the brackets unto each teeth, with the plastic thing holding my mouth wide open. Even with that, he had to ask me to open my mouth wide on a few occasions (for I have a rather small mouth). And when I did, he would then ask me to relax my mouth a few minutes later haha. Confusing guy. After all the brackets are stuck on, he then threaded the metal wire through the back teeth on both sides first, and secured them into the treads of the front brackets with those band colours I selected earlier. And voila! I'm done! He gave me some tips on brushing (the braces style), the foods I should be avoiding, how to floss, etc. 

I am having a lot of problem eating now. Not because of the pain, but because my teeth do not meet at all. While this seems common among braces beginners, it seems like my case is a little different? I have two molars on wither side of my upper jaw having the putty-like thing cemented unto it, supposedly to prevent my teeth from biting down on the brackets on the lower teeth. However, because of my cross bite, only the right side of my jaw is in contact with each other. HOW TO EAT LIKE THAT YOU TELL ME. I couldn't even chew my rice. Couldn't eat the pork rib in the radish soup. The future seems bleak to me :( I love food, and when I don't get to eat them my days are sooo gloomy D; Well, just something I have to work around because this is only a small fraction of what I'm going to experience in 8 months time. Excited yet nervous.

Here you go, obligatory unglam teeth photographs haha.

 Parting with the way I accepted myself to be the past decade or so. Missing the freedom so much now.

Grey bands! I think the colour looks really good! 

Look at that gap. 

And if anyone can pick out, some of the bands are not hooked on all four corners of the brackets. This is driving me nuts whenever I inspect my teeth in the mirror. OCD madness.

I hope I get creative and change my diet from this episode of my life. Gunna be loads of fun!.... right?

Goodnight,

therarch

2 Dec 2013

The Gluttonous Weekend

Hello! Tomorrow is the day I officially begin my braces journey and I just had to share my excitement! I have no idea why I'm so excited about it... but I'm definitely sure that I've been 1) having trouble sleeping (because I just can't stop thinking about it) and 2) having most gluttonous weekend ever.

I dislike dirty teeth the most, so in a bid to reduce the amount of plaque build-up on my teeth with braces, I've been eating the most horrible of things. In other words, really just giving in to my cravings. Stomach over matter. I ate rubbish things like corn chips (that gets really stuck in my teeth), chocolates, mochi, cheesy stuff, bubble tea... all squashed into 2 days, on top of my regular 3-times-a-day- meals. What is this, storing up for my weight loss later? LOL.

Looking forward to tomorrow. Oh yes. Need to remind myself to take some 'before' pictures for personal record haha.

Signing off!
therach
1 December 2013