[boyzrus]

My oldest got an "appliance" put on the roof of his mouth yesterday as the first step in getting braces. Some people call it an expander. Anyway at about 9 last night he was saying how bad it hurt, so I put a coat on over my jammies and headed to CVS to get some ice cream. It's about 2 blocks from my house. Of course the same cashier I always see was there! Although I was wearing a long coat, I think the slippers gave it away!

[Faith]

Sometimes ya do what ya gotta do!

[erp0620]

I see nothing wrong with this... Like she said, ya do what ya gotta do!

[itsbelong]

That's just awesome that you did that.

Poor guy, I can still remember how painful my braces were.

Brigette

[just_jenn]

My son is getting his braces on the day after Christmas.

Are they really that painful????

[lochelle]

ive done that before at 2 in the morning when my son was colicky..so i am sure they see it all the time!

just_jenn..not gonna sugar coat it..they are extremely painful at first..but as long as you keep giving him pain reliever it helps dull the pain!

[just_jenn]

When it comes to pain he isn't that great at handling it at all...A few years ago he had to have his front tooth recapped and when we got home he started running around the house crying saying it hurt really badly. I am not looking forward to this at all.

[erp0620]

Braces are weird and they do hurt initially. He's really going to hurt when they put the spacers in the week or however long it is before so they can get the bands around the back teeth. I had a lot wrong with my mouth and was my ortho's guiney pig, so I'm probably not the best to be giving advise. I had a LOT done to my mouth so it was a little more painful than most, I think. He'll be fine, though. He should get to choose what color he wants his bracket bands so that should be fun for him!

[just_jenn]

He will be getting the Herbst Appliance to pull his upper teeth back and his chin forward. That sounds painful.

He has always hated Dentists. When he was 13 months old our dog attacked him and ripped out his 4 front teeth. He didn't have teeth until the adult ones came in. One tooth came in abnormal and he has had this one fixed twice. The first one to fix it didn't do a great job and a few years ago I found this awesome dentist who fixed it and it looks great now.

[boyzrus]

Mark won't get his braces for 4-6 months, but he has this thing on the roof of his mouth to expand his palate and align the teeth on the sides. So far he's had ice cream and instant breakfast.

His friend in the neighborhood got his braces on Monday. I called his Mom and she said to stick with mushy food.

[Nerthy]

I had braces from the age of 9 to the age of 22... Yep 13 years.... AWFUL!!! ( I was born with a cleft palate so I had no choice!!)

It is really painful, the worst is each time you walk out of the dentist office and he tighten every thing up or did something new. He is going to get use to it but if you say that he doesn't handle pain very well, it might be some rough times ahead for him....

What always worked for me is (ok this might not be the best but hey! It works!!) My mom would give me 2
extra strength Tylenol and right after, she would dip her fingers in Gin or Vodka and rub my gums. The alcohol numbed my gums and that gave the time for the Tylenol to work. And it helped me to eat things that were a little hotter then lukewarm it calms the pain. ( I have sensitive teeth so I can't do Ice Cream)

I hope this can help you out. and I hope your little guy can hang in there, he'll be delighted he did when he sees the result!!

[mysweetiepie]

Originally Posted by just_jenn

He will be getting the Herbst Appliance to pull his upper teeth back and his chin forward. That sounds painful.

He has always hated Dentists. When he was 13 months old our dog attacked him and ripped out his 4 front teeth. He didn't have teeth until the adult ones came in. One tooth came in abnormal and he has had this one fixed twice. The first one to fix it didn't do a great job and a few years ago I found this awesome dentist who fixed it and it looks great now.

my nephew and my one of me nieces had that and from what they said it really hurt and was glad when they had it taken out ...... they both had to wear it for awhile

[cowcow65]

My 9 year old son will be getting his expander after Christmas break. His attitude is really good about it so hopefully that will help. I was really concerned about the discomfort, but the thought of the daily turning to expand it really bothers me. Any advice?

[boyzrus]

Are you sure it's the kind with the key? Mark's has springs on either side and the orthodontist adjusts it, not me.

[cowcow65]

The video, the pamphlet and the dentist all said we would be doing daily turns with the key.
This is the child who wont take even a tylenol, so I cant even begin to imagine what it will be like getting that key in there, or trying to lessen any discomfort.

[nessarowdy]

I had braces as well growing up. I don't remember them being all that horrible, except a little sore when I went in for appointment to get them tightened. But that lasted maybe a day, tops, and I never took pills for them. I had the small brackets on the fronts of my teeth, and didn't require the spacers that the full brackets needed.
My 3rd grader just received a recommendation for a consult with the orthodontist. Yay... (SARCASM DRIPPING)

Good luck!
-Vanessa

[calstate_brit]

OMG, these stories are scaring me I have a 2nd grader who still sucks her thumb!! Her permanent top front teeth are currently growing in and already I can see that they are buckling outwards. I've told her time and time again that if she doesn't stop sucking, she will need braces, but to no avail, she just can't quit

I'm really am going to have to read her some excerpts from this thread to scare her into action unless she wants to go through the pain and discomfort.

So sorry for you all who have had bad experiences, but I've no doubt that you all have beautiful smiles to show for it now

[Kmchamplin]

My son is in braces right now and he has a good pain tolerance. Having the spacers put in were aweful for him. He had tears streaming down his face.

SO...When they put spacers in, make sure you give some kind of pain meds BEFORE going. Then have on hand some ambesol (sp?) to dull the pain. This lasts for about 2 days.

Then when they change the wiring, be sure to have ambesol ready also or a pain med. It gets easier, but it still hurts.

[chipmunk]

Originally Posted by just_jenn

My son is getting his braces on the day after Christmas.

Are they really that painful????

Yes, the first month I got my braces I could only eat stuff that required chewing the last week or so. Then every month when they put heavier wires on your mouth hurts really bad for a few days.

[just_jenn]

All these painful stories are worrying me...

[herold314]

My 7 year old had a spacer put in on Wed. it runs from one molar around the bottom gum line to the other molar. He has had 3 teeth removed on both sides (total 6) and now just has his permanent molars on bottom and his 2 front teeth on bottom amd thats it! He needed the spacer to keep the molars back until the adult teeth start coming in so he'll have it in for a couple years. Wed. he had 4 teeth removed, 4 sealants, 3 fillings and the spacer. All he's even complained about was the spacer nothing else is bothering him. (He was 13 weeks premature so the mix of different sterroids and other meds he was on until he was 12 months old ruined his baby teeth). I hope your guys kids do great! I feel for you and them!

[CarolynC]

Originally Posted by just_jenn

All these painful stories are worrying me...

I think it might be BEST if you took the pain meds!!! Momma's don't like for their babies to hurt!