Yesterday was my first adjustment (aka "tightening"). Everyone I know who has had braces before has been telling me horror stories about how bad adjustments hurt and that I wouldn't be able to eat solid foods for 3 days afterward. Honestly, it wasn't bad at all. I don't know if everyone else has a super low tolerance for pain or if orthodontics has changed significantly over the past few years, but I barely felt any pain and have minimal soreness today.

At the adjustment, my orthodontist said my teet have moved a bit although I personally don't see a ton of change yet. He put on a stronger wire and a thicker "bumper" over the blocked tooth that doesn't have a bracket yet. Hopefully over the next few visits, that space will open up enough to put a bracket on that tooth and get it in place. If it doesn't, I will most likely have to have an extraction. So needless to say, I really hope this space opens up, but I will do what i need to do.

As you can see in the pictures, I decided to go with red and blue ligatures in honor of July 4 which is just around the corner. Unfortunately, I ate some paella which contained tumeric for dinner tonight and I learned a valuable lesson. My pretty red and blue ligatures are now orangey red and a nasty teal green color. I look like some messed up version of Christmas. So much for being patriotic.. Even my "bumper" has turned from gray into a nasty puke green color.. Yuck!

It has been exactly 2 weeks since I was braced and I am happy to report that I barely notice them anymore. I can still feel them, but I don't think about them as much and they don't hurt anymore. For a few days after they went on, my mouth was pretty sore and the brackets felt like they were rubbing holes in my cheeks but that has pretty much stopped. My only complaint is that eating is still a bit of a challenge but that isn't entirely because of the braces. It is really due to my molar build-ups. I can't wait til those come off.

I also want to say that I *LOVE* Crest Glide Threader Floss. It is a lifesaver! I was using Oral B Superfloss before which kept shredding on me due to my tight crowding. I don't hate flossing anymore and I can get it done in 15 minutes instead of 30, lol.

Anyway, that's my boring update. My next adjustment is June 28 when I'm sure I'll be reintroduced to the pain and soreness. :)

Well I just completed my second day with braces which is actually my first full day with them. I have learned a lot in the past 32 or so hours..

I am having to learn to eat all over again. Seriously, I feel like a baby just starting out on solids and I am constantly worried that food is all over my face or in my teeth. Eating just feels gross and I have not mastered chewing yet with my molar build-ups.

Flossing.. Seriously! WTF??!! I had trouble flossing anyway with my tiny mouth but this is ridiculous. Floss threaders suck. I spent almost 30 minutes flossing last night and I still couldn't reach all my teeth well. This is going to take some getting used to.

I have also learned though that most people are very supportive of adults with braces. I have gotten nothing but compliments today at work and everyone has been so understanding. That's a big relief!

And luckily, I still haven't had too much pain. My front teeth are a little tender and it hurts when my cheeks rub across my brackets but that's about it.

So all in all, aside from eating and flossing so far so good. We'll see if any of this changes.