Braces update #3: 12 months mark

Previous update #1, #2

It was around this time last year when I was sitting nervously in the orthodontist's chair, waiting to get my braces for the first time. I still remember how weird and uncomfortable the braces felt after the visit. Now 12 months have flown by and I've adjusted very well as I rarely give them another thought.

In terms of my eating habits, I'm still reluctant to biting into one of those humongous burgers and shiny Fuji apples. Or maybe I've gotten used to not putting so much pressure on my gums. Other than that, I've pretty much given in to a lot of the foods that I didn't even want to bother with when I first got my braces, like chips, nuts, and cherry tomatoes. Considering that I was mostly consuming soft foods in the beginning (post here), it's been pretty smooth sailing. The one thing that hasn't changed is that food still gets stuck in the wires and sorts no matter how strategically I try to chew my food. Generally, it's not too troublesome as long as I don't get a piece of food stuck somewhere in the front for everyone to see. But quinoa is something I've learned to stay away from.

Like all my visits to the orthodontist, my mouth always ended up feeling sore right after and today was no exception. But I think I've gotten used to it by now that it hardly bothers me. For my visit today, I got some chains (that's what they called it in the office) wrapped on the wires of my braces on my front teeth, I'm assuming to close a slight gap that formed after shifting my teeth around and elastics to use for the right side of my mouth. They informed me that I will be getting my braces off in roughly 6 months if all goes well, which leads me to ask myself...

...when I get my braces off, should I bite into a big juicy burger first or a crispy Fuji apple?

Braces update #2: 10 random things I didn't know 'til now...

Hello, hello! It's time for another braces update! This might be an unexpected post for some of you who are new to my blog but this is just something I like to do every few months ever since I got braces in September last year. 

It's been roughly six months since then and I've gotta say, they're not as bad as I thought they would be. I mean, there's the occasional soreness and there's a slight lisp I've got going on (it's quite unattractive), but for a majority of the time, I forget that the braces are even there. About that lisp though...

In the beginning, I secretly dreaded going to the orthodontist because the first few visits of retightening and readjusting my braces always left me feeling sore and worn out. I guess the immense pressure that was being applied was just too much for my sensitive gums.  The experience reminded me of my childhood days when I had to go to the dentist to get my baby teeth pulled out. Because my baby teeth always stuck around for longer than they should and never fell off on their own, the dentist always had to take it out using full force. The plier-like tool did not make the situation any better. Yeah, not very pleasant memories there haha. Anyhoo, the soreness lessened and became manageable over time. In short, braces aren't bad at all - it just takes some getting used to!

Below are 10 random things that I didn't know about braces until now:

1. They rarely hurt.

2. The wire in the braces are replaced by thicker ones later on.

3. Food will get stuck in the braces and it will be unbelievably frustrating.

4. Rubber bands are used towards the end.

5. I feel like I'm smiling way too big with my braces sometimes when posing for the camera.

6. Yogurt, oatmeal, and tofu were basically all I ate for the first two weeks after I got my braces on. 

7. This is probably where my obsession with making smoothies started. 

8. I try to rinse my mouth after each meal. 

9. I''m constantly drinking water because my mouth feels dry all the time.

10. I've developed this habit of tearing sandwiches/burgers apart instead of straight up biting into them. I would also use a knife and fork sometime, I know, silly right? 

In case you were wondering about the picture above, it was taken around the three months mark and I've definitely noticed some differences in my teeth since then.

What was it like when you had braces? 

Braces update #1: Eating burgers with a knife and fork...

I had no idea what to expect when I went in to the orthopedic's office for my first re-tightening of my braces. In the past, my friends have made pained expressions when talking about everything that braces entailed, but I didn’t grasp what they really meant until today. Let’s just say that I walked in feeling rested and cheery and by the time I was done, I was drained.

The process took about thirty minutes (it felt so much longer) as the orthodontist replaced the thin wires with thicker ones. Because she applied a lot of pressure when she was tightening the wires, my gums were very tender and sore. I gotta say, going in for my appointment today made the last visit seem like it was nothing.

As for the foods, it's just not the same. I guess it's going to take some time for me to get used to having braces. In the mean time, I'm seriously considering on eating sandwiches and burgers with a knife and fork. I try to look on the bright side, which is the fact that I’ve been eating a lot healthier and cleaner. With that said, an updated version of my personal go-to foods list from a previous post is below.

Breakfast

Nutri-Grain cereal bars

Oatmeal

Greek or nonfat yogurt

Pancakes

Muffins

Scrambled eggs

Snack

Tapioca pudding

String cheese

Pirate’s Booty (puffed rice and corn)

Lunch

PB&J sandwich

Chow-mein

Quesadillas

Mac n’ Cheese

Tofu

Fruits

Bananas

Oranges

Grapes

Dinner

Pasta

Hard boiled eggs

Baked salmon

Mashed potatoes

Dessert

Cheesecake

Lemon bars

19 going on 15

My eating habits have recently changed due to me having braces for the first time. At age 19, I’m a little late to the party. In fact, I’m so late that the party is already over. Most people I know have had braces in their early high school years while I’m starting my third year of college and had only just gotten my braces yesterday. It's like I'm 19 going on 15! I try to make myself feel better about this by saying, “Hey, better late than never, right?”

Although it’s only been day two of having braces, it has affected my eating habits tremendously. Since I have a fast metabolism, I'm used to eating quite frequently. Unfortunately, I don't think that will be the case anymore. It's been extremely uncomfortable biting down on solid foods now. The pressure from biting down irritates my gums and makes my entire jaw sore. I’ve heard that the level of soreness and/or pain is different for everybody. For me, I get the most soreness after a meal. To make it easier for me to eat, I’ve been having foods that are soft and require minimal chewing. Aside from the obvious choices, such as liquids and soup, I've complied a list of yummy and nutritious foods that will probably be my go-to foods for the next few days. 

Porridge 

Oatmeal

Yogurt

Smoothies

Bananas

Avocados

String Cheese

Sweet Potatoes  

Mashed Potatoes

Mac n’ Cheese

Tofu
Noodles

Baked Salmon

Scrambled Eggs

Pudding