A quick update before I talk about my teeth cleaning - My pain pretty much dissipated after 2 days after changing my wires and it feels just like I never had them changed. Also, after 3 days of using wax on the wire scratching my cheek, I found out it actually was OK and didn't need to have to see the ortho - it could have just been the bracket and I was just blaming the wire. One big change I have noticed is that my lower teeth are slightly more forward than before.
Teeth cleaning. I was supposed to have my teeth cleaned about a month ago but I kept delaying it because I thought it would be too much of a hassle. I thought I would have to have my wires taken off, then have my teeth cleaned and then have my wires put back on. Since, my orthondist and dentist are about 15 mins away it would have meant maybe 2-3 hours off of work.
I then decided to call my orthodontist and ask them about scheduling an appointment to have my wires taken off for a cleaning. They said most dentists can work around the wires, so I called my dentist and bingo! I did not have to have my wires removed. So I had them cleaned today. My dentist said that I didn't really have that much tartar even though I had my braces for 3+ months. He said, typically, he recommends people with braces to have their cleaning done every 3-4 months but since I didn't have too much tarter mine would be in 6 months - the standard :D.
Here are my pics:
Sounds as though you're doing great with the braces. I had mine last year at age 53, and though my cheeks got kind of shredded at first, the results were terrific. I found that rinsing with salt-water about five times a day was a great help any time they added hooks, springs or brackets. You've probably already discovered www.ArchWired.com, the resource website for adults in braces. Have you also found the ideas for soft-food recipes at www.braces.org, the website for the American Association of Orthodontists?
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