Wednesday, December 23, 2009

brace yourself

Emma had an orthodontist appointment this morning. On January 19th, my baby is getting braces. We knew she would eventually need them, and in fact the last time we went to the ortho, I know she was a little disappointed to hear that she didn't need them yet. But the day has come. She would have begun the process today, but we are getting new insurance on the first of the year . Naturally.
I wouldn't go as far as to say that she's happy to get braces; most of her friends either have them or just got them off, so she won't feel like a weirdo. I know she's worried about pain, about how it will affect her french horn, about not chewing gum. You know, all the important things.
She wants to see if she can get purple braces.
My baby is growing up!

3 comments:

Jan C. said...

I think it does at first make it hard to play a horn because you have to press your lips up against the mouthpiece. Eventually you get used to it. The pain is more like a couple of days of sore teeth. Ibuprofen usually does the trick. You get the braces adjusted every 6 weeks or more, and you do a couple more days of ibuprofen. Some kids hardly have any problem with it at all. My daughter still manages to eat some of her favorite gummy-type candies. She just tears them into smaller pieces and sucks on them instead of chewing. Her favorite is Swedish fish, and she manages just fine without breaking her wires. Gum is still out, but that's the worst sacrifice.

Pamela Waterman said...

Another thing that makes your mouth feel better is to rinse with salt water (1 teaspoon salt stirred into 8 ounces of warm water). She can do that five or more times a day - it really helps where metal is rubbing the cheeks. There are hints about recipes and foods for braces wearers at the website of American Association of Orthodontists, www.braces.org/JustforKids/Recipes.cfm; I have some others at www.BracesCookbook.com/tender.htm. My three teen girls all had braces and then I went back and had them, too. It was all worth it!

Jen on the Edge said...

We're right behind you. Grace is having four permanent teeth pulled this winter and then, after her canines move into place, she's getting her braces.