Adult Braces: The good, bad and downright painful journey!

Hey! ✋ So yesterday I had my braces "tightened." For those of you that aren't sure what this means, they change your wires and ligatures (bands). I'm not sure why people say they are getting them tightened... When I arrived my dentist asked how I had got on the last few weeks and was really impressed with how much my teeth have moved already! It was more than she was expecting!! Although she said the movement will slow down a little now!  She had a look at my teeth to make sure everything was looking good then she removed the bands and the arch wire. It felt really strange with only the brackets on. For a few seconds there wasn't any pressure on my teeth and it was great!! 😂  Firstly, she put a power chain on. This is a series of bands attached together and is used to close the spaces where my teeth were extracted! They were applied on each side.  I had some discomfort getting the power chain put on as the dent...

The braces have been on for 1 month!! It has flown by... For those of you thinking of getting braces or for those of you who have just got braces, I'm not gonna lie and tell you it gets easier (sorry!) because it doesn't.. You will have good days and bad days! I've got used to having the braces in my mouth. It just feels normal to have them now!!  My main issue with the braces is the wires rubbing and nipping at my cheeks. This isn't easing at all. Iglu helps when the ulcers appear but it doesn't stop it happening. There are days it makes me really sad....if I talk the wires nip, if I eat the wires nip...if I laugh the wires nip...it's not fun! However! My teeth have moved quite a bit in the last month! When I first got the braces on my dentist told me I would need to use interdental brushes when flossing. The smallest (pink) ones wouldn't fit between my teeth because the crowding was so bad. Only in the last week have I been able to use them! I actua...