So far, so good

I've officially been wearing my first set of retainers 2 weeks! Since it's 4 am and I'm not asleep yet, I will wait until I wake up to switch to my new retainers. One lesson I learned from last time is pain control so I will be taking ibuprofen a little while BEFORE I put my new ones in. The pain can come quite suddenly. I seem to have noticed a change in my bottom teeth. One tooth in particular looks like it has moved to a better position. I can tell I have been wearing the retainers enough because they fit to my teeth perfectly! It's a cool feeling that my teeth have moved right where they should. The retainers actually fit like a glove right now. I've definitely been eager to chance retainers the last few days!

It has been a strange process getting used to. A week in, it felt like there was an air gap and I was obsessed with biting down on the retainers. It felt so weird and it worried me. Now my teeth have moved to a spot where it is actually uncomfortable to bite down. My bite has changed. After I noticed some pain in a bottom tooth, which I thought might be a filling that fell out, I investigated and realized a top tooth was now positioned right to dig into the groove of the bottom tooth that was hurting. I suppose it makes sense. My teeth ARE moving after all. Just takes some getting used to. The general discomfort will hopefully be well worth it. It already seems to be going fast. Can't believe 2 weeks have went by.

I have gotten quite skilled at taking my retainers in and out. I don't even need a napkin or my shirt anymore! But tomorrow I'm sure I will go back to needing help since they will be a new, snug fit. I try to at least dry brush after anything I eat. It's a little hard when out and about, but my travel toothbrush has definitely come in handy. I also stick some q-tips right in my retainer case to get out any water bubbles after I rinse my retainers. A helpful little hint, which is easy to do on the go or at home. If I run out or forget to pack more, I have just used a paper towel which works decent. I snuck some gatorade with my retainers in today, but otherwise I have been very good. It's becoming a part of my everyday routine, so it's not as big of a deal as I expected it to be. Also really been helpful to soak in clear mouthwash once, or twice, a day. You can see (even if you DO brush the retainers), they accumulate depris. So I really try to make sure I give them a good soak. It also freshens them up, which is a plus.

I look online A LOT and read other blogs as well as advice from orthodontists. It's super helpful to read what others have gone through and their tips. So I hope I can help others! It's an exciting, nerve-racking, cool process. Everyday I get closer to my dream smile. And that is something I've wanted for a LONG time!!!