PAIN

Original title, right?!  But. y'all...  That is the only word I can think of to accurately describe what I'm experiencing.  I'd mentioned that I've had braces once before, but just recently decided to sign up for a second round.  My teeth has shifted and just weren't nearly as perfect as they once were.  Actually, I was on vacation when I decided on braces!  We had pulled into a little grocery store by our hotel to grab a beach umbrella and my mama decided just to run in really quickly.  So, I sat in the car and waited.  When she came out, I made the declaration that I'd decided I was going to get braces.  In the utmost of impatience, I immediately called the dentist and made an appointment for when I returned.

My braces got put on Monday afternoon.

It is now Wednesday.

And, oh boy, how I hurt.

I had forgotten the misery that accompanies the first few days after new braces.

I was quickly reminded....

I have literally been so miserable that I could just cry.  My teeth feel like they're SO close together and there's just so much pressure.  In addition, my cheeks and the insides of my lips have been rubbed absolutely raw from the brackets.  A friend asked me yesterday which pain hurt worse.  My response?  My mouth is in such agony right now that it's practically numb, so I really can't tell whether it's my teeth or my cheeks/gums/lips that hurt the worst.

I've been poppin' Aleve {rebel child} and eating Blue Bell ice cream like it's nobody's business.  Anything to take even just a tiny shred of pain away.... Sign.  Me.  Up.

I have a really high pain tolerance, so I can officially say this is sheer misery.  I would not wish this on my worst enemy {I would want my worst enemy to have crooked teeth, anyway - just kidding... kind of?}

However, there IS a bright side to all of this.  I can see the light.

First, these things only stay on no longer than six months.

Second, the pain typically subsides after about a week, and then your mouth becomes immune to the changes.  From there, it's usually pretty smooth sailin'...

Third? 

Well, here's a picture of me with my braces.  Every time I show someone, they don't even think there are any braces on my teeth.  People who have seen me in person give my mouth funny looks because I guess it appears as though there's a bunch of clear food stuck to my teeth. {I got adult braces (Six Month Smiles) so everything from the brackets to the wire is either clear or tooth-colored... hallelujah for technology!}

So, that's the bright side.  Although my mouth hurts so badly that I can hardly think straight, this too shall pass.  And I don't quite have the twelve-year-old look I was fearful of :)