Getting used to braces

I've recently had my first adjustment and i've now noticed a few things about life in braces..

1. Nowhere near as many people would ask me about the fact i'm wearing braces as I thought. Because I had to wait several years before having braces put on, I had spent a long time thinking out this type of treatment and building myself up towards finally starting. When it came to actually having them on, only a few people seemed to pay any notice. I did wonder if others noticed but thought I didn't want to talk about it, which I suppose I can understand. I decided to have silver ligatures so I don't stand out any more than I do already. As a nearly 30 year old male I don’t think I would look right with bright green braces!

2. My teeth would start to look a little stained. I drink tea very often and I noticed a short while after having braces on that my teeth would have darker patches of brown around the brackets. I looked online about this and apparently it's the adhesive that's staining and not the teeth, which I hope is true as despite it taking a long time i'm trying my best to clean my teeth thoroughly, as I when the braces eventually come off I wouldn't want to find damage or more stubborn stains underneath where the brackets were.

3. That i'll automatically start mashing food. When I had my braces on I had to mash virtually everything. I completely avoided some foods but others like bananas i'd mash into a pulp and swallow. I've now started doing this a lot of the time even if I can chew. It's a little tender since I had my first adjustment and I assume this will be the case every time, so I just started thinking it'd rather not take the risk of pain or breaking something and simply to make things a bit easier for  my teeth. It's been quite interesting discovering which foods need a lot of chewing, like cherry tomatoes and peppers.

3. The changing of the ligatures felt like the teeth were being pulled out! I knew it would hurt, but it was quite a sharp pain. At least it was only for a moment, and I assume it's to make it all tighter and continue to shift my teeth. I also noticed that the ligatures are all tied as an O shape, whilst the four on each of my first pre molars are a figure of 8 shape. From what i've read online this may be to exert more pressure. I've also had a thicker wire put on the top and bottom and was told by my orthodontist that as the bottom front teeth begin to be pulled outwards to the front (they are tilted back to mask the underbite) I will probably see some gaps start to form.

I haven’t had these braces on for that long, but i’ve been surprised how quickly i’ve got used to them and adjusted what I eat and how I clean my teeth. The biggest issue i’ve had with them so far was the effect on my speech, as my job involves talking a lot, although again I’m getting used to it. I’m assuming as treatment progresses and my teeth continue to move around, I will always be aware of how they have changed and having to change aspects of what and how I eat.