what are braces like?

[dpopiz]

I'm finally going to get braces soon (at the age of 17).
what are they like? eg what's new once you get braces?
what are my options as the technology goes? eg my friend who got them recently said he got the ivory colored ones because they make gunk show up less than clear ones.


side-rant: I didn't get them in jr. high when everybody else was getting them because the ortho said my jaw might still grow. it never did. now it looks like I'm going to have to wait a year and a half before I get another gf.

 

[matt426malm]

braces suck I couldn't wait to get them off back in high school

 

[Ketteringo]

Um, dont eat popcorn or chew bubble gum. Floss every day and brush well, to prevent staining. They feel funny at first, but you get used to them. I dunno about ivory or clear, as that was not an option 8 years ago when I got my first set, or 6 years ago when I got my second set.

 

[TechnoKid]

It hurts like crazy the first couple weeks when they tighten the brackets for the first time; when I got mine done, it hurt even to touch my teeth together. Oh, and whent thay take off the braces, it feels like you have no teeth.

 

[MRupe]

dude seriously go for the "invisiline"
they are braces with out the braces

 

[jlarsson]

I had braces for 7 years (had to change orthodontists everytime i moved)... not a fun experience. Although it was worth it in the end.

I'm not sure if you've seen them advertised, but they have these clear molds you put on, that do the same thing as braces, but you don't have to have all that metal all over you mouth. I can't remember the name right now.

Edit: Invisiline ... beat to it.

 

[matt426malm]

Originally posted by: MRupe
dude seriously go for the "invisiline"
they are braces with out the braces

yah but MAY not be covered by insurance right?

 

[bradruth]

Originally posted by: jlarsson
I had braces for 7 years (had to change orthodontists everytime i moved)... not a fun experience.

Same here, but it was because my "baby teeth" didn't fall out very quickly so they slowly added braces as my permanent teeth came in. 2nd grade until the summer before 9th. I still wear a retainer at night, though.

 

[Mill]

Invisalign, and it costs around 3 to 5k.

 

[iwearnosox]

Never date a girl with braces.






This message brought to you by the penis council.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Sifl
Never date a girl with braces.






This message brought to you by the penis council.

haha

 

[JoeKing]

Braces suck. <--Period!!
Buy one of those water pick things.
Say goodbye to easily eating corn on the cob.
And use the brace wax they give you if you play any brass or wind instruments. I played the trumpet when I had them on, lips would be all bloody at the end of a set REALLY attracted the chicks

 

[MRupe]

at least you didnt get your braces caught on you girlfriends

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I have braces right now, and let me be the first to say, welcome to hell. The pain is like none other, but, it's not all the time.

When you first get braces, DO NOT EVEN TRY to eat things that aren't soft. I'm talking jello, cottage cheese, etc. for the first week. Go shopping with your mom and get lots of soft food to eat. Also, start packing your lunch.

Another thing, make sure you have pain killers in the house, I don't know what I'd do if we ran out when I first got braces. Getting them on and the wire for the first time hurts like a mother, especially the next morning. I reccomend using it as a chance to do lots of sleeping or playing games. If you get loads of homework, try doing some ahead of time maybe a few days before you get braces or something since you're in high school.

Also, when you first get them your front teeth will hurt like fvck, DO NOT TOUCH them or anything, they will hurt like nothing you will want to feel again. Oh, get used to brushing your teeth three times a day.

One tip, if you still have some time before you get braces, I reccomend you run your tooth brush over the edges between gum and tooth and onto the gum a little, try and make the gums a little softer.

Oh yeah, welcome to hell :beer:

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: Joeyman
Braces suck. <--Period!!
Buy one of those water pick things.
Say goodbye to easily eating corn on the cob.
And use the brace wax they give you if you play any brass or wind instruments. I played the trumpet when I had them on, lips would be all bloody at the end of a set REALLY attracted the chicks

oh my god.... I love corn on the cob so much and braces have taken it away from me :|

 

[JoeKing]

I gave up on corn on the cob. Just switched to eating corn from a can.

 

[bootymac]

I got my braces this summer (clear ones). First few days, it's not that bad. You definately feel it pulling on your teeth, and you can kiss solid food good bye. Also, your lips feel weird as well, but they adapt to it pretty quickly. It's not that bad IMO, but then again, I thought getting my wisdom teeth out was nothing

I'd say it's worth the end result


BTW: Dish out the extra $ and do yourself a favour by getting the clear ones. I swear, it looks way better than little square pieces of metal on each tooth. Also, people think you're rich too

 

[xenocyd3]

braces suck period.

first week or two is hell.

 

[KokomoGST]

So many foods and activities you take for granted will be a thing of the past. I had to relearn how to sing and it's always a pain when you eat out. I use a Spinbrush... get one.

A lot of people can't get invisaligns... I couldn't.

AgaBooga covered most of it. I'm a few months away from freedom. And at my age (26 going on 27) I'm sooo friggin glad to be rid of them. Then again, people think I'm like 20-21 because of them. I did get times at night where I had trouble sleeping because of the constant dull pain after a tightening. After a while you get used to it but every once and a while your doc will add the next drastic step and you're getting reamed once again.

EDIT: 1 and a half is optimistic. Damn... haven't had a gf since...

 

[dpopiz]

wait, solid food is ok after the first week right?

also I'm glad nobody has mentioned problems with lips getting stuck. there was this quirky guy in 6th grade who got the inside of his lip stuck in his braces while he was running. he slowly tore the piece of lip out.

how does kissing work with braces? do you have to constantly worry doing the wrong thing, thus taking the fun out of kissing? also, are girls generally turned off by the thought of kissing somebody with braces?

 

[JoeKing]

The one good I remeber about braces (other than straitening the teeth) were all the hot orthodontist assistants. Of course the rule is the hotter they are the worse (read more pain) they are at their job.

After a while you do learn to function with them automatically.

Oh yeah try not to get in any fights while you still have them. One solid hit to the mouth and you're fsked.

 

[Allio]

Oh man, those first few nights... brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it.

Two words: mashed potato. If you don't like it, learn to like it. Learn to love it

It gets better after that. Hurts a bit every time they get tightened, but nowhere near as badly as the first few days. Pretty soon you literally don't notice the fact that you have metal in your mouth, too. Depending on your braces, you might need some wax to cover up sharp bits to stop them digging into your gums. That probably doesn't happen with the newer types though.

I had absolutely no self-confidence with braces, which I now realise was kind of stupid. My friend who gets by far the most action has a big pair of traditional metal braces... he doesn't draw attention to them, so nobody notices

Clean your teeth bloody well, and often. You'll get incredibly bad breath if you don't.

Other than that, there's really not a lot to say

 

[Savij]

They're annoying, they hurt for a day or two after every trip to the ortho, some foods (popcorn) can be a pain cause they get caught.

The beginning is the worst. Make sure to get some wax on your first visit (just in case).

 

[Kelemvor]

There are so many options these days make sure they tell you about all of them. You can get metal ones, ivory once, clear ones, etc. You can get oens that go on the Back of your teeth instead of the front, there are tons of new options these days.

 

[Kenazo]

my vote goes for invisiline or whatever that's called. I had the old school braces. I got them in 1993 and got them off in 1997. not fun! but, my teeth are sure a lot nicer now. I remember a few days where I stayed home from school b/c they hurt so freaking much, of course only for a few days after getting them tightened.