Things I've learned after having braces...

[myhalo123]

Well its time to reflect back over the two plus years I have worn braces as a 33 year old adult. These are the things I have realized or learned along the way.

1. Time flies by! I cannot believe its been two years!!! AHHHHH!
2. Nobody cares if your wearing braces! Only you do and its not that big
of a deal.
3. Braces are not the magic self confidence booster. Lots of people say
my teeth look great and they seems to be more excited than me to get
them off! I feel like the same old "me" just with supposedly nicer
teeth. Will I smile more? I hope so. I am not depressed or whatever,
but ever since I was 12... (oh boy, strap in!) I needed braces.
I was dead set against it and my parents didn't force the issue. My
Mom didn't and my Dad thought it was dumb anyway. He believes in
don't fix them, yank them! (dentures) So growing up I always felt that
"feeling", like if I just had braces my life would be totally different. So
now its almost done with and, hmmm. Nothing has changed. (was
that sad? I hope not. sorry!) Thus the problem with getting older,
you have enough "life" under your belt to look back and maybe wish
you had made a different choice.
4. Flossing takes no longer with braces than without once you learn how
to do it and use,da da da! Super floss! (newbies, believe it or not, its
true)
5. I will miss them! I already am feeling a little bummed there coming off.
(newbies, sounds crazy right?!)
6. I wanted to make it to ten, but I can't think of any more!
7. Feel free to add to this list.
8. I am almost to ten!
9. Think stupid...hmmm. Thanks for reading this!
10. I did it!!!

[Miss Smiley]

I'm at 10 months and there are days when I just want to yank them out because I'm so tired of trying to get food out... Be it that most of the foods are on the do-not-eat list, I still get annoyed with them every so often.

[missfashionista]

WOW! I feel a little relieved after reading your post! I just got my braces in and 20 months of wearing them seems like such a LONG time!

[mariahfromchicago]

I already have had them for over a year and it seems like I've had them forever! I don't like to floss. When I get them off I know I won't want these back. Most of that is true!
- mariah

[mikecl]

myhalo

Number 2 on your list is the key - nobody cares if you're wearing braces ! I first started wearing them in May last year and I reckon it's been a grand total of 4 people who have actually asked me about them.

I disagree with no. 3 - I do feel more confident and I smile more with them than I ever did before I got them - before braces I never liked my smile, now I'm wearing them the smile may be work in progress but I know the end result will be great.

All the best

Mike

[gwynneth23]

Hm, great question!

OK so what have I learned since I had braces?

1. People don't really notice or judge your appearance that much. The braces (and my wonky teeth) seem really obvious to me, but other people aren't that bothered!

2. It's a great feeling when you seize the initiative and try something new. My teeth had bothered me for years - just in a very minor way - and it feels so good to know that I'm actually doing something about it now. I will try and remember that feeling, when I'm feeling a bit daunted at maybe trying some other new experience in life!

3. Wearing braces has made me so much more aware of dental hygiene. I used to give just a cursory brush twice a day. Mouthwash is my new discovery! And who knows, when my teeth are less crowded, maybe I'll even learn to floss

4. I was terrified of having teeth extracted (never had that done before). It was fine and over in 10 minutes! Oh... but the subsequent infection was pretty dire. (Worst bit of the whole treatment so far )

5. Mashed potato is my new best friend, especially after adjustments. Also scrambled egg - great source of protein, and quite filling.

6. You can always find a way to eat chocolate, whatever state your mouth is in. Rolo desserts are a great substitute in times of desperation (in the chiller cabinet )

7. I never liked curry anyway, but now I have a great reason to politely decline when people suggest we go out for a curry. Yay!

8. I learned how to use a forum and post a topic etc... never done that before, until I discovered ArchWired. Thanks, guys!

9. There is always someone worse off than you... I've got a lot to be grateful for. I think I would have been a lot more moany about my braces, if I hadn't read some of your stories about implants, palatal expanders, headgear, and all sorts of other implements that I had no idea about before. I thought braces were just braces! (If you didn't see it at the time, find the thread from last December with the "I've Got More Metal in My Mouth Than You Have" Competition... I take my hat off to you all.)

10. Er... I think that's it.

Anyone else have any items for the list?

[Beckster]

LOVE everyone's musings here!

I have a couple more to add to this list

1) For those of us in/will be in braces for 2nd/3rd time(s): If this is your first time around, retainers ARE very important! DON'T stop wearing them all together after a couple of years, despite knowing better! Being in braces again due to your own fault is not fun. And that if you end up in them (even another time) NOT due to your own fault despite wearing retainers diligently don't feel discouraged...just try to use it as an excuse to laugh at the situation!

2) I have learned that many people look at you and wish they had the courage to get braces themselves.

3) New and different ways to eat *cough cough* forbidden foods! Note: This was MUCH easier when I had them as an adult as mom and dad weren't able to give me the "you can't eat that" bit.

[Beckster]

4) Yet another one: Has made me much more interested in the subject matter in my lovely required physics I and II. Really gives it good meaning now!

[retainerjoe]

the way it was going for me i thought it would be TEN YEARS, the only thing i miss with braces are the colors , thats it