Tips after getting braces

[IssaAnon]

Hey everyone,

Im getting braces on Monday at the age of 26. Apparently I need to make a certain amount of posts before I can view pictures and stuff. So I thought I might as well make a post. I was wondering if there's anything you wish you knew when you first got braces that you learned later in your journey.

Thanks

[Tyrantblade]

Cant say that i was bothered by much except for sharp ends of wire on a few occasions; once was particularly bad and resulted in a very painful cut; but it healed quick once i got it clipped.

So try to make sure you dont have any sharp ends before i leave after any appointment; also sharp ends can still happen even if you dont leave with any in the course of a few weeks after an appointment; but most dont get big enough to cause anything like the bad cut i had once.

Also bite turbos suck if you get them, but its temporary and they usually wear down after a few weeks (but they may rebuild them).

And ive grown to hate elastics since ive had to wear them pretty much all the time since i got braces on day one.

And ive had one bracket pop off 4 times because the tioth its on is right next to a Pontic (fake tooth) which moves a lot when i eat if im not careful; which may be part of why i still have braces, but it wont be for much longer (until November 6th).

[MissEvaH]

I wish I'd known how stained my Damon clear brackets would get; I might have gone for metal instead.

Just know that no matter what they throw at you, you will get used to it all eventually. I thought I'd been through it all in the year and a half I've had braces but they added lingual buttons 10 days ago and I'm used to them already. I thought I'd never get the hang of putting on zig zag elastics or get over the claustrophobic feeling of sleeping with my jaw practically wired shut but I have.

It's an adventure!

[Cheekygremlin]

Will be interesting to see everyone's tips, I am still getting used to mine.

[assertives]

Just know that no matter what they throw at you, you will get used to it all eventually.

It's an adventure!

This. I totally agree with this. The human body is amazing at adapting. It hasn't been very long (3 months in my treatment) and I'm already not conscious of it most of the time.

[strinder]

There's nothing that I really wish I had known before as I've found everything I've learnt just part of the braces experience.
The only thing that might've helped is buying all the paracetamol and ibuprofen before I got them applied because I was a bit overwhelmed with how bad my teeth hurt.

[djspeece]

I'd also recommend you search "tips" in the search box at the top of the forum -- you'll get many pages of ideas ranging from waterpiks to emotional issues.

[sim3jam]

I forgot which video I saw it in but its best to put on lip balm when you have your braces put on. I regretted not having them on since my mouth felt so dry.