genxsis wrote:
My biggest fear is just being in agony all the time and getting depressed as a result, not being able to eat most of what I like, not being able to go to a resteraunt because I'll have food stuck in my braces all day, not being able to chew and having to go on a liquid diet, and maybe even skipping meals to avoid pain and avoid the big cleaning process afterwards. It sounds like SUCH a hassle! But if you guys say it's not that big a deal, well, you would know better than me!
My chances of going ahead with this just went up!
being in agony all the time and getting depressed as a result: I promis you you will not be in agony all the time. In fact, there is very little time that you will be in agony. For me, there was no 'agony' at all. Some uncomfort, the most uncomfortable thing was when I got surgery but even that was faaaaar from agony.
Not being able to eat most of what I like: If you get metal brackets, you can. I'm not trying to encourage other people to break the rules, I'm just sharing my story. I eat everything, and I've only broken a bracket once in the 37 months that I've had braces. Just eat a little more carefully than usual, and you'll be fine. Heck, I even bite into apples
![Embarassed :oops:](./images/smilies/icon_redface.gif)
. I do it all-caramel, all gummy candy, popcorn, fruit, pizza, soda, gum, I eat anything and everything I want to. Just brush carefully after.
You try saying no to all this for 41 months...it just aint gonna happen. There really is no food handicap. you just learn to eat more carefully and not chomp down really hard on hard/sticky food.
Not being able to go to a restaurant because I'll have food stuck in my braces everyday: Another reason to get metals, I personally think that people make this way too big of an issue. It's actually very easy, you learn a sucking technique fairly early on and heck, eat out whereever and whenever you want. I don't get things stuck in my teeth when I eat-you just get used to sucking out the food and cleaning off your brackets with your tongue discretely. Anyways, just cover your mouth if you're talking and feel self-conscious. People understand, most have had braces themselves. Braces are definatley no reason to be stuck at home all day without any fun.
Not being able to chew and having to go on a liquid diet: Phooey. Chew whatever you want. The longest I've had to go on a liquid diet for was half a day after I got my surgery. Other than that, I eat whatever I want. The first day I got braces, I ate pizza. Is it a little uncomfortable? Yes, but will it kill you? No. Anyway, there are many soft foods you can eat. Also, tearing apart your food instead of biting it off helps a lot. Generally I find that my back molars don't hurt as much as the front teeth. Anyway, generally your whole mouth doesn't hurt at the same time, it goes in cycles and I can always find someplace that it doesn't hurt that much to chew. Liquid diets....phooey-not for me thanks.
Skipping meals to avoid pain. See above. I've gotta run now, but I hope you take osme of these into consideration. If you don't make it a big deal, then trust me it won't seem like that big of a deal.
xoxo Eve