Unexpected positives from the braces?

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#16 Post by **Leslie022** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:16 am

I also can't bite my nails but it is driving me crazy. My nails are really weak right now because I just had acrylics removed. Also, I tend to get bits of dry skin on the sides of my nails, so I'm annoyed that I can't bite it off.

#17 Post by **Dadio** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:16 am

Wow, good stuff, things to know on the days when you wish you could get all the metal 'outta there'! I can agree with the drop in snacking, nail biting, and lip chewing. Biggest positive I see is I eat much smaller bites and much slower, so I fill up and am not eating as much. Add to that can't or don't chew on my moustache anymore (don't ever realize it, it's just one of those mindless things). These would be things I'd like to keep up when some day I have 'naked' teeth again!

#18 Post by **ingyandbert** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:27 am

I just wanted to say I don't it necessary to actually brush after snacking; that's what proxy brushes are for. After a snack, I just whip out the proxy brush to touch up.

#19 Post by **ingyandbert** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:27 am

I just wanted to say I don't it necessary to actually brush after snacking; that's what proxy brushes are for. After a snack, I just whip out the proxy brush to touch up.

#20 Post by **ebjones1** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:28 am

I definetly smile more - Which is an extremely positive thing for me. I never used to smile with my teeth showing.. Now I don't care! I guess I feel like even when people see my funky teeth, who cares, because they will also see that I'm fixing them!

#21 Post by **Anticipator** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 8:28 am

My dental hygiene has improved.

It's given my girlfriend another "quality time" activity to do together -- nightly cleaning routine.

I'd like to think it's helped me to decide to take positive steps in other areas of my appearance and health. "Since I'm fixing this, I might as well..."

#22 Post by **Betty Bat** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 9:09 am

I stopped drinking soda (or pop, depending on where you're from!) because of the citric acid. I will admit that this is easier in winter than it might be in summer. And, I drink a lot more water, which is supposed to be good for you.

#23 Post by **Bianca** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:15 am

A lot less snacking....

Eating healthier....

What anticipator said - taking better care of myself in other ways too

An immediate ice breaker conversational topic with almost anyone

Incredibly great dental hygiene

And the best one? My big secret (my crummy teeth) is now front and center, everyone knows, I'm not pretending it doesn't exist, and it feels good to actually attack this emotional weight that I have been carrying for years.

#24 Post by **2XRound** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:02 pm

Dropping a dress size and loosing 17 lbs

#25 Post by **catbutt** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 2:06 pm

haha i can't bite my nails anymore either!!

but uh... snacking i cut out for a little while, until i learned the fine art of using my tongue (and sucking a little) to get any food stuck in my braces out w/o having to go brush them.

If something is really stuck I'll just use the "compact" interdental brush oral-b makes. they are great and i usually just carry one of them in my purse to use after meals real quick if I can't get all the food out with just my tongue.

#26 Post by **nahky** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:15 pm

drazda wrote:I've also stopped biting my nails. I also had a nasty habit of biting my lips that I don't do anymore either. Yay.

Same here aswell with the nails. Beofre braces, i didnt care if i bit my nails. Thats why they would be all jaggedy and rough and be bit down to the base of the skin. Now i notice i have to clip them much more often because they grow so rapidly. They grow out very i nicely now and smooth and white.

Now that my underbite has much more obvious because of the braces, my teeth dont touch so cant even bite my nails if i wanted to, only with my canines, they would tear the whole nail off. I wouldnt dare anyhow, it would slow my progress down.

Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:42 pm

This might be considered a positive.... but I sure miss it.

I can't open packages (like potato chip packages) with my teeth now. Or snip threads.

#28 Post by **Michal** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 5:59 pm

I've quit snacking. Especially sticky stuff. I'm obsessive compulsive when it comes to cleaning my teeth.

#29 Post by **hannah164** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 6:07 pm

I take a lot better care of my teeth since getting braces!

I'm a lot less self conscinece of my smile, I guess its because its more of a work in progress now and its improving!

I can't whistle, not that that's a positive but oh well!

I can't say that I don't snack anymore... I wish!

Interesting post though!

-Hannah

Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05
Last Adjustment was 2/1/06 where they bonded a bracket to my cuspid, which was impacted!!!! OUCH!

#30 Post by **sydsmom** » Fri Feb 10, 2006 7:41 pm

This is an AWESOME thread...I love it!

For me:

*Eating less candy -- and more fruit since it seems to "clean" out my
brackets so nicely

*Feeling like I'm 12 again (although this is a down side as well
sometimes!)

*Having an instant conversation piece to talk to kids (at work) about.

*Getting time off to take care of all these dental appointment, and
using discomfort or inability to talk as an excuse to go home early
...heh-heh

*Taking better care of my teeth and looking *forward* to dental
appointments!

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Unexpected positives from the braces?

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