Metal Mouth Message Board

ok, i'm 15 yrs old and i'm getting my braces on thursday. i'm really scared on how bad they hurt. some people told me it feels like getting hit in the mouth by a baseball,and others say its just slight pressure, i have no idea what to expect. please tell me how bad they hurt. (in your opinion what is the closest thing you can think of how they feel?) thanx

The first 2 or 3 weeks will be a little difficult. It's weird feeling something like braces under your lips. And the braces will rub against the insides of your lips and cheeks and be uncomfortable. Using dental wax helps make this feel better. Also, you may ask your parents to get you either Biotene rinse or Rincinol PRN rinse. These oral rinses help heal mouth sores, and they are available at most drugstores.

Your teeth will ache, but it isn't unbearable or anything. I think the worst part is just getting used to having all that stuff in your mouth -- it feels really weird at first. But believe me, after a month or two, you'll forget you're wearing them. Really. That was what surprised me the most when I first got them. Eventually you'll be able to eat almost everything you want (no sticky candy or nuts, OK?) and the braces won't bother you too badly. At that point, the worst part will be cleaning all the food debris that gets stuck in your braces after you eat.

It's good that you're getting braces at this age. You'll have straight teeth for your entire adult life! Just make sure you wear your retainer when you're done, or you may need braces again when you're an adult!

I say "ditto" to everything Lynn said.

The 3rd day seems to be the worst but I never had the "hit in the mouth with a baseball" feeling.

Funny thing was that with my kids, they never complained about pain with their braces.

Maybe teenagers have so much on their minds that they just don't notice it as much as people like me who obsess over every little thing that goes on in my mouth.

You'll be FINE! This is a great adventure!

I got mine the 6th and have had NO PAIN at ALL since then. I actually wish for a little pain, some tenderness, or something so I know my teeth are doing something.

I got my braces on 9/7 and they were fine that whole day. On the 8th, the front ones were a bit achy, but not so bad I had to take Tylenol or anything. Since then, it's just been getting used to them in my mouth.

I haven't used wax so far, but I have been rinsing my mouth with salt water.