Confess your orthodontic sins.

[vaselina]

I broke down and ate some taffy last night. Not one piece, but four pieces. It took almost 30 minutes getting it all cleaned out of my braces but it was worth it!

[MetalKitty]

Honestly, there's no orthodontic sins that I haven't committed.

I eat all the chewy, sticky, sugary, chocolaty things I can get my hands on. Hard foods, foods that stain, spinach and other greens in public. Drink soft drink, coffee and tea (although not often, admittedly). Don't floss everyday. Actually, more like only floss when I have an orthodontist appointment. Don't brush after every meal...the list goes on.

Nevertheless, after two years in braces I've never had a broken bracket, and my teeth are looking and feeling great. I can't be doing too badly, right?

[djspeece]

Honestly, there's no orthodontic sins that I haven't committed.

I eat all the chewy, sticky, sugary, chocolaty things I can get my hands on. Hard foods, foods that stain, spinach and other greens in public. Drink soft drink, coffee and tea (although not often, admittedly). Don't floss everyday. Actually, more like only floss when I have an orthodontist appointment. Don't brush after every meal...the list goes on.

Nevertheless, after two years in braces I've never had a broken bracket, and my teeth are looking and feeling great. I can't be doing too badly, right?

You are doing it perfectly as far as I am concerned

[currystained]

Thank you sooo much for this post. It's helped me to find the whole forum (and wide-ranging help on new brace issues!)

I guess my new username gives away my biggest sin. I am now the proud owner of flouro-yellow bands (newbie confession - I didn't even KNOW I had bands). And I broke a bracket on one of the lower molars courtesy of a Starbucks cookie on the first day.....

I've not even had them for a week. I have a feeling my orthodontist will despair of me.

[Nozzelnut]

I hope the statue of limitations has run out for my offenses...

I've replaced my own ligs between appointments. Several times... when I first started treatment... And I might have pulled the wire out to look at it...

I have no food limitations and eat whatever I want.

I rarely floss.

I've worn elastics in different configurations than directed.

[clouds1]

Very entertaining topic! I thought I'd lose so much weight from cutting out snacking when I got my braces but no, I have managed to continue eating just about anything.
Flossing is such a pain that I skip it as my treat if I'm feeling tired.
I think I brushed my teeth too much at the start and seem to have some discolouring of my front teeth (maybe enamel erosion) so I've cut back on brushing straight after meals.

One thing that I think I'll give up is stringy melted mozzarella. It gets all stuck in the brackets and is pretty disgusting!

[robgs]

Does it count if I've already told my orthodontist? Haha. I ate sugar cane once and made a mess out of my bottom wire and ligatures.
My last bottom right bracket fell off while I was eating prunes. I'm glad I don't have to worry about this because I'm done with braces! Yay!

[LittleSern]

I pay no attention to the food restrictions.. I just make sure that food is in small enough pieces to eat and not break a bracket. I also use a water flosser which I believe REALLY helps - the amount of stuff that comes out with that thing is incredible. If I didn't have that I am pretty sure I'd be in trouble... haha

[Featheryy1221]

Pretzel Goldfish crackers have become my weakness lately....

[tartanhabit]

Well, I'm barely a week into braces so haven't done a whole lot of sinning yet but it's going to happen, I'm sure. Surprised to see so many people quoting tea drinking. I didn't know that was a no-no. So maybe I am sinning - you can't take my PG tips away from me! Also I'm getting back into nuts. I love them - they are my go to snack. Chowed down a nice handful of sunflower seeds on day 3. Nothing bad happened. Maybe it helps that I only have top braces so far? I plan on eating pretty much whatever I want, even if I have to suck the life out of it first!

Oh and flossing daily, pft, that might go by the wayside too.

[djspeece]

Well, I'm barely a week into braces so haven't done a whole lot of sinning yet but it's going to happen, I'm sure. Surprised to see so many people quoting tea drinking. I didn't know that was a no-no. So maybe I am sinning - you can't take my PG tips away from me! Also I'm getting back into nuts. I love them - they are my go to snack. Chowed down a nice handful of sunflower seeds on day 3. Nothing bad happened. Maybe it helps that I only have top braces so far? I plan on eating pretty much whatever I want, even if I have to suck the life out of it first!

Oh and flossing daily, pft, that might go by the wayside too.

That's the spirit!

[jamiegonzales56]

This thread is AWESOME!

I'm 10 days braced & have followed all rules, regulations & guidelines, until tonight! Pizza for dinner, followed by ice cream in a cone. I had my 4 premolars extracted so those are still tender; my teeth are also very sore, especially after eating, but I just COULD NOT have soup again!

I am also a daily coffee/tea drinker. I would not survive without one or the other...

[tartanhabit]

Well my sinning of eating contraband raw veggies just landed me with a broken off bracket. Didn't even make it to the 2 week mark. Was all going too well and I was getting complacent. I think it's because I have so little pain (acceledent) that I was getting carried away. Might have to repent.

[djspeece]

Well my sinning of eating contraband raw veggies just landed me with a broken off bracket. Didn't even make it to the 2 week mark. Was all going too well and I was getting complacent. I think it's because I have so little pain (acceledent) that I was getting carried away. Might have to repent.

Brackets can come off because they simply didn't adhere to the tooth properly (or to a crown, especially). They really use impressive adhesive so it would take some serious torque to dislodge one, I believe. I had one come off about a week into therapy (seems like a long time ago) when I was eating yogurt! The bracket in question was on a crown. I called the ortho and went in and he installed a band with a bracket on the crown. I continue to sin happily.

[teeebeee]

I've got a thing about salt and vinegar peanuts at the moment...the mess is huge but, it takes me ages to eat a handful and, oh boy, they are soooooo good!

T xx