Orthadontics Tomorrow

[Thermal]

I'm finally getting the mould for my teeth, I'll have braces within weeks.


A breakthrough like this must be discussed.


You may now discuss

[Secura]

Having had braces myself a few years ago, I can tell you that it's an utter pain in the bum, so much more work in the mornings and before bed, because you've got to use the special wire brushes to clean between the gaps of the brace itself, in addition to your standard toothbrush.

You'll have to avoid certain foods (harder sweets, chewing gum, certain fruit and such), you won't be able to bite your nails if you do (my brace helped me kick that habit, heh), and you'll have to be really careful not to break the wires (they snap surprisingly easily). And then there's the retainers afterwards which are just as much of a pain, if not moreso.

The end result is a fantastic set of straight teeth though, so it's totally worth it in the end. You'll be glad when you look in the mirror and smile, for sure. :3

[Subotan]

Retainers or Traintracks?

The former make your jaw ache, whilst the latter make your teeth wreck.

[Centurion1]

i hate my retainer now. i barely wear it. id probably have a few snaggleteeth if my porblem was more severe thank goodness it isnt

[Thermal]

Having had braces myself a few years ago, I can tell you that it's an utter pain in the bum, so much more work in the mornings and before bed, because you've got to use the special wire brushes to clean between the gaps of the brace itself, in addition to your standard toothbrush.

You'll have to avoid certain foods (harder sweets, chewing gum, certain fruit and such), you won't be able to bite your nails if you do (my brace helped me kick that habit, heh), and you'll have to be really careful not to break the wires (they snap surprisingly easily). And then there's the retainers afterwards which are just as much of a pain, if not moreso.

The end result is a fantastic set of straight teeth though, so it's totally worth it in the end. You'll be glad when you look in the mirror and smile, for sure. :3

Thanks for the advice, I know it will be a pain but my teeth are just horrible lol

@Subotan

Braces, then retainers after, the orthadontist reckons I'll have them for around 18 months, sounds fun....

Edit: Hmm, I posted this on saturday, the appointment is monday, but it is tomorrow now

[Secura]

Oh, I almost forgot; if you're a smoker, you'll probably wanna give that up too, it'll only make your teeth a bigger pain to clean each day. :3

[pevergreen]

So when can i call you Thermal Braceface?

[Centurion1]

Oh, I almost forgot; if you're a smoker, you'll probably wanna give that up too, it'll only make your teeth a bigger pain to clean each day. :3

ewwww gross thought is that personal experience?

[Secura]

ewwww gross thought is that personal experience?

It is, yes.

It usually doubled my time cleaning my teeth and braces, so I just quit altogether while going through the orthodontic treatment.

[Centurion1]

ugh musta sucked i thought you were nineteen or twenty when did you start smoking, in my case i usually meet like 8th graders with braces.

[tibilicus]

Quick word of advise, make sure to clean your teeth obsessively once you have the braces. I know a guy who had braces and then had them taken off. He didn't really clean his teeth properly though when he had them on and as soon as the braces came off he was left with a mouth full of really yellow teeth. I've never seen anything like it really, seriously, there like the deepest yellow I've ever seen, it isn't nice.

[Secura]

ugh musta sucked i thought you were nineteen or twenty when did you start smoking, in my case i usually meet like 8th graders with braces.

That might be the case in America, perhaps.

However, in the UK it seems there's increasing trends of children aged from around ten onwards engaging in... well illegal activity such as sex (have to be sixteen), alcohol and cigarettes (have to be eighteen for both); all simply to fit in with what they believe to be the societal norm. There's rising figures for teenage pregnancies, particularly in the south.

I started smoking around twelve or so, as a social thing, and I believe I got my brace... around fourteen or so. It's a bad habit though, and one that's very hard to shake off, but having the brace gave me a bit of discipline and the thought of "why am I putting myself through twice as much work each morning and night for a packet of fags?".

That and it's darn expensive.

[Thermal]

Quick word of advise, make sure to clean your teeth obsessively once you have the braces. I know a guy who had braces and then had them taken off. He didn't really clean his teeth properly though when he had them on and as soon as the braces came off he was left with a mouth full of really yellow teeth. I've never seen anything like it really, seriously, there like the deepest yellow I've ever seen, it isn't nice.

I definitely will.


@ Secura

I don't smoke, definitely wouldn't want to either.

@ Pevergreen

I will find out the exact date on monday I think, lol.

[Hooahguy]

my deepest condolences.

[Azathoth]

I hate braces so much. Western culture really needs to place more value on white teeth than straight teeth. Or develop better braces.

[Hooahguy]

I hate braces so much. Western culture really needs to place more value on white teeth than straight teeth. Or develop better braces.

white teeth are nothing with a crooked smile.

[Fragony]

You will look like a terminator, but with braces

[Azathoth]

Would you rather she had straight teeth or white teeth?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[Megas Methuselah]

Would you rather she had straight teeth or white teeth?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I was hoping you'd post a pic of a real girl. It'd be more shocking, you know?

[Azathoth]

You could just take a photo of yourself.

Bad ribs aside, here's a pro:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

And a con:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

You must choose.

[Megas Methuselah]

Oh man, I love playing this game!


Ok, given that I must choose, I have to say, I think I'd take the second one; at least she's young, so I'm assuming the only major defect is in her face, whereas the old woman's entire body would be ravaged from old age.

[Beskar]

Would you rather she had straight teeth or white teeth?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Straight teeth.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Short term pain for long term gain, though it won't seem short at the time. Depending on your age they might have to remove a couple of molars to make room for your wisdom teeth as they come in. The pressure & pain when the doc periodically tightens the wires can be unpleasant, not to mention wearing a "night retainer" when one sleeps to keep the pressure on to gradually move/straighten your teeth. The wires will rub on the inside of your lips & mouth, causing blisters & calluses. I had my braces removed 35 years ago and still have several callus like ridges on the inside of my lower lip and cheeks. If you play sports be prepared for the inevitable bloody lips and tongue from bumps & contact. Have a goodly supply of wax on hand to put on the wires & bands. It helps protect the sore spots till they toughen up, and comes in real handy if a wire pops loose.

Certain foods are verbotten, and you won't want to eat them anyway. Forget anything gooey like taffy, candy apples, gum etc... I used to love popcorn, but the small hulls & unpopped kernels would get jammed in the wires and cause all kinds of trouble. Be careful when you chew. That extra hardware in your mouth can cause one to accidently bite the inside of the lip/cheek.

It's a trial, but if millions of other people can handle it so can you. Good luck Thermal. you poor sod

[naut]

I count my blessings that I have pretty straight teeth. And I'm a Limey!

[Secura]

Depending on your age they might have to remove a couple of molars to make room for your wisdom teeth as they come in.

Oh yes, I forgot about this! When I had my braces, I had to have my "4"s removed; so now, at the dentist, it's always "three, four removed gap closed, five..."

When I had them removed though, British dentists were still using anaethestic (whereas now it's just an injection that freezes the gum, sorta), and mein Goht was I sick afterwards. :<

[Subotan]

Braces, then retainers after, the orthadontist reckons I'll have them for around 18 months, sounds fun....

Grim. I had them the other way round. Tracks were annoying for me especially, as I don't have any adult molars in my head, just milk teeth. Most of them haven't fallen out and work fine, but the ones that had (Well, they were a bit wobbly and I pulled them out for tooth fairy money. This was when I didn't know I had nothing to replace them) left gaps in my teeth. Although they're not visible, they were as annoying as hell with traintacks, as the wire kept popping out.

[Thermal]

Short term pain for long term gain, though it won't seem short at the time. Depending on your age they might have to remove a couple of molars to make room for your wisdom teeth as they come in. The pressure & pain when the doc periodically tightens the wires can be unpleasant, not to mention wearing a "night retainer" when one sleeps to keep the pressure on to gradually move/straighten your teeth. The wires will rub on the inside of your lips & mouth, causing blisters & calluses. I had my braces removed 35 years ago and still have several callus like ridges on the inside of my lower lip and cheeks. If you play sports be prepared for the inevitable bloody lips and tongue from bumps & contact. Have a goodly supply of wax on hand to put on the wires & bands. It helps protect the sore spots till they toughen up, and comes in real handy if a wire pops loose.

Certain foods are verbotten, and you won't want to eat them anyway. Forget anything gooey like taffy, candy apples, gum etc... I used to love popcorn, but the small hulls & unpopped kernels would get jammed in the wires and cause all kinds of trouble. Be careful when you chew. That extra hardware in your mouth can cause one to accidently bite the inside of the lip/cheek.

It's a trial, but if millions of other people can handle it so can you. Good luck Thermal. you poor sod

Hehe, thanks for the info, I'm dreading it now, it says in this leaflet thingy they give you that you can play sport but should wear a mouth guard, I won't be doing that so, hmmm, lol.
I never even considered popcorn, I will miss it. I'm not so bothered about the pain though (well I will be when I have it) but as you say its for long term gain.

A few people at my school have had them, or still do, they manage so I will. Besides I definitely need them and given free dental care runs out when I'm 18, now is the perfect time to get it.

Also, he said I have a few to many teeth at the top, but I may get away with not having any took out, I'll find out very soon...


@ Azathoth

Straight teeth over white teeth, provided they werent like as yellow as tibilicious was talking about

@ Subotan

If they were popping out doesn't that indicate they didn't fit your teeth properly? These people aren't sounding very reliable to me lol.

@ Secura

Hmmm, the leaflet says no injections, just a mixture of special glues sprays and other things....

[naut]

Hmmm, the leaflet says no injections, just a mixture of special glues sprays and other things....

It'll be local anaesthetic that will numb some of your mouth. That's what I had when I had my tongue untied.

[Viking]

For me, having the braces put in place was a truly painful experience. Not sitting in the chair; but the following evening and the next two days or so. Starving felt like a better option than having to chew on something.

[Thermal]

For me, having the braces put in place was a truly painful experience. Not sitting in the chair; but the following evening and the next two days or so. Starving felt like a better option than having to chew on something.

Hmm, other people I've talked to said that getting the braces fitted isn't as painful as the next few days after also...

Another thing I hadn't considered is that I'll probably talk awkwardly in the first few days too...