What Are Braces Like?

Question

I'm an 18 year old from Scotland and a couple of years ago my dentist suggested getting braces as my teeth aren't perfect, but ok. Now I'm thinking about it again, and need more info. What are they like?

Answer 1

uhm. a pain at first, i had mine for 2 1/2 years....but it was so worth it! you get used to it....like all changes, for about the first week or so they are very hard to get used to, good advice would be buying Cocoa Butter chapstick, or some kind to protect your lips. all and all braces are very helpful.. and when they tighten the wires it will hurt a little bit, but before you go to get them on (if you do) take tylenol or advil about 15 minutes before...
good luck!
its very much worth it!!

Answer 2

I'm a 23 year old man from the South East and after years of being unhappy with my crooked teeth I decided to get braces fitted two and a half months ago. Even within such a short time I've noticed the difference. Depending upon what your teeth are like you could have them on for anything from 1 year upwards but the results are absolutely worth it. The first 3-4 days are slightley uncomfortable but that's normal and eventually you'll get used to them and feel nothing at all. It's very important to make sure you clean your teeth properly as well but the orthandontist will show you how. I was also worried about what other people would think and say but another man at my work has recently had his removed and everyone thinks it's a great idea to have better teeth (Tom Cruise recently had braces). Plus the braces today are hardly noticable. Go for it!

Answer 3

I wore braces from the age of 10 (still at primary school) for six years and then two more years with a night brace so consider me a bit of an expert. I had plates that click into place and full on cemented in braces and because of an accident I'd had they had major work to do so I had my braces tightened every month on the dot and by more than the average amount. It was painful after they'd been tightened and I couldn't eat properly for a couple of days; I got bullied at school because I started with braces when no-one else my age was wearing them; and I didn't get boyfriends because this was way back in time when the Crankies had a regular slot on Crackerjack (I'm showing my age aren't I?) and one of their favourite jokes was about kissing a girl with braces who stapled their lips together....for some reason pubescent boys believed that!

However, by 13 or 14 loads of the others in my year rolled up to school in braces and one by one people apologised, mum used to get me treats in to make up for not being able to eat properly, and I've caught up on the boyfriend front AND my teeth are way better than they would have been otherwise, and I wouldn't have changed a bit of it because its been worth it. Yes spinach can get caught in your braces, so carry a toothbrush if you're worried, have a good dental hygiene regime, and remember that if someone turns you down because you've got braces then you've probably had a lucky escape! If you don't have a "bite" - where your top and bottom teeth meet neatly then you will grind your teeth as you get older and end up with chronic pain in your jaw. Then you'll end up with a mouth guard to wear at night to relieve the pain so it will only catch up with you in the end in one way or another! So just get it done and to interpret the American's advice about Advil or Tylenol, that's ibuprofen (such as Nurofen) to you and me!

Answer 4

Braces are not fun, but they do the job well. When you first get them on your mouth will hurt for a couple a weeks. your oral mucosa (inside lip and cheek) will be cut up for the first month or so until it gets tough from being cut by the brackets. Food get caught, you break brackets off, you have to go to regular visits every 4-6 weeks. When they change your wires mostly every visit sometimes every other, it will hurt again until your teeth adjust. So a lot of downfalls, but they can work miracles and be well worth it in the end.

Answer 5

they hurt kinda bad when you first get them on, my pain was terrible, but i could still eat cake! then when you get them tightened it will hurt again, but not as much as it did before. you can use tylenol and/or warm salt water rinses to ease the pain. while the pain is still there it will feel weird to eat and to brush your teeth but that'll go away. when you get them tightened you feel a lot of pressure and some discomfort as they put new bands in and do things with the wire, but when you get them off, it'll be worth it! just make sure you brush really well, and at least once a day devote several minutes to scouring all the nooks and crannies. if you don't, you may be in for a shock when your braces come off - an ugly line of tooth decay right where the braces used to be!
so just remember, bbbrrruuussshhh!!!

Answer 6

hehe im a 17 year old from scotland and ive got them just now. had them for nearly a year and they dont bother me. They hurt at first when u get them in and every 6 weeks or so when u get them tightened but it only lasts a few days and isnt 2 sore. They can be a bit annoying when eating coz things can get stuck in them but thats no prob really. I've got used 2 mine now and i've grown quite attatched to them though.

My ortho sed hopefully i'll get them out in less than 6 months which is earlier than i expected so thats good news because it will be good to get them off and its defo worth it to see the end results!

Answer 7

they are a pain in the butt because food gets stuck in them or the wires or brackets break off u have to wear them for a LONG time depending on your teeth and etc. but they Are soo worth it. my teeth were AWFUL and ive been wearin braces for a long time ( i still have them they should be out in a year maybe less) and now my teeth look 10 times better than they did before.

Answer 8

definitely do it if your teeth are crooked.

I got them when I was a little younger, and I am so happy I did it.

you won't enjoy it that much when you are wearing them, but it will pay off for the rest of your life.

MOST IMPORTANTLY - brush really, really, really well when you have them. I didn't do a good job, and my teeth have a slightly different color wear the braces were glued. Not a big deal, just brush well, and you won't have my problem.

Answer 9

My braces used rubber bands. Also, there was a split plate which I had to adjust myself every few days.

The braces were fine. I also got plenty of treatment from an orthodontist on the public health system.

Answer 10

painful at first, then u just get used to them.

u might wanna know ahead of time that food will constantly get stuck between the braces and that u shouldnt eat foods that will stain them.

after having braces for 2.5 years, i know how to use my tongue so much more... haha... but now that i have them off, i think it doesnt make much of a difference