I am getting them off tomorrow! (Yay)
Will it hurt?
If so, How long will it hurt afterwards?
Anything unexpected they do during the appointment?
What are the clear retainers like?
Is the retainer really tight (like braces)?
Are the retainers annoying?
What does it feel like after they are off?
Will I be able to chew gum ever again?
Should I get whitening done right away?
Any other advice / stories / anything?
Thanks!
2007-04-22 07:34:19 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
It won't hurt, but it may be weird enough to cause you a bit of a feeling like "whoa, this isn't right." You'll get used to it in a day or so.
Nothing unexpected, just sit back and relax.
For the retainers, you MUST follow all the directions they give you. If you skip a day early on, then it will be very very painful when you try to put it on. It's annoying in the sense that you constantly have to wear them.
*anecdote time* After I'd had my braces off for two weeks or so, I accidentally left the retainer in my locker for a period during lunch. After just an hour and a half of not wearing it, it still hurt when I put it back on.
Oh, and clean them daily with denture cleaner stuff, or it will get VERY yucky and smelly. If it gets too smelly, douse it with Listerine. (Just don't soak it- mouthwash discolors the retainers.)
Yeah, you'll be chewing gum whenever you feel like it. I never got back into the habit, but I thought gum was a bit gross to start out anyway.
Chances are, the spots that the braces were covering will be white already. That's what happened with me, anyway- kind of like how kids that don't go outside are always pale. But if you have those white squares surrounded by yellow, it would look weird, and you should look into whitening ASAP. Try not to use a product that you'd have to leave on for an hour at a time, though, because that would mess with your retainer schedule.
2007-04-22 07:45:21 · answer #1 · answered by Bobby S 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It didn't hurt me at all and I felt free again. I had both types of retainers, the regular old kind that has the rubbery stuff and wire across the teeth and the clear plastic one that was a mold of my teeth that fit over them. Neither retainer was tight at all. They will only feel tight and make your teeth a little sore if you go days without wearing it at a time. That's because your teeth will slowly shift back if you don't keep that retainer on. I hated my clear plastic retainer because it fit like a cup over my top teeth. It would get filled with spit sometimes and I was constantly trying to suck it out (so gross!) I had to take it out every time I took a sip of a drink because the liquid would get inside the retainer. For that reason, I stupidly stopped wearing my retainer and my teeth became a tiny bit crooked again. The clear retainer didn't fit after a few weeks because some of my teeth moved so I just gave up. Don't do what I did!! Wear the retainer!
One thing to be prepared for is the possibility of having cavities. I had my braces on from age 11-13 and had never had a cavity in my life. I got my braces off, went to the regular dentist and suddenly had 6 cavities. Because of the braces, I wasn't able to brush as well so cavities developed on some of my back teeth. The dentist did a full cleaning, filled the cavities and whitened my teeth a bit. The orthodontist did a pretty good job of polishing them after he removed the brackets though.
2007-04-23 12:44:10 · answer #2 · answered by Pico 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it doesnt hurt except when they take the glue off... it is so cold so if ur teeth are sensitive, it can hurt a bit. but thats it! It doesnt hurt afterwards at all. It does feel weird because you arent used to not having all that metal there. The retainers are annoying at times, but they are so much better than braces you dont even care. You will be able to chew gum right away, and wait for whitening... your teeth could be white already!
The first thing I did after getting my braces off was eat stuff I had to be careful about before. I had corn on the cob, gum, apples from the core - it was amazing! I also flossed! I never flossed before but now that I was able to I tried it and got so happy. i suggest just staying up to date with ur dentist visits and enjoy being braceless!!!!!!
2007-04-22 14:42:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it won't hurt at all. nothing unexpected. clear retainers just help your teeth stay in place. the retainer's only tight if you don't wear it for a few days. no, they're not annoying if you realize that they help keep your teeth from moving around. your teeth are gonna feel really big and extremely smooth (amazing!!!) you can TOTALLY chew gum. i didn't get any whitening done, but you can if you want. i wouldn't get it right away though. you might get aton of compliments, but some peole might not even notice. but you will!!! it's the most incredibly feeling in the world!! :0) enjoy life without 'em!!
2007-04-22 14:39:20 · answer #4 · answered by Hannah S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good for you! You must feel really excited, i know i did when i finally got mine off!
1. it wont hurt at all, neither the process itself or after removal
2. nothing unexpected done, it will be like any regular appointment, just painless
3. The retainers are kind of tight yes, and they are really annoying, but u wear into them in no time
4. You have to remove your retainers whenever you eat, and this is the time people forget their retainers or break them, so take good care of them
5. You will FINALLY chew gum
6. Whenever you choose to get your teeth whitened is entirely up to u
7. Your teeth will feel extremely wierd, u will be licking them alot and you will be smiling alot in front of the mirror!
Enjoy :)
2007-04-22 14:51:40 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. Nerd 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When i got my braces off it DID not hurt!
It might feel weird when your getting them off but they shouldnt hurt.
The only thing about the appoitment for me was how nasty the glue is..and stuff.
The clear retainers kind of get annoying.
When you wake up in the morning they smell really gross. i dont like those verymuch.
The retainers dont hurt and there not that tight..just tight enough so they stay on.
After you get them off you feel like you have so much room between your front teeth and your lip!
Yes you will be able to chew gum again! of course you will.
i would only get whitening done if i felt like they didnt look good. but i would at least wait a while before doing that.
GOOD LUCK!
2007-04-22 14:44:48 · answer #6 · answered by !@#$%^&* 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OMG! It's the best feeling to get your braces off... It doesn't hurt at all!! Retainer isn't really tight like braces but you kinda have to get use to it because it's going to be in your mouth 24/7. After you take them off, it feels slimy and wierd but you'll get use to it and you will be able to chew gum again. Just don't move around when their cleaning the cement off...and your teeth do kinda get cold while their cleaning the cement off. Oh and by the way, when they take out the last last rings, it smells really bad.. so you might want to hold your breath :)
2007-04-22 14:42:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It didn't hurt for me, Retainers are so annoying they should just leave the braces on. I have a theory that they give you a retainer so you'll get annoyed take it off have your teeth go back to being ugly and you'll have to run back to them to get braces again. YES YOU CAN CHEW GUM YOU MONKEY!
2007-04-22 14:39:55 · answer #8 · answered by Birdie 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋