possibly getting braces

[Missy07]

I've always had really crooked teeth. Especially my front top teeth. I hate it so bad...and I always have.

My older sister had braces forever ago, and I saw how much she hated them so I've never wanted them..until recently. I've talked to my parents about it, and I think I'm finally going to get braces! I definitely don't want them, but it's a necessary evil. My parents are going to call around a few orthodontist offices next week to look into the cost...so maybe this will happen in the next few months. I think it's now or never...I mean, I'm already 20. I don't wanna be 30 and still need braces.

But my question is, to those of you who have/had braces, is it worth all the pain?

[losing touch.]

all the pain?.. urr.. there really isn't that much pain.

i had really bad teeth before i got braces and i had them for a few years - both train tracks and retainers. it wasn't really too much hassle at all. when you first get them fitted it hurts for like a day or two but then you'll be fine.. you won't even notice they are there really.

i had metal wires fitted to the back of my teeth to keep them from going back to how they were pre-braces but had to get them removed before i started a course of radiotherapy and now my lower teeth are a tiny bit crooked again - not really noticeable but enough to bother me.. and as soon as my health improves i'll be getting some braces put back on my bottom teeth to straighten them out.

anyway.. to answer your question - yes, it is so worth it.

[Elizabeth]

It isn't painful. At least for me. I have braces now. I think the worst part is getting them put on. It hurts for a couple of days, but mostly when you eat solid foods that need a lot of chewing. If you soup for about five days, at the most, you should be good. I honestly don't think that they hurt that much. They hurt when you don't take care of them. If you havn't already, I would invest in a WaterPik. They are great for cleaning out your teeth and to me, it feels like a tooth massage.

[Charlie the wallflower]

Whatever you do wear your retainers after you get braces. I didnt and my teeth have nearly went back to what they were like before wich led me to put them back on 3 months later. Its pure agony

If you do what your dentist tells you you'll be ok

[losing touch.]

Originally Posted by seanc94

Whatever you do wear your retainers after you get braces. I didnt and my teeth have nearly went back to what they were like before wich led me to put them back on 3 months later. Its pure agony

If you do what your dentist tells you you'll be ok

my orthodontist fitted these wires onto the back of my teeth instead of having a retainer afterwards - so OP, if you can get the wires i would recommend going for that. well, i say wires.. but it was the tiniest bit of metal that no one could see unless i opened my mouth really wide and pointed them out to them.

[The Morrigan]

Yeah definitely, my teeth look a LOT better now.

It's not that painful, the only bit that hurts is when the orthodontist tightens your braces up, then it aches for a couple of days afterwards.

I didn't wear my retainer all that much but my teeth are still pretty good but had I wore my retainer for as long as I was supposed to they'd be better

[MadPoet]

The only time the braces hurt is when you first get them in. For the first few days they really scrape your gums like crazy, and it hurts because you're not at all used to them. But after you do get used to them, which only takes a week at most, they're not painful at all. The little pain you'll feel is definitely worth the the straighter teeth you'll have when you get your braces off.

[Arroyo]

Both my sister and myself had braces at a very young age, before any of our peers. It's probably because of that that our braces seemed so terrible. My teeth are still kind of crooked, but I smile with my mouth closed, so I don't feel the need to get them again. If you really want them, though, go for it. I'd reccommend invisalign.

[Missy07]

Thanks for the replies

I've heard all kinds of things about the "pain" thing. Mostly from my older sister...she always said they hurt like crap. But she might've been trying to intimidate me too lol. But that makes me feel a lot less nervous about them..hearing that they dont hurt for long.

[losing touch.]

Originally Posted by Missy07

Thanks for the replies

I've heard all kinds of things about the "pain" thing. Mostly from my older sister...she always said they hurt like crap. But she might've been trying to intimidate me too lol. But that makes me feel a lot less nervous about them..hearing that they dont hurt for long.

i got my braces fitted when i was 11 and i really didn't experience that much pain, at all.. discomfort? yes.. but not pain. sounds like your sister either has a low pain threshold or was trying to scare you..

best of luck with it, i hope it's not too much hassle for you!. :]

[.Brittany.]

Hi Jeannette,

I had braces for a year and a half, I absolutely loved them. I loved being able to pick funky colours and I found that they really suited me.. The pain wasn't that bad, I just had some pain after they got tightened. I advise to stay away from ribs, and corn on the cobs, as I found them hard to chew, as well as apples.

Another thing of advice, don't get white, because it turns yellow on you if your not careful.

I hope you enjoy them!
Brittany

[LetGodArise]

I'm also getting braces, I think, and from this thread I can't imagine there being so much pain at all, really.. I think it's so worth it though, because my teeth are really really bad.. more than just crooked, and I think that it'd just be better.

[LittleMiss]

It's not that painful. The first two weeks are like, if your teeth touch anything, it canes. They're tight and tender but it doesn't really matter, after that it's nothing.
I thought they were worth it. And I would recommend getting them asap. The longer you wait, the more your teeth settle and the more painful it is.
My mum got hers at 40. She had two teeth pulled and said she wishes she's gotten them younger.