Okay, there are probably many people out there who have braces and are probably concerned about many questions. And these are what I have come up with.

DO THEY HURT?
I hate to tell you, but yes it does only when the dentist tightens it and when you have been picking at your teeth or brace. Sometimes they might hurt if you eat something really hard like apples. You can take painkillers if it ABSOLUTELY hurts like crazy...

WILL/DO I LOOK BAD IN BRACES?
actually... no you wont. It's the inside that counts and it all depends on the person. Everyone is beautiful and its the personality that matters.

HOW CAN YOU CLEAN YOUR TEETH?
Usually the dentist gives you a toothbrush especially for braces to get all the spots or just use a regular or if you prefer a electronic buzzing one. Either way, floss by putting it under the wire and getting it at the top of your teeth and floss . Or you can get special floss.

AHHHH! THERES FOOD STUCK I CANT GET IT OUT!!
Now you may notice the important of flossing. Sometimes eating foods like leafy veggies and corn, gum, caramel, bread and many other junk will get caught. Usual I would use a toothpick because it cant get all the food. Or swish your mouth with water and check with the mirror after a meal. After awhile, you just MIGHT not care anymore and when people ask eww whats that just smile and say LUNCH and laugh =) OR!! IF you are completely alone just pick it out with your teeth =)


HOW LONG UNTIL THEY COME OFF!?
It all depends, if you're teeth arent that straight it may take longer. Varys from 1/2 year - max 2,3,4? Nobody Knows? There isnt a exact time period but your dentist should know though.
newly added: yes you might have to wear a retainer to hold it in shape.

WHAT CAN'T YOU EAT WITH BRACES
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! eat WHATEVER YOU WANT. I find that saying that you cant eat the thing you hate gives a plus side to braces but to tell you the truth you can eat absolutely everything. Crunchy, hard foods may be difficult to chew when its the first week or when its just been tightened but after awhile you adjust to it and it's fine. My dentist said dont chew ice, dont eat gum since it damages the wire. I do it anyways =) but its true, so cut hard food and avoid sticky edibles if you really want to be safe.

I DONT WANT BRACES BUT I HAVE TO GET THEM.. WHAT CAN I DO?
First of all, braces are expensive, so be happy that you're getting a prettier set of straight teeth that your parents probably had to pay over 3000 bucks for. You can try to get invisible ones (ask your dentist) but usually thats even more expensive and it turns into a yellowish colour. So smile, and just make the best of the situation.
More from feleeza:
Invisalign has clear, plastic braces. But this is only for gaps and other minor defects. NOT for overbites, underbites, etc. And it also costs $2,000 more than regular braces.

ABOUT THE BOX OF WAX THEY GIVE YOU (Sometimes):
Im not sure if everyone gets one but for me sometimes the wires too long so it pokes my gums at the end so what you are supposed to do is put wax on the ends and its better. just take about as much as you need to cover the wire and stick it on and maneuver it till it feels better when its done. From what I learned, after you change the elastics and wire, just move your mouth a bit to see if anything hurts and if it happens to poke your gums tell your dentist to cut it shorter =)



from ag3nt_sm17h
CAN THEY GET STUCK TOGETHER WHILE MAKING OUT?

No. Don't worry. It's nearly impossible to get braces suck while making out, unless you are one of the people who use their teeth to make out. In my personal experiance it is not possible to do so

Newly added: from wonders79

Correction from --What cant you eat:

IS NOT TRUE There ARE things that you CAN NOT eat with braces. Believe me, I have had tons of experience. Your brackets might not fall out the first time, but they will after a while. Plus, it's not good for your teeth either. Once, while I was chewing on skittles, my back band fell off. I thought it wasn't a big deal, and I kept at it. Soon enough, my back band fell off again :/
So yeah, pleaaaaaase do not eat: sticky candy (skittles, mentos...). Or if you're dying to have some, have LIMITED amounts only, and be careful if you want to eat them.

HOW LONG?
Also, time varies for your braces. They can go up to FIVE years, and I've known people who have had them for five years. Your teeth are the calender to how long your braces stay on. If you don't take care of them, then you will have problems=longer time.

YOUR TOOTHBRUSH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Haha, okay. I also want to add that when you brush your teeth with braces, to MAKE SURE you have brushed your entire mouth. It's harder, because you have little brackets here and there, but it's important. People who have braces tend to get cavaties easily. Especially the backbackback teeth (the ones nearest your throat). My dentist told me he has had numerous patients who had cavaties near that area. SO BRUSH (especially those back teeth to avoid cavaties)!

AFTER YOUR BRACES..
And the downside to braces is that you get retainers after. That's why I got my braces a second time...I never got retainers, so my teeth went all crooked again. And you'll have to wear those retainers for (most) of the rest of your life. Um, I've never gotten them...soo, no experience there.



Finally words, just relax, and think about all the things you could benefit from having straight teeth, like.... a better smile, no more food stuck, guys might comment on how prettier it is =) its endless. Just have some fun with it like colourful patterns for elastics. Ask your dentist for anymore questions, or feel free to PM me. That's all I could think of and feel free to add more anyone.




-
My experience:

So you might be thinking, WHAT MAKES ME THE EXPERT? haha.. well I have had braces not long.. but its been a year or so. I have gone through having SO MUCH food stuck in my teeth to trying to pick it out with my fingers in public. I practiced smiling in front of a mirror because it was so awkward. GRADUALLY, I got use to it and everything was fine. I got use to the tightening and enjoyed having braces because I didnt like my crooked teeth =) I have many friends who had braces so I was fine that I wasn't the only one and im pretty sure NO ONE is x) Anyways, Thats it for now, I'll stop boring you.


EDIT// I added in some mentioned things from the replies. Everyone has different points of views and solutions so just read it =) its helpful.

the average of getting your braces off is 3
and after you take off your braces you have to wear a retainer for like 15 years? or forever?

This is so crazy... I just got my braces today, and you make this topic!

It's a little uncomfortale at the moment but not very painful.

CAN THEY GET STUCK TOGETHER WHILE MAKING OUT?

No. Don't worry. It's nearly impossible to get braces suck while making out, unless you are one of the people who use their teeth to make out. In my personal experiance it is not possible to do so.

lol ^you read my mind

I'm going to get braces in about a week and for 1 1/2 year to 2 years

then i'll haev to wear a retainer for about 2 years

not bad...

[FONT=Times][SIZE=1]That works. :)

Actually my friend (who is 19) waited to get them and now she has to have them on for five years. The longer you wait, the longer you'll wear them.




Invisalign has clear, plastic braces. But this is only for gaps and other minor defects. NOT for overbites, underbites, etc. And it also costs $2,000 more than regular braces.

About how much do regular braces cost?


they cost that damn much?

Braces can cost up $3000.

yea it's true that they cost up to $3000 but if you have insurance they can pay up to half as much like mine did. i too am a brace face girl and also some of my advice for new people getting braces:

- when you first get your braces, they're gonna hurt like heck so i'd drink up on like jamba juice or smoothies, it'll make you feel better

- stay away from real crunchy things like croutons and hard candy cuz it can mess up your brackets or wire like it did to mine.. NOT smart lol

- when your dentist asks you to wear rubber bands(and i'm sure he will) always wear them, if you don't your teeth won't move and you'll have to wear them longer

- kissing is fine, just make sure your braces don't scrape on the other person's mouth, just in case you make out with your teeth

- and also when you have your braces, always ask your orthodontist as many questions as you have cuz it can give you a lil reassurance and hey it doesnt hurt right? lol. hope this helped everyone!

i have braces [:

DO THEY HURT?
they dont so much as hurt when hes putting them on. for me, [speaking on myself] they didnt hurt at all the very first time. they just ached a little bit later on, but after he tightens them they will ACHE SO BAD. i had to take painkillers. but its not unbearable pain.

yea i agree on the what you can eat part. my othrodontist told me i couldnt eat gum, bagels, corn, i still do lol.

Um, I have had braces two times in my life. 5 years put together. And I can tell you that thiiiiiiiiiis:


IS NOT TRUE There ARE things that you CAN NOT eat with braces. Believe me, I have had tons of experience. Your brackets might not fall out the first time, but they will after a while. Plus, it's not good for your teeth either. Once, while I was chewing on skittles, my back band fell off. I thought it wasn't a big deal, and I kept at it. Soon enough, my back band fell off again :/
So yeah, pleaaaaaase do not eat: sticky candy (skittles, mentos...). Or if you're dying to have some, have LIMITED amounts only, and be careful if you want to eat them.

HOW LONG?
Also, time varies for your braces. They can go up to FIVE years, and I've known people who have had them for five years. Your teeth are the calender to how long your braces stay on. If you don't take care of them, then you will have problems=longer time.

YOUR TOOTHBRUSH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
Haha, okay. I also want to add that when you brush your teeth with braces, to MAKE SURE you have brushed your entire mouth. It's harder, because you have little brackets here and there, but it's important. People who have braces tend to get cavaties easily. Especially the backbackback teeth (the ones nearest your throat). My dentist told me he has had numerous patients who had cavaties near that area. SO BRUSH (especially those back teeth to avoid cavaties)!

AFTER YOUR BRACES..
And the downside to braces is that you get retainers after. That's why I got my braces a second time...I never got retainers, so my teeth went all crooked again. And you'll have to wear those retainers for (most) of the rest of your life. Um, I've never gotten them...soo, no experience there.

Dude, I can go on and on and on and on about braces...haha

I'm thinking maybe this should be moved to health rather than girl resources.

Kinda ironic since I just got braces today. They do hurt. And getting them on is uncomfortable and sometimes painful. I can't wait for tomorrow! *Sarcasm*

Righto.

I don't know how many times my dad has told me that "I'm getting braces"..but I never do. Thank goodness. I don't need em anyway.

Okay sure =) Please do. =)

Darnet. I was going to write about that. But, as he said, no it's not possible.

Braces..oohh..just wait till retainers. Now those things..gah...i hate it more than i hated my braces.

another tip from an ex-bracer

food gets stuck easier in your braces and small particles get jammed into unseen places. this can cause bacteria and make your gums soft and easily cut (from brushing and flossing). swish salt water around in your mouth. it kills bacteria and cleans cuts so they heal faster.

haha i kind of like my braces, but not when i needed them at first.

..my braces never hurt me when I got them..probably 'cause I am used to having metal in my mouth. I had to have (and still do; blech) a headgear...it stinks. >.<

Meh I have braces and they don't hurt >_< Tightening hurts and when they have to fix a bracket tit does.

Oh you wanna watch out if you bite your lips I bit mine, but Istarted moving it around and my teeth kinda slipped and it broke the metal and I could move it across the wire.

And braces do cost over 3000 and most orthadental places don't make you pay all of it at one time.

Moved to Health

''I never got retainers, so my teeth went all crooked again. And you'll have to wear those retainers for (most) of the rest of your life''

umm...i duno about americans, but over here we just get the retainer for 6 months and your teeth are set in place for ever..

Damn my teeth are still hurting, and I got them tightened 3 days ago.
Anyways, good info.

you're only supposed to wear retainers for 2 years. sometimes a little more though.
and you can't eat chips. whenever i ate chips, the little rubber thing that's supposed to separate your teeth fell out. either that or got jammed. that happened to me a lot.
you should also brush your teeth daily or else you're going to get white spots on them. and they're permanate.

wow. i had a thing called an apliance. all that is is a cemented in retainer without the thing for the top of ur mouth. i had that for about 3 years. then i got braces with these annoying things on the sides of my mouth for a year and now i have regular braces without the rubber bands. they tend to bug me. and the wax they gave me doesn't stick . so ya. and not all food is good. somehow i got a corn pop stuck inder the wire and it broke the braces. plus it really hurt. watch what u eat so nothing big s stuck under the brackets or wires. and if u move and don't have an orthodontist just remember that once u get an orthodontist ur braces will probly get removed. i can't wait to get an orthodontist again cuz my teeth are straight now .

ive never had braces in my life. yay!!

no, braces dont hurt...

I got mine off and im so happy that I got then now that i did but my teeth are kinda yellower now that i got them off. -_-

ive never had anything f**ked up with my mouth so i didnt have to get braces b/c i actually take care of my teeth, but i do know it can hurt like a bitch gettin dome from a girl w/ them... especially if she don't kno wat she doin

QUOTE(sillakilla220 @ Mar 17 2006, 7:23 PM)

ive never had anything f**ked up with my mouth so i didnt have to get braces b/c i actually take care of my teeth, but i do know it can hurt like a bitch gettin dome from a girl w/ them... especially if she don't kno wat she doin

umm..you cant control how you want your teeth to come in.

I had braces, I disliked them...

no. No. and NO. Braces aren't all that bad besides the fact that you have metal on your mouth I mean I can't wait until I get mine off but once you get them they don't suck as much as you think they do.

yeah its a good thing i actually brushed them

HAHHAAA i ONLY NEED TO HAVE MiNE FOR A YEAR :)
it comes off in mayy.. no need to wear a retainer after that or whatever.

one annoying thing: hair gets stuck to your braces sometimes.. yeah, ew.

I wish we still have the health forum.. :(

No braces for me! :)
..but I need them. :(

Haha. I don't have braces yet. I probably have to get them when I'm fourteen, but for now, I'll stick to teasing those who do have braces.

HAHHA YOU HAVE BRACESSSSS!! I laugh at you.

I've never had braces, but my friend says I'm most likely gonna need them. Yay, this info really helped. Now I'm not scared - I can handle the pain!! Uhm...just wondering..is it like a sharp pain or more of an aching, dull pain?

i got my braces off like a few months ago and i was wearing my retainer everyday 24/7 and then i lost it about a week ago and my teeth are not as straight as they used to be. i called the ortho and asked for another retainer but i have to get another mold of my mouth but it will be pointless because the new mold will be more crooked. i duno what do do.

It's like a pressure sort of pain. When you get them on they should be there for about the first week. That first week I lived off of soup and advil. And ice cream.
But sometimes the brackets have these little thingies that stick out of four of them, for rubber bands, and when you first get them they might sorta scratch the inside of your lip. Your orthodontist will give you wax for that.

I got mine in second.... and i got them off in 8th

^^o that sucks!

this is really helpful for people just getting their braces, from a person that ISN'T there dentist lol. yeah i don't know of anyone that stopped chewing gum and eating popcorn or anything when they got their braces.

i was actually happy to get braces cause my teeth were so crooked i think i'm getting them off this summer!! woooohoooo!!!

getting braces off in a few months..only had them for a year..

i never follow any of the rules for the braces and my brackets r just fine!
i first got braces on my top teeth at the end of second grade.
got those off in like 4th grade
and i had an apliance, which is like a cemented retainer w/o plastic.
then i got that off and didnt have braces for a while
then comes 7th grade i got full mouth braces and bands, not to mention they're making my wires bigger everytime
braces r a pain but you learn to deal with them
dont let them take over ur life and be the destruction of your confidence!
when i talk no one can even notice my braces
plus, i love choosing the colors for my bands!
and now i have straighter teeth though i still have braces
they didnt hurt when i got them
and my piece of advice: dont take painkillers unless you absolutely have to because from experience, they just num the pain and the pain WILL come back
so theres some tips catch ya l8r bye and good luck with the braces!
P.S.: if an orthodontist tells you to do somethin with your teeth, DO IT
cuz if you dont, it will lengthen your amount of time for braces and we dont want that happening now do we?

I'll add this to the pinned topic.

Where do you live?

Taylor``

I'm getting braces on the 19th of July, and I'm pretty worried about the retainers thing...Do all people have to get retainers after they get their braces taken off to keep their teeth straight?

^ Yes.

Do you have to get braces on bottom and top teeth cause me bottom teeth are perfect,(well, really close, one of my adult molars teeth is sorta screwy but you can barely tell.) it's my top ones that are messed up, my ortho, said I'd need em as the last of my teeth came in fully( i know, I lost teeth reaallllllyyy late lol)if i wanted the gap in my teeth to close, my bro is so lucky his came in perfect! without braces!