Braces Survival Guide

Lots of kids will get braces. They hear the news first, and then they start freaking out. “WILL THE BRACES HURT?” is the only question that comes to mind. The second is, “WILL I LOOK LIKE A NERD?” I know this because I have braces.

Lots of my friends who need to get braces and know it always ask me if they hurt. My answer is, only in the beginning. You have to get them tightened every month. So tip number one is that sometimes braces use thermal wires. These wires tighten when it’s mouth temperature. If you feel it tighten to hard, get some smaller ice cubes and put it in-between your braces and the inside of your lip. Once you feel them loosen up take them out.

In the first weeks or more, you probably still haven’t gotten used to the braces and you might still feel that the braces are really pushing your teeth. Just take your mind off things by maybe watching TV or doing something that distracts you. Also, don’t eat hard food; it will hurt your teeth more.

Braces don’t have to be boring at all! Mix things up by putting different colored plastic bands on the braces! For Christmas or the holiday season, try red and green or just red or just green. I don’t really recommend light colors though. If you have slightly yellower teeth, the light colors will make your teeth look yellow.

The most annoying thing to have braces is ignoring hard or chewy food. It really sucks. What I found out is, if your glue that the brackets have on is really strong you can actually chew a bit of gum. NEVER chew bubblegum though. Remember to always ask the orthodontist first how strong the glue is. One food you should try to avoid having in full slices is apples. Always cut the pieces down before eating it. Most of the times, apples will get stuck everywhere in your braces. It will get stuck on the braces, the wiring, between teeth and maybe sometimes on the bracket right under your rubber bands. Oh, and always keep your braces clean.

Braces may seem a ton of pain, but once you get used to it, it’s no hassle.