How much do you think about your braces?

[klobird]

I don't know about everyone else, but my mind, all day long, is constantly returning to "Oh ya, I have braces....".
It's like my baseline or something. I would really like one day where it never even crosses my mind that I have braces.
It seems like even when I'm not thinking about them, that my subconscious mind is.....it's weird...

Does anyone else have this?

[Sandpiper]

Ha ha, sounds like me! Oddly, I think it's getting worse the closer to the end I get, especially when my ortho makes tantalising little comments about "maybe not too much longer". I'm sure my subconscious wasn't so aware a year ago. I've never really managed to fully lose my self consciousness over having braces, and still find I try and conceal them from new people I meet, which is a bit crazy after all this time. But I agree with you, I never fully forget them. Wont it be great when they're gone??

[Robot Teeth]

During the first 2 or 3 weeks they were on my mind quite a bit. During that time I popped a few brackets and got a loose tooth and was pretty nervous about them. But in the last 2 weeks, I haven't needed any wax and the molar buildups aren't even bothering me that much. Now I'm starting to like them a lot more, and the feeling of excitement from before I got them is coming back a little. I love my braces! I'm not even necessarily looking forward to getting them off. The Waterpik made things easier, and hygiene isn't an issue, and as I've said before, I just really dig the way they look! So yeah, I suppose I think about my braces a lot, but it's not to the point where I'm obsessing about it during everything I do. Lately I HAVE been pretty preoccupied with selecting my next ligature color though...

[ambraced]

I first had a brace on my lower jaw - metal brackets and it was no big deal I got used to it really quickly except during eating ofcourse. Then I decided to get my overbite fixed too, so nine months later I got selfligating ceramic brackets on my upper teeth. During the first adjustment two brackets broke and during the second a third one broke. In addition although not very conspicuous from a distance I feel them huge in my mouth and they're still sore after 3 months. They're uncomfortable and I'm really super careful while eating as I'm afraid I'd break something. I also wake up at night with my mouth really dry and it feels like the brackets are stuck to the inside of my lips. I feel like Hannibal Lecter in silence of the lambs whenever I look in the mirror........

So I guess I think about my braces most of the time..........even when I'm asleep it seems.....but it's worth all the discomfort!

[loradora]

I had mine off a few months ago and thought of them today as I ate a piece of corn on the cob. When I had them on I had to cut the corn off the cob with a knife to eat it and now I'm free. Still wearing the retainer 24/7 but I think that will change after my next ortho visit in September.

[BracedGeek]

Only when it is time to eat or just after an adjustment. Otherwise I tend to forget about them.

[methoddan]

I have been braced for 1 week and 1 day now and I really don't think about them unless I am eating, cleaning them or looking in the mirror. Thankfully, they don't hurt and did not bother my lips/cheeks. I haven't had to use any wax.

[sibilla]

All the time!! even when I'm trying to tell myself that I can't feel them anymore..... I live for the day when they aren't the first thing I think about in the morning!

[bracketeer]

All the time!! even when I'm trying to tell myself that I can't feel them anymore..... I live for the day when they aren't the first thing I think about in the morning!

ME TOO!

[Marigold]

I'm aware of mine 24/7. They feel like an intrusion in my mouth. My mouth is always dry, my bite is screwed up, and I'm constantly picking food out of my teeth. At night I wear elastics and that makes my mouth even dryer. I can't wait for the day they come off. Having said that, it will all be worth it in the end!