Confess your orthodontic sins.

[oldfart]

Example:

I eat popcorn.
I dont floss every day.
I doubled up on my elastics last night as I am sick and tired of not seeing movement.

Anyone else?

[Anna5]

I have also doubled up elastics more than once...
I have worn elastics in another configuration as prescribed because I wanted to see another kind of movement as well
I eat everything that is forbidden (popcorn, nuts, hard chocolate....)
I often brush my teeth far too quickly....

[msw]

I play with my braces when I'm bored at work sometimes... I think it's fun to open and close my Damon brackets using a fine-tipped Uniball pen. So bad, I know!

[msw]

Also.... it's a particularly busy season at work, and last week I stress-ate an entire monster bag of Laffy Taffy, Nerds, and Gobstoppers.

[kathydell]

Doritos! Okay, and maybe some popcorn in the last two weeks.

[djspeece]

Alphabetical, or in order of potential disasters?

Father, I have not flossed since I got braces. At my first cleaning 3 months after my braces were applied, the hygeinist commented that she had so little work to do, that whatever I was doing was really working, and to keep up the flossing. I told her that I didn't floss, that I used interdental brushes dipped in Listerine instead and outlined my routine. I think she got a little light-headed and started breathing faster, and managed to gasp "Well, it is really working." I'm sure I got reported to the authorities the same way in third grade when I purposely jay-walked in front of the Junior Police kid, who came to my classroom the next morning, asked for the teacher, and I was then summoned to the hallway and was made to understand that my behavior was undermining democracy. Or something. Anyway, heard the same deal from different hygeinists on subsequent cleanings every 3 months. Say three Hail Damons and sin no more my son. But I know I'll be burning in orthodontic hell one day.

I have broken all the taboos on foods to avoid. Popcorn. Didn't make it two weeks before I resumed. Potato chips? Please. Life without chips is not worth living. I even recently succombed to red twizzler licorice, my all-time favorite candy snack.

Father, I smoke an occasional cigar. With a nice single malt scotch. My teeth didn't fall out.

After removing elastics before a meal, I sometimes fling them away outside and curse them and call them bad names embellished by creative obscene adjectives.

And that's the way I roll.

[Bikerchick85]

OMG, Dan, I think I love you! That is hilarious! I almost spit my coffee all over the computer!

Ok, here goes my sins...
1. I don't floss hardly ever..
2. I hardly ever wear my elastics, but when I do, sometimes I double up or wear them a different way than prescribed.
3. In regards to number 2, I lie to my ortho about my elastic wear and say that on a scale of 1-10, I've worn them at a 10 level.... and she believes me
4. I eat popcorn, nuts, chewy candy, etc... everything I'm not supposed to eat.. but I have not broken anything.
5. I smoked cigarettes the first 15 months in braces. (I'm quit now)
6. I drink coffee with tons of vanilla creamer and sugar EVERYDAY!

I think that's it. I know.. I'm a very bad girl!!

[MrsCharisma]

I eat popcorn all the time.
I recently began eating peanut m&m's.
I do not floss every day.

[oldfart]

If I am talking to you, face to face, and you have braces. I am checking them out, vs looking at you eye to eye.

Heck I now find myself checking out everyones teeth as I am talking to them, and mentally coming up with a orthodontic plan for them if I think they need them.

[Anna5]

I love your confession, Dan!!!
And yours as well, Bickerchick! I had not expected that there was anybody else here who sometimes does wear elastics in a different configuration than prescribed, but I am happy I am not the only one. I am glad that your ortho is still happy with your elastics wear....
And the same with me,MrsCharisma, I also recently began eating peanut m&m's. They are delicious, aren't they????

[Bikerchick85]

I almost forgot this one...
I use my braces to scratch an itch on my hand or arm if my fingernails aren't doing the trick

[msw]

I almost forgot this one...
I use my braces to scratch an itch on my hand or arm if my fingernails aren't doing the trick

Same here! I thought I was the only one. It works every time.

[oldfart]

Speaking of fingernails. I still kinda bite them. Just very carefully.

[Norrie]

I don't bother brushing after lunch. One of the only benefits of lingual braces is that if you have food stuck in them, ain't no one the wiser.

I have eaten carrot sticks, and I am not sorry.

I still use silicone wax all day, every day, like a whiny little baby. I'll probably spend about $150 on it by the time that I'm done with treatment (because my orthodontist's office could not possibly give me enough. There is no enough), but I don't even care.

I have a love affair going with my WaterPik that may eventually make my husband jealous. How did I ever live without it? My precious.

My 12 year old daughter is way more fastidious about caring for her teeth/braces than I am. In fact, I'm always sending her off to floss or whatever, meanwhile I'm sitting on the sofa stuffing my face with ice cream. Being an adult is awesome.

[Siobhan]

I don't brush after lunch since getting elastics
I don't floss every day
I drink wine but consider it medicinal and a good substitute for wax