Getting braces was both a horrid and amazing experience. For everyone that has had to get them, we all know the There are a lot of downsides to the process of getting straight teeth that people with naturally perfect teeth will never understand. So here's to my fellow past, present, and future metal mouths, may we persevere through those few years of all too frequent orthodontist visits, brace tightenings, food stuck in your braces, and everything that comes with dealing with a mouth that is 50% metal, and with the help of Parks and Recreation, let me remind you of the woes of living with braces.
When the orthodontist has to take molds of your teeth and you have to try and not choke to death while that gross goop is in your mouth.
If you've had braces or a retainer, you know what I'm talking about. For those that haven't, getting a mold of your teeth consists of having a small tray filled with a bunch of goop in your mouth for about a minute. The goop tastes gross and oozes out of the tray and touches the back of your mouth, so it makes you gag. Then, if that wasn't enough, sometimes the mold doesn't turn out, so you have to do it all over again!
When you first get your braces on and find out that you aren't allowed to eat a bunch of amazing foods anymore (ex. popcorn, ice cream, sugary gums, apples, etc.)
Then when you're a year into having braces, and you're not even trying to follow the no-no foods list anymore.
But when you're eating something you're not supposed to, you break or loosen a bracket.
Nothing's worse than getting caught red-handed (broken-bracketed?) by your orthodontist when you've been eating something you aren't supposed to. Especially when they always ask if you've been doing everything you're supposed to be doing. Always.
When you get your braces stuck in your lips/cheeks.
The day I got my braces on, I was running to catch the school bus when I tripped and fell, scraping up my face and getting my braces stuck in my lip during the process. The rest of the morning consisted of my mom cleaning up my face and working my braces out of my lip. I wish that was a one-time occurrence, but during my time with braces, there were several times when I got hit by a ball or got hit in the face, and my braces got caught in my lips and cheeks.
When you have to check for food stuck in your braces after you eat anything at all.
When you get your braces tightened and get to be miserable for the next week.
No non-brace wearer will ever understand how miserable getting your braces tightened can make you. Imagine a constant dull pain in your teeth that also gives you a headache, and you might begin to imagine why I only ate soft foods and liquids for a whole week after my orthodontist appointment.
When your orthodontist tells you *again* that they want to wait to take your braces off.
We've all been there when it comes to dealing with your orthodontist. They tell you a date for when you will get your braces off. You get your hopes up and get super excited for finally being able to be brace-free...until you get to their office, and they tell you that they want to wait at least another six weeks.
When you finally get your braces off and are able to show off your huge, metal-free, perfectly straight smile.
Even though there are a lot of downsides to having braces, it is totally worth it in the end when you no longer have a single tooth out of place. Despite all the cons of having them, braces are totally worth your million dollar smile!
