Yeah, I get what you mean—took me a long time to stop fixating on mine too. Did you ever try wax or those silicone covers for the brackets? Helped me a bit with the constant awareness, especially when talking a lot.
I remember those early weeks—couldn’t stop running my tongue over the brackets, and it felt like I was announcing to everyone in the room that I had braces. Wax was a lifesaver for me, especially during presentations at work. There’s something about talking for an hour straight with metal scraping your cheeks that really makes you appreciate even the tiniest bit of relief.
Tried both wax and silicone covers. Personally, wax worked better for me. The silicone covers always seemed to pop off if I ate or drank anything, but the wax would stay put as long as I wasn’t chewing gum or something sticky. It’s funny, after a while I stopped needing them altogether—my mouth just toughened up, I guess. Still, for those first few months, I wouldn’t have survived without them.
I did get a bit self-conscious at first, especially when I’d catch myself lisping or feeling like my lips looked weird. But honestly, after a few awkward moments and some trial and error with different products (and learning to carry a little container of wax everywhere), it became just another part of my routine. Not saying it was painless, but it was manageable.
One thing that helped more than anything was staying hydrated—dry mouth made everything worse. And for anyone still struggling with irritation, switching toothpaste to something less harsh made a difference too. The little tweaks add up.
It’s wild how adaptable we are... what used to feel impossible is now just kind of background noise most days.
I totally get what you mean about the wax—everyone seems to swear by it, but honestly, I found it kind of tricky. Maybe I just have clumsy hands, but half the time I’d end up with little bits of wax stuck to my teeth or cheeks. The silicone covers were a mess for me too, especially if I was eating anything remotely warm. Sometimes it felt like nothing really helped and I’d just have to grit my teeth (literally) through the irritation.
I do agree about the toothpaste though—switching to something mild made a huge difference for me. But I actually found that staying hydrated wasn’t always enough, especially on days when I had to talk a lot at work. Chewing sugar-free gum (when I could) helped keep my mouth moist and distracted me from the discomfort. Not sure if that’s recommended, but it worked for me in a pinch.
It’s wild how people adapt differently. Some days I still feel super self-conscious, especially when food gets stuck or my speech sounds off. Guess it’s just part of the process, but I wish it got easier for me as quickly as it did for others.
“Sometimes it felt like nothing really helped and I’d just have to grit my teeth (literally) through the irritation.”
That’s honestly such a common feeling. Even with all the tips and products out there, some days are just rough. Have you tried using a water flosser for the food getting stuck? I’ve seen it help folks feel less self-conscious after meals. Sugar-free gum is a creative workaround, though I’d just keep an eye on any soreness from chewing. Did your orthodontist mention any alternatives for mouth dryness? Sometimes a simple rinse helps, but it’s so personal—what works for one person doesn’t always work for the next.
Yeah, I’ve watched my kiddo go through the same thing—sometimes there’s just no magic fix for the soreness or the dry mouth. We tried a water flosser, but honestly, it was hit or miss. Sucking on ice chips seemed to help more than any fancy rinse for dryness. Funny how what works one week doesn’t always cut it the next...
