Braces for underbite taking forever and a day

I tried the big tub of generic wax too, but honestly, it just didn’t stick as well for me. I kept waking up with it stuck to my pillow instead of my teeth… not exactly what I was going for. I get the whole saving money thing though - these ortho supplies add up fast. As for the slow progress, I swear my teeth only move when I’m not looking. Maybe it’s a watched-pot-never-boils situation?

That wax struggle is too real. My kid kept getting it everywhere except where it was needed, and we finally caved for the name brand stuff. Progress felt glacial here too - sometimes I wondered if anything was actually happening. Hang in there, though... it does add up over time, even if it’s slow.

That wax is such a mess, right? I literally had to google “how to get wax to stay on braces” because mine would just slide off or end up stuck to my cheek instead of the bracket. Did you notice any difference with the name brand stuff? I tried both and honestly, couldn’t tell if it was worth the extra couple bucks, but maybe my technique was just bad.

Progress being slow is the understatement of the year. My ortho kept saying “steady movement is good movement,” but when you’re staring at your teeth every day, it’s impossible not to obsess over every tiny shift (or lack thereof). Did your kid have those moments where they swear nothing changed for months, then suddenly one tooth moves overnight? That’s happened to me a few times - it’s like watching paint dry and then waking up to a completely different wall.

I’m curious - did you guys ever have brackets pop off because of all the wax and food? I lost two in the first month, mostly from biting into things I probably shouldn’t have (rookie mistake). Also, did anyone else get those little cuts on their cheeks that just never seemed to heal? Sometimes I felt like the wax was more for my sanity than anything else.

How long did it take before you actually noticed real progress? My underbite is stubborn, and sometimes I wonder if it’s just genetics fighting back. Or maybe I’m just impatient. Either way, it helps hearing that slow progress is still progress. At least we’re all in this glacial crawl together...

I totally get what you mean about the wax being more for sanity than anything else. I swear, half the time it just ended up stuck to my gums or falling off before it did any good. I tried both the generic and name brand wax too, and honestly? Couldn’t tell much difference. Maybe the name brand was a tiny bit stickier, but not enough to justify the price. I think it’s more about making sure your teeth are super dry before putting the wax on - sometimes I’d use a tissue to dry the bracket, and that helped a bit.

About brackets popping off, yeah, I lost one from biting into a sandwich (definitely not soft enough). My ortho said it happens a lot in the first month or two, especially if you’re still figuring out what you can actually eat. The cuts on the cheeks are the worst part. Mine would heal, then come right back when something shifted. Salt water rinses seemed to help a little, but it was just a waiting game.

As for progress, it took me about three months before I noticed anything real. The first couple months felt like nothing was happening, then suddenly my bite looked different overnight. I think genetics do play a role, but patience is huge. How long have you been in braces so far?

I totally relate to the frustration with the wax - I used to think I was the only one who couldn’t get it to stay put. Drying my teeth first helped a bit, but sometimes I just gave up and hoped my cheeks would toughen up. The waiting is honestly the hardest part for me too. It’s weird how nothing seems to happen for ages, then suddenly you notice a tiny shift and it feels like progress. Hang in there, it really does add up, even if it’s slow at first.

Man, I remember that phase where it felt like my braces were just… there. Not doing anything, not hurting (which made me suspicious), and definitely not making my underbite look any different. I used to poke at my teeth in the mirror, convinced I’d spot some microscopic shift if I stared hard enough. The wax thing drove me nuts too - mine always ended up stuck to a sandwich or just floating away mid-conversation. Drying my teeth helped a bit, but sometimes I just let the brackets win for a day.

What finally got me through was realizing that the changes are so gradual you barely notice until one day you catch yourself in a photo and go, “Wait, is my jaw actually moving?” It’s weirdly satisfying. The waiting is brutal, but honestly, once things start shifting, it feels like all those annoying months are finally paying off. Hang in there - it really does sneak up on you.

Totally get what you mean about staring in the mirror, hoping to spot some tiny change. I used to do that too, and it felt like nothing was happening for ages. Then out of nowhere, my bite just looked different one day. It’s such a slow burn, but honestly, you’ll be surprised when those little shifts finally add up. The wax thing drove me nuts too - half the time I just gave up on it and dealt with the poking. It’s rough, but you’re not alone in feeling like it’s taking forever.

I swear, the whole “waiting for progress” thing with braces is like watching paint dry - except the paint is your teeth and you’re paying a small fortune for the privilege. I used to obsessively check my side profile in every reflective surface, convinced I’d wake up one morning with a perfect bite. Spoiler: it was more like one day my jaw just felt... less weird? Hard to pinpoint.

The wax situation is hilarious in hindsight. I tried to be diligent at first, but it always ended up on my sandwich or stuck to my tongue. Eventually, I just toughed it out unless it was a real razor-wire situation.

Honestly, I think the tiny shifts are almost impossible to notice day-to-day. But then you see an old photo and suddenly realize your teeth have actually moved a ton. It’s slow, but it adds up. Hang in there - it’s a weird journey, but you’ll get those “whoa, that’s different” moments eventually.

Not sure I totally agree about the changes being “impossible to notice day-to-day.” I actually felt like my bite was shifting in weird ways every couple weeks - sometimes my teeth didn’t fit together the same when I chewed, and it threw me off. Maybe I just got hyper-aware?

it was more like one day my jaw just felt... less weird?

That shifting bite thing is real - I swear my teeth had a secret meeting every few weeks to mess with my chewing. One day I’d be biting into a sandwich like normal, next day it’s like, “Who rearranged the furniture in my mouth?” I definitely noticed those mini “wait, huh?” moments too. And the wax... gave up pretty quick, but man, my cheeks still look like they went through a cheese grater. Hang in there - at least we’re getting our money’s worth with all these surprises, right?

One day I’d be biting into a sandwich like normal, next day it’s like, “Who rearranged the furniture in my mouth?”

That line cracked me up because it’s exactly how I feel. Every time I think my teeth have settled, they pull a fast one and suddenly my molars don’t line up with anything. I keep wondering if all this shifting is what I’m actually paying for - like, is this part of the plan or just a bonus? Wax was a bust for me too; half the time it just melted away before lunch. Still, even with the “cheese grater” cheeks, I try to remind myself that at least all this drama means something’s happening... right?

That shifting feeling is wild, right? I remember thinking my bite was finally “normal” and then - nope, suddenly my front teeth were the ones doing a weird dance. My ortho kept saying it’s all part of the process, but honestly, it felt like my mouth had its own agenda some days. Wax was useless for me too. It just disappeared by snack time, and I’d be back to battling bracket cuts.

But yeah, all that movement really does mean things are progressing, even if it’s super uncomfortable. The soreness and awkward chewing are so annoying, but they’re signs your teeth are responding. I used to get frustrated when things seemed to get worse before getting better, but apparently that’s pretty standard.

Hang in there - slow progress is still progress. And hey, you’re definitely not alone in feeling like your mouth’s a construction zone.

Wax was useless for me too. It just disappeared by snack time, and I’d be back to battling bracket cuts.

Same here - wax felt like a waste of money after a while. I actually switched to using a tiny bit of sugar-free gum in emergencies (probably not ortho-approved, but it stuck better). Honestly, I get what you mean about progress, but sometimes I wonder if all the extra appointments and “fine-tuning” are just dragging things out. My insurance only covers so much, so I started pushing back a bit when they wanted to add more elastics or random tweaks. Sometimes “slow progress” feels more like “slow billing,” you know?

I totally relate to the wax thing - mine would last about as long as a piece of chocolate in my house. I even tried the “double layer” trick (wax on wax), but after my first snack of the day, it was like it never existed. Sugar-free gum? Genius. I did that once at a movie when my bracket was slicing my cheek, and honestly, it worked better than anything my ortho gave me. Probably not what they recommend, but desperate times.

About the slow progress... I’ve wondered the same. My underbite journey turned into a two-year saga, and every time I thought I was close to the finish line, my ortho would say, “Let’s tweak this one last thing.” It got to the point where I started questioning if these “adjustments” were really necessary or just a way to squeeze out a few more visits. My insurance has a cap too, and I hit it way before I was done, so I definitely felt the pinch.

Sometimes I wonder if it’s just the nature of underbites being stubborn, or if some orthodontists get a little too perfectionist. I get wanting a good result, but there’s a difference between “perfect” and “good enough to chew without pain.” I remember arguing (nicely) with my ortho about adding more elastics. I was like, “Are we actually fixing something, or is this just your version of ‘one more for the road’?” He laughed, but I could tell he was a little annoyed.

Honestly, it’s hard to know when to push back and when to trust the process. I ended up compromising - agreed to a couple more tweaks but drew the line at extra appliances. In the end, my bite isn’t textbook perfect, but it works, and I can finally eat pizza without biting my own cheek.

Hang in there. It’s a marathon, not a sprint... but sometimes it feels like a never-ending relay race with no finish line in sight.

I totally get the frustration with those endless “just one more tweak” appointments. My own underbite correction dragged on way longer than I expected too. Honestly, I started pushing back a bit after a year and a half. Felt weird at first, but it helped me feel more in control. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially when insurance runs out. Chewing without pain is a win in my book.

I hear you on the “enough is enough” feeling - there’s only so much patience anyone has for endless tweaks. I get that the orthodontists want to chase perfection, but sometimes it feels like they forget we’re actually people living with this stuff 24/7, not just teeth in a textbook. When I was wrapping up my own braces saga (overbite, not underbite, but still), I hit a wall after two years. My jaw stopped hurting and I could eat what I wanted... at that point, the idea of dragging things out for microscopic adjustments just didn’t make sense to me anymore.

I know some folks will say you should stick it out for the “ideal” bite, but honestly, quality of life matters too. Insurance running out is real, and so is just wanting your mouth back. If you’re comfortable and functionally happy, that’s a legit win. Sometimes we have to remind our providers that we’re the ones living with the outcome - not just paying for it.

That’s such a valid point about quality of life. I remember feeling like my braces journey was dragging on forever, and at some stage, those tiny tweaks just didn’t seem worth the hassle anymore. It’s easy for doctors to focus on “perfect,” but living with all the hardware day in and day out gets old fast. If your bite feels good and you’re happy with how things function, that really does count for a lot. Sometimes “good enough” is exactly what we need - especially when insurance and sanity are both on the line.

Totally get what you mean about the endless tweaking. I’m still early in my braces process and already feeling kind of overwhelmed… The ortho keeps saying things like “just a few more months,” but it’s hard to picture what’s actually changing week to week. Sometimes I wonder if all those little adjustments are actually necessary, or if it’s just about chasing that textbook-perfect bite. Function-wise, I’d be happy with “good enough” too, especially since my insurance only covers so much and I’m honestly pretty tired of all the poking and prodding. Does anyone else feel like the finish line keeps moving?

Does anyone else feel like the finish line keeps moving?

I’m right there with you - watching my kid go through this, it’s like every time we think we’re almost done, the ortho finds another “tiny tweak” that apparently needs fixing. I get that they want everything to be perfect, but honestly, sometimes I wonder if the difference is even noticeable to anyone except a dentist with a magnifying glass. At this point, my son would probably settle for “good enough” too, especially when the wires poke at his cheeks and he’s eating soup for the third day in a row.

Insurance is a whole other headache, isn’t it? We hit our cap months ago, and now every extra appointment feels like we’re just tossing money into a black hole. I’ve asked the ortho straight up if all these final adjustments are really necessary or if it’s just about making the x-rays look pretty for their before-and-after wall. They say it’s all about function, but honestly, I don’t remember my own bite being analyzed this much when I was a kid - and my teeth have been doing their job just fine.

I do see small changes over time, but it’s hard for my kid to stay motivated when progress feels microscopic. The “just a few more months” line is starting to sound like wishful thinking. I’ve started taking photos every few weeks, just so we can actually see if anything’s moving. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it just makes us question the whole process more.

Anyway, you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed. I’m all for doing things right, but there’s a point where chasing perfection starts to feel like running on a treadmill that never stops. If the bite works, and my kid can chew and smile without pain, that’s a win in my book - even if the molars aren’t lined up like soldiers.

Totally relate to this. My daughter’s been in braces for what feels like forever, and every “almost done” turns into another round of adjustments. The tiny changes are so hard to see, and honestly, she’s just tired of the whole thing. I get wanting things to be right, but sometimes it feels like they’re splitting hairs. We’re also way past what insurance covered, so every extra visit stings a little more.

One thing that’s helped us is focusing on comfort - getting wax for the pokey wires, switching up foods, and just celebrating small wins (like finally eating pizza again). It’s a marathon, not a sprint… but man, I wish they’d let us cross the finish line already.