I get what you mean, I always feel like I’m “that patient” for calling too much. But honestly, last month I had a wire poking so bad I couldn’t sleep, and I waited too long to say anything. Ended up with a sore that took forever to heal. Now I just ask, even if I feel awkward. Better safe than sorry, right?
Honestly, I get the “better safe than sorry” thing, but sometimes I feel like calling every time something’s off just makes me more anxious. Like, I’ve had wires poking before and just used wax or even a pencil eraser to push it down—probably not dentist-approved, but it worked in a pinch. Sometimes I think we overthink it and end up stressing ourselves out more than needed. Anyone else just tough it out sometimes, or am I just stubborn?
I totally get where you’re coming from. When I first got braces, I was on the phone with my ortho for every little thing—felt like I was being a nuisance half the time. After a while though, I started figuring out which stuff really needed attention and which stuff I could just handle with wax or by being a little creative. I’ve used the pencil eraser trick too, and honestly, it saved me a couple of nights from losing sleep over a sharp wire.
You’re definitely not alone in toughing it out sometimes. There’s a weird comfort in knowing you can handle small issues yourself, even if it’s not “by the book.” That being said, I’ve also learned (the hard way) that ignoring some problems too long can make things worse. It’s a balance, I guess. For me, it’s all about trusting your own judgment—if something feels truly off, it’s worth checking, but otherwise, a bit of stubbornness isn’t always a bad thing. This whole process is a marathon, not a sprint.
This whole process is a marathon, not a sprint.
That’s honestly the best way to put it. The waiting can feel endless, especially when you’re dealing with something as stubborn as an underbite. I remember thinking my teeth would never look “normal” again during those drawn-out months. It’s wild how you start to pick up tricks—like the wax or eraser thing—just to get by. You’re handling it way better than you probably give yourself credit for. Hang in there... the finish line always feels closer in hindsight.
- I keep hearing about using wax, but I’m still figuring out how to make it actually stay put. Sometimes it just falls off in like five minutes—am I doing something wrong?
- The “marathon” part is real. My ortho said underbites just take longer, but I swear time moves slower with braces on.
- Did you ever get weird jaw aches, or is that just me? Some days it feels like my whole face is working overtime.
- Curious—how long did your treatment end up taking? I’m low-key hoping it won’t be as long as they say, but maybe that’s wishful thinking...
