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.
