Spinach is still my nemesis though...
Man, spinach is ruthless. It finds every possible nook and cranny, especially with a fixed retainer. I swear, it’s like it’s got a grudge against my teeth.
Honestly, I used to think fixed retainers would be a nightmare to clean, but once I got the hang of the water flosser (and yeah, regular floss for those stubborn spots), it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Still, you do have to stay on top of it—skip a few days and you’ll regret it. I’m with you on the forgetfulness thing though... if my retainer wasn’t glued in, it’d be long gone by now.
Metal in your mouth isn’t glamorous, but if you’re prone to losing stuff (Taco Bell bag casualties are real), fixed is worth the hassle. The only downside is getting used to that “permanent popcorn kernel” feeling at first. But hey, better than starting over with braces again because you lost a retainer at 2am after a snack run.
Ugh, the “permanent popcorn kernel” description is spot on. Took me weeks to stop poking at it with my tongue. I get what you mean about food getting stuck—spinach and those tiny strawberry seeds are relentless. The water flosser is a total game changer, though. I resisted getting one for ages because I thought it was a gimmick, but now it’s basically my best friend.
I actually lost my first removable retainer at a music festival (don’t ask), so the fixed one was kind of forced on me. At first, I hated how it felt, but honestly, not having to remember to put anything in at night is such a relief. The cleaning routine is more involved, but it’s worth it for the peace of mind.
Did anyone else notice their bite feeling weird for a while after getting the retainer? Mine took some adjusting—felt like my teeth were in a whole new place for months. Curious if that’s just me or if it’s pretty common.
Ugh, the “permanent popcorn kernel” description is spot on. Took me weeks to stop poking at it with my tongue.
That “permanent popcorn kernel” feeling is too real—took me forever to stop messing with it, too. And yeah, my bite felt totally off for a while. I think it’s pretty common, honestly. Your teeth just need time to settle in their new spots. It gets easier, promise.
- That “popcorn kernel” sensation is super common after getting metal in your mouth—braces, retainers, whatever.
- Tongue poking is almost impossible to avoid at first. It’s like your brain can’t ignore the new hardware.
- Bite feeling off? Totally normal. Your teeth are shifting, and your jaw needs time to adjust. For me, it took about a month before things felt natural again.
- If you’re wondering if it’s worth it:
- Long-term, yes. My bite was a mess before and food constantly got stuck. Now, eating is way easier and my jaw pain is gone.
- The initial discomfort fades. Wax helps with sharp spots, and over-the-counter pain relievers can take the edge off the first week or two.
- Honestly, the weirdness becomes background noise pretty quick. I barely notice the metal now unless I’m flossing (which takes forever, not gonna lie).
- If anything feels sharp or painful longer than a few weeks, definitely ask your ortho to check it out. Sometimes small tweaks make a huge difference.
Hang in there—it’s awkward at first but gets way better once your mouth adapts.
That popcorn kernel feeling threw me off at first too—I kept thinking something was stuck. Took me a while to stop poking at the brackets with my tongue. I will say, the jaw soreness eased up way quicker than I expected. The wax was a lifesaver for those first couple weeks.
