Bite plate was a total dud for me too—felt like I was chewing on a plastic coaster all night and my jaw still clicked like castanets. Only thing it fixed was my ability to drool in my sleep. Metal braces weren’t fun, but at least I could see progress instead of just collecting appliances in my nightstand drawer.
Ugh, I totally get the “plastic coaster” feeling. Bite plates never did much for me either—except, yeah, making my pillow a little soggier. Braces were no picnic (hello, soup for days), but at least watching my teeth actually move kept me motivated. Sometimes it feels like you have to pick your battles with all these appliances, but seeing real progress makes the hassle a bit more bearable.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about picking your battles. For me, the bite plate was just... awkward. I never really got used to the bulkiness, and I worried about accidentally swallowing it at night (has that ever actually happened to anyone?). Braces were a pain too, but at least you could see your teeth shifting every few weeks, which made all the hassle seem kind of worth it.
Did you ever try the elastics with your braces? Those were my personal nightmare—half the time I’d forget them, then panic that I’d ruined my progress. But honestly, seeing actual movement did keep me going. Sometimes I wonder if the discomfort is just part of the deal or if there’s a way to make it less miserable... Like, do people actually get used to all this metal in their mouths after a while? Or does it always feel weird?
I’m still anxious about long-term stuff too—like will my teeth shift back if I slack off with retainers? Just curious if anyone’s had that happen.
I can relate to so much of what you’re describing. The bite plate was easily my least favorite part of the whole process—felt like I had a hockey puck wedged in there. Never actually heard of anyone swallowing it (I used to stress about that too), but I guess it’s technically possible? The awkwardness, though, that’s real. I’d wake up and have to check if it was still in place.
Elastics were a whole different beast. I lost track of how many times I’d forget to put them in, especially after eating or brushing. There were weeks when my ortho would give me that look, and I knew I’d slacked off. But honestly, as frustrating as all the gadgets and wires were, seeing my teeth slowly line up did make it easier to stick with it.
It does get more manageable over time—not exactly “normal,” but you stop noticing the metal as much. Your mouth just adapts in weird ways. I remember thinking I’d never eat a sandwich again without half of it getting caught in my braces, but eventually you figure out tricks for eating and talking without feeling totally self-conscious.
About the retainers… yeah, that’s a big one. I got lazy with mine after a couple years and noticed my teeth starting to shift back a bit. Not super dramatic, but enough that I regretted not wearing it more consistently. It’s wild how quickly things can move if you skip out for a while. If you can keep up with the retainer routine—even if it’s just at night—it really does help hold everything in place.
To me, the discomfort was just part of the deal, but it helped to remind myself what all the hassle was for. And honestly, once you’re through it, you kind of forget how bad it felt at the time. Hang in there—the payoff is worth all the weirdness and awkward gadgets in the end.
That “hockey puck” feeling is spot on—never got used to it, honestly. Did you ever find yourself talking with a weird lisp for weeks? I swear, I sounded like I’d just come from the dentist every morning. About the retainer—did your ortho ever warn you how fast teeth can shift? Mine made it sound dramatic, but he wasn’t kidding. Ever try those clear retainers? I found them easier to wear at night, but they cracked on me a couple times.
