My ortho just told me I gotta start wearing those tiny rubber band things to fix my bite alignment, and honestly I'm already annoyed just thinking about it. Anyone here done this before? Like, do they actually make a noticeable difference, or is it mostly hype? I'm kinda skeptical they'll do much other than get stuck in my food or snap randomly when I'm talking, you know...
Had to wear those bands for about 6 months myself. Honestly, they were a bit annoying at first—snapped a couple times mid-conversation, awkward—but after a while, you kinda get used to them. Can't deny they did help my bite noticeably, though. Still, I was always paranoid about them breaking in public or getting stuck in food... so yeah, mixed feelings here.
I get your hesitation about the bands snapping—I had braces myself and went through the same thing. But honestly, considering the cost difference, rubber bands were a pretty budget-friendly way to fix my bite issue compared to other options like surgery or aligners. Sure, they weren't perfect (I remember a few awkward snaps myself...), but overall, the inconvenience was minor compared to the financial savings and long-term improvement. Might depend on priorities, I suppose.
"overall, the inconvenience was minor compared to the financial savings and long-term improvement."
Fair point, but have you considered the time factor? Rubber bands might be cheaper upfront, but they can take longer to show results compared to aligners. I went with aligners myself—sure, pricier at first glance—but the quicker progress meant fewer orthodontist visits overall. Sometimes spending a bit more initially can actually save you hassle (and even money) down the road...depends how much you value your time and convenience, I guess.
