Wax was my lifesaver too, but I did try those silicone covers once. Honestly? They felt a bit like putting a raincoat on inside. Maybe good for marathon eaters, but otherwise, meh.
I get where you’re coming from with the silicone covers feeling odd, but I’ve actually seen a lot of people stick with them over wax—especially if they’ve got sensitive cheeks or are in sports. Wax is great in a pinch, but it never stayed put for me. Half the time I’d end up swallowing it by accident (gross, but true). Silicone felt weird at first, sure, but after a couple days it was just less messy.
About the pizza thing—I hear this all the time and honestly, I think we scare ourselves off way too many foods in those early days. The first week is rough, not gonna lie, but unless you’re biting into a brick, most stuff is fair game if you go slow. The “phantom bracket” habit though... can’t argue with that. Even now, years later, I still catch myself checking for wires that aren’t there. Brains are weird.
Wax is great in a pinch, but it never stayed put for me. Half the time I’d end up swallowing it by accident (gross, but true).
Funny you mention swallowing wax—I hear that a lot, but I’ve actually found that if you dry your brackets off with a tissue first, the wax sticks way better. Silicone’s sturdier, sure, but for some folks, wax just feels more natural. Guess it’s a “your mileage may vary” thing.
Silicone’s sturdier, sure, but for some folks, wax just feels more natural. Guess it’s a “your mileage may vary” thing.
Totally agree on that “your mileage may vary” bit. I was all about saving a few bucks, so I stuck with the regular wax they handed out at the ortho. Did I swallow a chunk or two? Yeah, and honestly, after the first time, I just shrugged and hoped it was at least calorie-free. Silicone’s cool and all, but my wallet didn’t love the price tag. Drying off the brackets with a tissue definitely helped, though—big difference there.
It’s wild how something as tiny as wax can make you feel like you’re prepping for battle every morning. The cyborg vibes are real, but hey, at least you’re not alone in the wax-swallowing club. It gets easier after a while—eventually, you barely notice the stuff (unless you bite into pizza and it vanishes mid-bite… ask me how I know). Hang in there.
I totally get the cyborg feeling—first week, I kept thinking I’d set off metal detectors or something. I stuck with the regular wax too, but it always seemed to disappear halfway through lunch. Anyone else get that weird plasticky taste after? Does that go away eventually?
- That plasticky taste from the wax isn’t universal—some folks never notice it. I actually switched brands after a week because the standard wax tasted weird to me too, almost like chewing on a balloon.
- You might want to try silicone ortho wax instead of the regular stuff. It holds up way better through meals and doesn’t melt away as fast. I found it didn’t leave any aftertaste, which was a huge relief.
- The taste thing does fade for most people, but if it keeps bugging you, double-check that you’re not accidentally swallowing bits of wax. That happened to me early on and made the taste linger longer than it should have.
- Not everyone gets used to the sensation right away. Took me almost two weeks before I stopped feeling like a robot with extra hardware in my mouth.
- If you’re still struggling with wax disappearing, maybe try using less at a time or pressing it in a bit firmer. Some people even use a tiny dab of orthodontic silicone (sold at most pharmacies) for stubborn spots—lasts way longer than the regular wax.
- About the cyborg thing...honestly, I kind of leaned into it after a while. Made up stories for my nephew about being part machine, which made it less annoying to deal with all the metal in my mouth.
It’s not always about just waiting it out—sometimes switching up the products or how you use them makes a bigger difference than you’d think.
