At one point I even tried drying my brackets with a hair dryer (not recommended unless you like looking ridiculous).
That made me laugh—I remember trying to pat mine dry with tissue, which just left little bits stuck everywhere. Honestly, I had the same issue with wax disappearing before I’d even finished breakfast. Salt water was a lifesaver for me too, especially when everything felt raw. Patience is tough, but it really does help. If someone ever cracks the code on coffee-proof wax, they’ll make a fortune.
I hear you on the tissue bits—been there, done that, ended up looking like I’d tried to eat a paper napkin. Honestly, the wax never lasted for me either, especially if I so much as glanced at a cup of tea. Salt water rinses were my go-to, though I’ll admit there were days I just toughed it out and grumbled. Whoever invents wax that survives morning coffee deserves a medal… or at least free dental work for life. Hang in there—it does get easier, even if it feels endless at first.
Whoever invents wax that survives morning coffee deserves a medal… or at least free dental work for life.
That’s the dream, right? I swear, I’ve gone through so many little boxes of ortho wax, and it never stands a chance against my caffeine habit. I tried layering it on thicker once—ended up with a weird, lumpy mess that somehow made things worse. Salt water’s solid, though. It stings at first but does help with the soreness and those tiny cuts you don’t even see coming.
I’ll admit, there were days I ditched both and just powered through, but my mouth definitely paid for it. If someone figures out a wax that doesn’t melt or flake off with hot drinks, I’ll be first in line. Until then, I’m team salt water... with a side of grumbling.
- Tried the “power through” method a few times—regret every single one.
- Wax + coffee = instant mess, just like you said.
Same here.“ended up with a weird, lumpy mess that somehow made things worse.”
- Salt water wins for me too, but I sometimes use a super soft toothbrush to help with those random sore spots.
- Haven’t found anything that survives tea either… maybe we need a wax/ceramic hybrid?
Powering through is a hard nope for me too. I tried just ignoring the pain after my surgery, thinking it’d “toughen me up,” but honestly, it just made me cranky and tired. Wax was supposed to be my savior, but the first time I drank coffee with it in... yeah, let’s just say it was like chewing on a candle that melted and then re-hardened in all the wrong places. Super gross.
Salt water rinses are my go-to now. I do them every few hours, especially after eating, and it really helps with that weird tightness and the random sore spots. Someone suggested using a soft toothbrush like you mentioned—I was nervous at first (felt like everything would fall apart), but it actually helped clear out little bits of food that got stuck near the stitches.
Tea is still a mystery though. The wax just slides right off or gets weirdly sticky? Maybe there’s some magic solution out there, but for now, I’m sticking to salt water and being super careful with hot drinks.