I totally get what you're saying about silicone sliding around at night. I tried silicone too, thinking it'd be more comfortable and less noticeable, but ended up waking up in a panic one night because I thought I'd swallowed it—turned out it was just stuck behind my molar. Not exactly a relaxing experience, lol.
Wax definitely feels bulkier at first, but once you get the hang of shaping it, it's pretty reliable. Plus, from a budget perspective, wax is way cheaper and easier to find if you're trying to save money. Silicone packs can add up quickly, especially if you lose them or they don't stay put and you have to keep replacing them. I was already anxious enough about paying for braces monthly, so anything that helped keep costs down was a win in my book.
Honestly though, whatever works best for your comfort and peace of mind is worth it in the long run...braces are stressful enough without worrying about silicone vs wax drama. Hang in there—it really does get better after those first few weeks.
Interesting points about wax vs silicone, but have you considered skipping both altogether? My son absolutely hated dealing with wax—it was messy, got everywhere, and he kept forgetting to remove it before eating. Silicone wasn't much better for him either, always slipping around or getting lost. Eventually, we just ditched them both and went for orthodontic comfort covers (I think they're called "lip protectors"?). They're reusable plastic strips that snap right onto the braces. A bit pricier upfront than wax, sure, but we only had to buy them once and they lasted ages. Plus, no midnight panic attacks about swallowing silicone bits, lol.
I get the budget concerns though—braces payments are no joke. But sometimes spending a little more upfront can actually save money in the long run if you're not constantly replacing stuff. Have you looked into any alternatives like that? Might be worth checking out...
"Eventually, we just ditched them both and went for orthodontic comfort covers (I think they're called "lip protectors"?). They're reusable plastic strips that snap right onto the braces."
Hadn't even heard of these comfort cover things before, but now you've got me curious. My daughter just started braces a couple months back, and we've been doing the wax shuffle ever since—little bits everywhere, laundry disasters, you name it. Silicone seemed promising at first, but she kept misplacing them or they'd fall off at school. Honestly, I was starting to think it was just part of the braces experience...
I totally get your point about upfront costs vs constant replacements too. We've been trying to stick to a tight budget, but sometimes all those little purchases add up more than you realize. Thanks for mentioning this alternative—I might have to look into it and crunch some numbers again. Always good to know we're not alone in the struggle!
Those comfort covers are pretty handy, but heads-up—they can be tricky for kids to snap on at first. Seen a few frustrated kiddos in my chair struggling with them...but once they're on, they're golden. Definitely beats picking wax outta pockets after laundry day, lol.
"Definitely beats picking wax outta pockets after laundry day, lol."
Haha, been there...wax in the dryer is no joke. Do you find kids eventually get the hang of snapping those covers on themselves, or do parents usually end up stepping in? My grandson just got braces and he's struggling a bit—trying to be patient and encouraging, but it's tough seeing him frustrated. Glad to hear it gets easier over time though. Thanks for sharing your experience!
