That wax is a joke if you drink anything hotter than room temp, honestly. I tried switching to those silicone “comfort covers” that snap over the brackets—kind of like a mouthguard but just for the front. They don’t melt, but they’re bulkier and make me lisp even worse than usual. Not sure if they’re meant for all-day use, but they did help when I had a wire poking out and couldn’t get to my ortho for a week.
For sleeping, I’ve used my old sports mouthguard (the boil-and-bite kind) when things got really rough. It kept my cheeks from getting shredded, but it felt overkill and made me drool a ton. Plus, it’s not exactly designed for braces, so I’m not sure if it’s good long-term.
I keep wondering why they haven’t come up with something that sticks better but doesn’t feel like chewing gum stuck to your teeth. Has anyone’s ortho actually recommended anything besides wax? Or are we just supposed to tough it out until the next appointment? Sometimes I feel like there’s got to be a hack we’re all missing...
I totally get what you mean about the wax just melting away with anything warm—been there, and it’s so annoying. My ortho once handed me a tiny packet of this “ortho putty” stuff, which was kind of like a cross between wax and Play-Doh. It stuck better but tasted weird, and it still came off if I ate soup or drank tea. I’ve always wondered if anyone’s tried those dental silicone sheets they use for whitening trays? Maybe cutting them up to fit over brackets? Not sure if it’d be less bulky than those comfort covers you mentioned...
I’ve always wondered if anyone’s tried those dental silicone sheets they use for whitening trays? Maybe cutting them up to fit over brackets? Not sure if it’d be less bulky than those comfort covers you mentioned...
That’s actually a really interesting idea. I haven’t tried the whitening tray silicone myself, but I did once cut up a mouthguard when my wire was poking out and nothing else would stay put. It was a bit of a DIY hack—definitely bulkier than wax, but it stayed on through hot drinks and even pizza. The downside was that it made talking feel kind of awkward, and it looked pretty obvious if I smiled.
I get what you mean about the ortho putty tasting weird. Mine always had this plasticky aftertaste, and honestly, half the time I’d just end up picking it off after a few minutes. I’m curious if anyone’s found something that stays on but isn’t super noticeable or gross-tasting. Has anyone’s orthodontist given them something different for those sharp wires? Or is everyone just stuck with wax and awkward hacks like us?
I swear, I’ve tried just about everything except duct tape at this point. The wax just dissolves on me, and once I used a tiny piece of chewing gum in a pinch (not my proudest moment). Never heard of an ortho giving out anything fancy—just the same old wax and “you’ll get used to it.” Anyone ever get something that actually works and doesn’t taste like plastic?
The wax just dissolves on me, and once I used a tiny piece of chewing gum in a pinch (not my proudest moment).
I feel this so much. I tried the wax, chapstick, and even a bit of bread once (don’t ask). Honestly, the only thing that’s ever sort of worked for me is silicone earplug putty. Sounds weird, but it holds up way better than the wax and doesn’t have that weird plasticky taste. Still not gourmet, but at least I’m not picking gum out of my brackets anymore.
