I get where you’re coming from—those little packets really do disappear fast, especially if you’re eating out or just trying to get through the day without your cheeks getting torn up. I’ve definitely had to improvise with sugar-free gum before, though it’s not perfect. Honestly, I wish there was something that stuck as well as silicone but was as easy to slap on as wax. The cost adds up too, which just feels unfair when you’re already dealing with all the other hassles.
Honestly, I wish there was something that stuck as well as silicone but was as easy to slap on as wax. The cost adds up too, which just feels unfair when you’re already dealing with all the other hassles.
We’ve run into the same thing with my daughter’s braces. Wax is easy for her to use at school, but it falls off by lunchtime—then she’s back to square one. Silicone sticks better, but she finds it kind of tricky to get it in place without help, especially if she’s out or at a friend’s house. The cost is frustrating. It’s such a small thing but it does add up, and sometimes the orthodontist just hands out a tiny sample and that’s it. I do wonder why there isn’t a middle ground—something that’s both easy and long-lasting.
Is it just me, or does anyone else worry about whether the wax or silicone is even safe to use all day? I get nervous my son might swallow a piece by accident, especially when the wax keeps falling off. Silicone lasts longer, but he’s always asking for help with it, and I’m not sure he’d manage on his own during class. Does anyone else feel like maybe neither option is really perfect for kids? The cost thing bugs me too, but I’m honestly more anxious about him messing with it and ending up with a bigger problem.
I get nervous my son might swallow a piece by accident, especially when the wax keeps falling off.
Honestly, you’re not alone. My kid is a pro at losing wax halfway through the school day, and I swear I’ve found more bits in the laundry than in his actual mouth, but still... I worry too. The orthodontist told me the wax is “non-toxic” but that doesn’t exactly inspire confidence when you’ve got a 9-year-old who thinks chewing on everything is a sport.
Silicone’s supposed to be better, but my son acts like it’s some kind of high-level puzzle every time he tries to put it on himself. I can barely manage it without dropping it somewhere gross. And yeah, the price! At this point, I feel like I’m paying for a subscription box of tiny dental supplies.
Honestly, neither option feels perfect for kids. If someone invents something that actually stays put and doesn’t cost a fortune, I’ll be first in line. Until then, I just cross my fingers and hope he doesn’t come home with half the wax missing (again).
At this point, I feel like I’m paying for a subscription box of tiny dental supplies.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve got a drawer full of half-used wax packs and random silicone bits that never seem to last long enough to justify the price. My youngest went through a phase where she’d just chew the wax like gum—orthodontist said “no big deal,” but I still wasn’t thrilled about it. I get that it’s non-toxic, but it’s not exactly part of the food pyramid, you know?
Silicone definitely stays put a bit better, but it’s like you need a third hand to get it on right, especially if your kid’s in a rush before school. And the moment it drops on the bathroom floor? Game over. I will say, the silicone seems to hold up a bit better if you can actually get it in place, but the price is rough.
Honestly, I wish there was a magic fix for this. Until then, I’m just hoping for less wax in the washing machine and more actually doing its job.
