Totally get where you’re coming from—those wires made me anxious too, but not having to keep track of plastic trays was a big relief. Honestly, I used to freak out every time I ate popcorn or bit into an apple. Still, not having to shell out for replacements was a win for my budget. It’s all about what stresses you out less, I guess. You made it work, and that’s what matters.
Honestly, I really get the budget thing—replacing those plastic trays adds up fast. But for me, the whole “not having to keep track” part was actually more stressful. Like,
For me, it was the opposite. I’d constantly worry about the wire—like, what if it snapped or got loose and I didn’t even notice? Then I’d spiral thinking my teeth would shift overnight or something wild.“not having to keep track of plastic trays was a big relief.”
With the plastic trays, at least I could see them, clean them, and know if they were missing or cracked. Sure, I did leave one at a friend’s house once (total panic), but at least it felt like something I could control. The idea of a wire glued in my mouth just made me super anxious... and then there’s stuff getting stuck around it (I’m still traumatized by popcorn hulls).
I guess it all comes down to what kind of “maintenance stress” you can handle. I’d rather obsess over where my tray is than worry about invisible wires doing who-knows-what behind my teeth.
I’d constantly worry about the wire—like, what if it snapped or got loose and I didn’t even notice? Then I’d spiral thinking my teeth would shift overnight or something wild.
This is exactly why I went with plastic trays too. The “mystery wire” thing just freaked me out. At least with trays, if something’s off, you know right away. I actually had a friend who didn’t realize her wire popped off one tooth for weeks—her dentist caught it during a checkup, but she was so mad at herself for not noticing sooner.
Honestly, the tray anxiety is real (I’ve had those 2am panics like, “Wait, did I leave it in the bathroom?”), but at least it’s visible stress, if that makes sense. And yeah, cleaning them gets old, but it feels manageable. Wires just seem like they’d be high-maintenance in a sneaky way... plus, popcorn is basically banned forever.
Guess it really is about what kind of stress you can handle. For me, I’d rather deal with the hassle of keeping track than the “out of sight, out of mind” dread.
I get the stress about the wire being “invisible trouble,” but honestly, I found the trays more stressful in a different way. I kept misplacing them—left one at a restaurant once, and had to scramble to get a replacement. With the wire, at least it’s always there, no forgetting. Sure, I worry about it breaking, but my dentist checks it every visit and so far, so good. Popcorn ban is rough though, I’ll give you that. Sometimes I wonder if there’s just no perfect option...
I hear you on the trays—mine ended up in a napkin at a fast food place once, and that was a nightmare to replace. The wire’s definitely less hassle in that sense, but yeah, there’s always that low-key worry about it coming loose. For what it’s worth, my ortho said breakage is rare if you avoid the big no-no foods (I still sneak popcorn sometimes... probably shouldn’t). Have you noticed any issues with flossing around the wire? That’s been my biggest headache.
