Haha, the Lloyd Christmas bangs reference made me laugh out loud... been there myself. But honestly, braces anxiety is no joke either. People underestimate how much orthodontic work can mess with your head—it's not just physical, it's psychological too. I remember being terrified to bite into anything crunchy for months after mine came off. Curious if anyone else still subconsciously avoids certain foods or habits years after braces? For me, it's caramel apples... can't even look at them without cringing a bit.
Totally relate to the caramel apple thing... for me it's popcorn. Even years later, I still hesitate before grabbing a handful at the movies. Orthodontic anxiety is definitely underrated—it's not just the fear of pain, but also the constant worry about breaking something expensive in your mouth. I remember my orthodontist casually mentioning how brackets could pop off, and that stuck with me way longer than it should've. Weird how those little comments linger, right? On the bright side, braces taught me some good habits, like cutting apples into slices instead of biting directly into them. Still do it today, even though I don't need to. Guess some habits just stick around.
I get the anxiety, but honestly, I think orthodontists sometimes exaggerate a bit. I ate popcorn and even chewed gum (carefully!) when I had braces, and nothing ever broke. Maybe I was just lucky? But yeah, slicing apples is still my go-to as well—it's just easier overall. Funny how braces shape our habits long after they're gone...
I dunno, I get what you're saying about orthodontists maybe overstating things sometimes, but honestly, I'd be way too nervous to risk it. When I had braces, I was constantly paranoid about breaking something—even avoided crusty bread for almost two years (which was kinda miserable, tbh). Do you think the anxiety around braces is more about actual risks, or is it just us being overly cautious because of how expensive and inconvenient repairs can be...?
"Do you think the anxiety around braces is more about actual risks, or is it just us being overly cautious because of how expensive and inconvenient repairs can be...?"
Honestly, it's probably a bit of both. When I had braces, my ortho made breaking a bracket sound like the end of the world—so naturally, I avoided popcorn like the plague. Looking back, the anxiety was def exaggerated, but repairs really are a hassle...
