"Teeth aren't something to gamble with... better to pay a bit more upfront than deal with bigger issues later."
Yeah, totally agree. My daughter begged me last year to let her try one of those DIY aligner kits she saw on TikTok—said all her friends were doing it and it'd save us money. I was tempted at first because braces can be crazy expensive, but I got nervous and decided we should check with our ortho first. Good thing we did, because turns out her teeth needed way more adjusting than some plastic trays could handle. The orthodontist explained how badly things could've gone wrong if we'd tried the DIY route—like shifting teeth too fast or messing up her bite permanently. Honestly, just hearing about this teen losing teeth makes me queasy... makes me glad I trusted my gut and didn't cave to peer pressure or social media trends.
Glad you trusted your instincts on that one. I had braces as a teen, and yeah, they were pricey and annoying at times, but totally worth it. DIY stuff might seem tempting, but teeth aren't something to mess around with... better safe than sorry.
"DIY stuff might seem tempting, but teeth aren't something to mess around with... better safe than sorry."
Couldn't agree more. My niece almost went down the DIY braces rabbit hole after seeing some TikTok videos—luckily, we caught her in time. Quick question though: did your orthodontist ever suggest alternatives like Invisalign or clear aligners? We're currently exploring options for my son, and I'm curious if they're as effective as traditional braces. Glad you shared your experience; it's reassuring to hear from someone who's been through it.
Yeah, totally agree with steering clear of DIY braces. Had Invisalign myself—worked well for mild crowding, but my ortho mentioned traditional braces might be better for more complicated cases. Definitely worth asking your orthodontist about specifics for your son.
My daughter had traditional braces for about two years—her teeth were pretty crowded and Invisalign wasn't really an option. Honestly, the results were great, but it took patience and regular check-ups. DIY braces sound terrifying... definitely safer to trust the professionals on this one.
