Hello!! I have had braces for over two years (overbite) and they suck but also don't!!

So the main thing about braces is: the stories are true, partially. Yeah, they really hurt. But they only hurt when something changes. When you first get your braces on, that's absolutely miserable for three or four days. You can't eat anything but yogurt and soup. But after a while, things get better, and you don't even notice they're there. The only other time they're going to hurt is when you get a new addition to them (like rubber bands or springs) or they need to replace a broken bracket or wire (and even then, only that specific tooth hurts).

Also, ignore the food thing. It's really not true. I avoid gum, but besides that, I've eaten pretty much everything I'm not supposed to. The worst it does is break a bracket once in a while, but that's nothing, and eating hard foods has only caused that for me maybe twice. Keep in mind I have an apple for lunch every day.

And orthodontists really depend on who you have. We had a great orthodontist for a while, but he went out of practice recently and now we're with people who I like a lot less. Still, they get the job done. But bear in mind to not blame orthodontists for their "you might get your braces off at this date" - they're almost never right. They can't be sure how things are going to work, and patients who don't cooperate (I wore my rubber bands every day like they told me to, and they considered me a model patient for it) will obviously take much longer than those who do. It depends on a lot of things, so their estimates, in the end, are just that: estimates. 

As for advice? Stock up on Tylenol and flavored yogurt for the first few days. Do whatever the doctor tells you, it makes things easier for everyone. And don't stress about it! Braces aren't nearly as bad as they seem, and in the end, you'll have nice teeth to prove it.

Top!

I got braces just about a year ago, last December. I have some sort of complicated jaw problem (ugh), so I also have had a palette expander and now have some sort of thing called a mumbo-jet, along with some other thing that I don’t even think has a name. So, yeah, I have experience with complicated mouth stuff. I have a really good orthodontist, so that’s a plus. For me, the bottom braces and roof-of-my-mouth contraptions hurt the most, but the biggest pain is when stuff gets stuck. As for the things you can’t eat, it’s really only hard things, gum, and corn on the cob, or at least for me. Good luck! (and I would say have fun but...)

Another thing is that I lived off of McDonald’s milkshakes for the first week or so, and still do after I get a new thing. So, I guess that’s sort of a plus.

Oh, yeah, I've had braces for ages. My teeth used to be a total mess. They had to pull out two baby teeth, and I've had expanders and chains and appliances and whatnot. Heh. Yay!

They're STILL not off (I think I got my first orthodontia thingamajig six years ago) but it should be "soon". Emphasis on "".

You don't really need to worry about it. They don't make you look that ugly, and if you get black rubber bands your teeth will look whiter. 

Anyway, advice wise? It honestly always stops hurting after a few days, but when you can't really eat anything then baked potatos. Baked potatos are AMAZING. The biggest problem for me is when something pokes me in the cheek and I get a nasty sore, so don't loose the waxy gunk.

Also, if you get super bored in the waiting room, you can ask for braces wax and make little sculptures with it. 

Don't eat tortillas unless you have to because you end up with soggy little tortilla bits in every single crevice and it's completely nasty. Apple slices are fine, and there's these poofy things that taste a bit like popcorn and are super tasty and you can eat them with braces. Also, you can totally eat gummies and hard candy as long as you don't chew on them; and... uh, well, I kinda chew gum all the time.

FUNNY STORY, when I was nine and just starting on this WoNdeRFuLl jOUrnEy and got braces installed in my mouth (there were four on my front teeth and that was it), I was in the waiting room or something and this nurse/hygenist/whatever walks up to me.

"Hey sweety!" she says. "Did you just get braces today?"

(Note I have ALWAYS hated when people talk to me like a child/ call me sweety.)

"Yes, I did."

"Do they hurt?" 

"Yes." 

"Oh, I just got invisible braces and they hurt really bad. *giggles*"

"Oh, cool! *obligitory polite laugh*" 

She walks away and I sit there thinking How stupid does she think I am? Invisble braces? Please. Invisible things aren't even real. I bet she thinks I'm five. 

Four years later I learned about Invisalign.

I had braces for a year and a half back in 5th grade. They suck, and are uncomfortable, but you get used to it after a while. The times when they do hurt aren't a huge chunk of the process in the grand scheme of things, it's usually right after you get them on and when they get tightened.

Like St. said, I totally ate popcorn and gummies and caramel and all that fun stuff when I had braces. Nothing bad happened. I don't know anybody who adhered to that.

If they give you rubber bands to wear on your braces, wear them, even if they hurt, which they might at first. If you don't, the process will take longer.

I now have Invisalign, which I personally like a lot more. It doesn't hurt nearly as much and is, of course, invisible. Maybe if they offer it you could ask about having that instead, if you really don't want braces? Though not all orthodontist places have it and it might be a bit more expensive. I'm not sure.

Good luck, Satin! Braces aren't fun, but you'll get them off eventually, and in the long run it's better to have nice teeth. :P

Eh, I got them in mid-February and I'm supposed to have them on for two years. They're not exactly fun, but most of the time I don't even notice they're there. The first couple days after getting them, it hurts to do pretty much anything involving your mouth, but after that it gets easier.

One piece of advice - if you can, buy a Waterpik. It has made the brushing routine so much easier to not have to slowly floss around the wire for every single tooth. 

I've had braces for about 6 months now, and believe it or not, I'm actually allowed to have popcorn, and apples and stuff! Just not kettle corn. Honestly, what people tell you is way worse than what it's actually like.

Ugh, braces. I feel for you! I'm probably not getting braces until next year, so I can't really offer any good advice. Many of my friends have them though, and they assure me that it's not as bad as people will tell you. 

I had braces for 1 1/2 years and it wasn't as bad as people said. I was still able to eat popcorn and sugarless gum and other things. And honestly I think braces make people look so cute! It makes it even better once you get them off if you don't like them, I guess. Trust me, you'll get used to them fast. I didn't think braces hurt that much, (I have a high pain tolerance but still- I wouldn't worry about it). I wish you luck!