A
Alexandra1973
Member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2008
- Messages
- 90
- Location
- Ohio
I first got my braces at the age of 14, in December of 1987. I got them off a couple of weeks before I turned 17, in February of 1990.
One thing I really hated about them...that glue they used to put them on. Ack! Ptooey! And don't get me started on the gizmo they use to spread your lips/cheeks!
No, no needles were involved. I had a huge needle phobia back then (I got over it within the past 15 years).
They give you something to dry out your mouth, some medication you take night before, or that morning. Ack. Ptooey!
I had to go every 4 weeks to get them tightened and it kind of hurt. On top of that, the orthodontist was constantly riding me for not properly brushing, ad nauseum. And my parents had gotten a Water Pik so I could clean around the things. Still not good enough!
The good part was when those blasted things finally came off. They just took a pair of pliers or something and pulled them off, didn't hurt...then I had to have retainers (for the uninitiated, that's to hold your teeth in their new position until things stabilize).
I had my teeth cleaned last week and would you believe...the hygienist told me there was still adhesive! She asked me had I had braces, and I said yes, how can you tell? That's when she mentioned the adhesive. After 20 years!![[smiley=hiding.gif]](/forum/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/dfcsmilies/hiding.gif "Hiding behind the sofa [smiley=hiding.gif]")
And I'd last had my teeth cleaned in 1992!
I've played flute since age 9 and was in the high school band and I didn't really have problems playing.
Then of course you get the wise-acres. I worked in a Detroit-area bakery when I was 16 and some guy saw my braces and remarked, "I see the tin grin is in!"
I took the wind out of that guy's sails when I mentioned that the suckers hurt!
So--that's my experience.![[smiley=cheers.gif]](/forum/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/dfcsmilies/cheers.gif "Cheers [smiley=cheers.gif]")
<---root beer, I don't drink alcohol.
One thing I really hated about them...that glue they used to put them on. Ack! Ptooey! And don't get me started on the gizmo they use to spread your lips/cheeks!
No, no needles were involved. I had a huge needle phobia back then (I got over it within the past 15 years).
They give you something to dry out your mouth, some medication you take night before, or that morning. Ack. Ptooey!
I had to go every 4 weeks to get them tightened and it kind of hurt. On top of that, the orthodontist was constantly riding me for not properly brushing, ad nauseum. And my parents had gotten a Water Pik so I could clean around the things. Still not good enough!
The good part was when those blasted things finally came off. They just took a pair of pliers or something and pulled them off, didn't hurt...then I had to have retainers (for the uninitiated, that's to hold your teeth in their new position until things stabilize).
I had my teeth cleaned last week and would you believe...the hygienist told me there was still adhesive! She asked me had I had braces, and I said yes, how can you tell? That's when she mentioned the adhesive. After 20 years!
And I'd last had my teeth cleaned in 1992!I've played flute since age 9 and was in the high school band and I didn't really have problems playing.
Then of course you get the wise-acres. I worked in a Detroit-area bakery when I was 16 and some guy saw my braces and remarked, "I see the tin grin is in!"
I took the wind out of that guy's sails when I mentioned that the suckers hurt!
So--that's my experience.
<---root beer, I don't drink alcohol. 
If anybody has questions about some details feel free to pm me or leave a message.
