It's irresponsible of an orthodontist NOT to give you a list of things not to eat!

Popcorn is banned not because the kernals are too hard, but because the little brown part can get stuck between your braces and your gum and cause real problems, like an abcessed tooth. Ever had one of those? I have (before I had braces) and it's NOT fun.

I followed all the rules, but I didn't have a lot of choice - my sister had braces for 4 years, beginning when she was 9, so by the time I got them, my whole family knew all the rules!

Do follow the orthodontists' instructions, the sooner you can get the braces off, the better!

I had elastics several times, I liked having little elastics for little braids in my hair, but the elastics made my jaw ache every time. Finally one day when my orthodontist said "Open wide" "Now bite down" he looked at me and said

"Does it bother YOU that you have a crossbite on the left side? No one can see it when you smile ..."

I said "No, it doesn't bother me ...." And he said
"Good. Because if it did, you'd be wearing elastics for the rest of your life at this rate!"

Apparently that's what 4 or 5 different sessions of elastics were supposed to correct, but as soon as I stopped wearing them (on his orders), they'd drift right back!

I'm just NOT orthagonal!