Are train track comfier or removable brace?

[CheeseMmmm]

Hello

Dd14 having NHS orthodontics teeth straightening.

She has a removable brace at the moment to move some teeth, and will then have permanent brace.

She hates the removable one. She can't talk properly, it is painful taking out/ putting in. It's rubbing her gums.

She is wearing it as advised bless her but she would really like to know if the permanent ones she'll get in about a month will be more or less comfy.

Does anyone have children/ or experience themselves they can post about so I can tell her?

Tia

It's donkeys years since I had mine but from what I can recall the only painful times were when fitted and when tightened. Not sure if they still do, but they used to give a tub of this waxy stuff to put on the ends where the wires are to stop it cutting the sides of the mouth although I'm pretty sure I didn't use it for the entire time I wore them so I'm guessing it must've been wound round properly the next time round. I bloody loved mine!! It meant I could talk properly again and not talk with a constant lisp all the time from the palate on the retainer brace, plus it was fun deciding which colours to have on each time. I had mine for about 4 years and hardly knew they were there. Well apart from the odd time I either got the inside of my lip or the tip of my tongue caught in it on the odd times I messed around with them.

Thank you so much! I'll read her your post tomorrow :)

My retainer (removable one) stopped me talking properly for a while when in and the cleaning of it was annoying!

The train track only hurt when it was tightened abs after that was fine! I liked getting to pick the colours on it too!

I also had a head brace which was the worst!

(Braces from 8 till 18)

My son has train tracks and finds it comfortable aside from the time just after it has been tightened. No issues speaking or eating. He has to wear elastic bands with it now which he tends to do more at night as they make talking a bit more challenging! I hope she gets on okay, I'm sure she will find the fixed one easier.

DD has train tracks - they are painful when fitted and she struggled eating for a few days but after a week it was like she'd always had them. They are sore for a day after tightening and she gets some ulcers but nothing awful. Give painkillers just before they are fitted / tightened so that they are working by the time her mouth is sore

My DS has recently completed ortho treatment. They are quite painful for the first 24hours but then settle down. Make sure you have plenty of painkillers she can have during first couple of days and buy some ortho wax from the orthodontist to cover any of the brackets that rub against the cheek. The wax stops ulcers forming.
I’m also a dentist, not an orthodontist though, so was also able to show DS how to clean around the brace. There are plenty of videos online that your DD can watch for tips. TEPE interproximal brushes are essential, the yellow ones are a good size for cleaning around the wire and brackets.
Finally, she may find it painful to eat initially. DS researched foods that were easier with a brace so lived on yoghurt for a couple of days. Things that don’t need chewing.

I spent years in both removable and train tracks and I would say train tracks are easier to deal with. As PP, removable made me speak weirdly and were awkward at meal times. Train tracks were sore for a couple of days after tightening but otherwise fine. Only other issue with train tracks is that the elastic bands that hold the wire in place can stain bright yellow from curries and tomato based products. They are regularly changed so not too much of an issue but an annoyance.

My DS has them around about that age and honestly was neither up nor down with them. The whole process from initial removable brace ( to create space) to end of retainer was about 2 1/2 years but he never complained once. He's a bit of a drama Queen so I was very surprised!!

He had train tracks for the main part.

DD had removable and is now in a fixed brace. Needed ortho wax more for the removable brace initially than her fixed brace (babybel cheese wax works too if you’re stuck). Shouldn’t be able to feel the wires sticking out at the back teeth - if she can then go back. The brackets didn’t bother her at all - she’s still playing trumpet. Sore for first 3 days after fitting - lots of soup, porridge and calpol!!

Thank you so much everyone!

Just read them all out to DD given unanimous verdict!

She's much happier having heard all these now.

Thank you all again for posting

I would prefer a fixed brace as it doesn't have a plate and those things are horrid ! I've had both albeit 38 years ago and I recall the gagging from the place still !

Thank you v much!

She's had removable on about 6 weeks to move some teeth so can put train tracks on.

The comments about better or worse have reassured her a lot.

She's hated the current thing, and worried that permanent would be same or worse and well. Permanent!

Thank you