DS getting braces right before trip?

[Hannahinwonderland]

I would have been miserable getting my braces before a Disney trip. It hurt and I couldn't eat most of my favorite foods.

 

[TheIncredibles!]

No, not everyone gets spacers. The only people who require them are the ones who need their jaw made wider overall for correction of alignment and bite. My daughter never had spacers. They would have told you that already if he required them. Is this stage 1 for him? Does he need to wear any headgear or bands? All this will come into play while you are on vacation, so seriously consider waiting.

Are you thinking of an expander? Spacers are those small pieces of plastic that are shoved in between the molars a few days before the braces go on to make room for the bands to fit over the teeth.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I would definitely postpone it, since it will only be postponed a month. Different people have different experiences. After the initial pain for me, it was a good week before I was totally comfortable and you don't want it to spoil his trip.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

A few years ago, a friend's son got his on the day before their Disney trip. All I remember is her telling us how miserable he was and didn't enjoy the trip as much as he should've. She regretted not rescheduling the ortho appointment for after their trip.

 

[wilkeliza]

I had braces for like 6 years and there were times it was brutal. It really depends on what your son is getting done. I had rubber bands and a RPE. I had spacers as well but those are usually before the braces go on. It took a couple visits before they actually put the braces on as the spacers went in to make room for a few heftier metal pieces and took molds then the next week I went in for the actual braces and then I had a follow up a week later to make sure everything was good and to put the rubber bands and stuff on.

Besides the pain that becomes a dull ache another reason is just the limitations that will be put on what your son can eat. It really sucks to get your braces around the holidays and you are just getting use to not being able to eat popcorn, not being able to eat caramel, not being able to eat anything sticky or hard. It is a hard thing to get use to. Of course you can always take the chance (I ate popcorn sometimes and chewed gum) but braces can break so easily. I'll never forget my first bracket coming loose on a soft cookie. My mom purposefully bought them because they were soft baked and I still broke a bracket.

If the dentist thinks waiting a month is okay I would wait just so he doesn't have to worry about anything on vacation.

 

[BigAlsGal]

No, not everyone gets spacers. The only people who require them are the ones who need their jaw made wider overall for correction of alignment and bite. My daughter never had spacers. They would have told you that already if he required them. Is this stage 1 for him? Does he need to wear any headgear or bands? All this will come into play while you are on vacation, so seriously consider waiting.

He has to wear rubber bands. Thats about it.

 

[Minnesota!]

My older son just got his on for the second time. Soreness lasted about 2 days each time. He would have been fine going to WDW. We actually did go out of town 5 days after this last time...no issues.

 

[gemini2727]

Op, no matter how many people say that their child was fine, you just never know how you son will feel until they're on. My son developed canker sores in his mouth until he got used to all of that metal in there! There's really no down side to postponing putting them on, why chance it?

 

[jo-jo]

I'd wait. I had braces as an adult and the first few days I thought I would be spitting out pieces of tongue my mouth felt so raw. Even later in the treatment. every time I had them tighten, they hurt a little for a day or two.

Plus the concern of don't eat this or that. I had a embarrassing but now funny event with food. Cub scout picnic, eating hot dogs and drinking red punch. Unknown to me the roll had gotten stuck in the braces and the punch dyed it all red. I must have looked lovely.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Make sure you have some orthodontic wax, and ibuprophen and he should be fine.

This. Times 2.

How long between getting the braces and the actual Thanksgiving meal? I remember taking at least a week everytime I had adjustments before I could eat "normally".

 

[Southernmiss]

I'd go to Disney and keep the braces appointment. Just bring wax and ibuprofen.

Today's braces are kinder and gentler compared to the braces of my day. My kids had much less pain than I did as a kid.

Four kids had braces. Needed ibuprofen for a day or 2 after and softish foods- mashed potatoes and ice cream or Mac and cheese for 2 or 3 days after. Easy stuff to find and fun to eat at Disney.

Our orthodontist is amazing and rescheduling appointments is difficult because he's so busy. I wouldn't put off an appointment if I could avoid it.

 

[Kellykins1218]

We went the day after my son got his on. He was sore for about a day and a half. He said it really wasn't bad at all plus he got all the Mickey bars and Dole whips he wanted. He took a couple of Tylenol and that was it. No reason to postpone the trip at all.

 

[Skippy918]

I would wait too. I remember getting braces and my mom had to buy baby food because it hurt to chew anything. The soreness lasted a week or two. Once my teeth got used to it, the subsequent tightenings weren't nearly as bad.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

I'd go to Disney and keep the braces appointment. Just bring wax and ibuprofen.

Today's braces are kinder and gentler compared to the braces of my day. My kids had much less pain than I did as a kid.

Four kids had braces. Needed ibuprofen for a day or 2 after and softish foods- mashed potatoes and ice cream or Mac and cheese for 2 or 3 days after. Easy stuff to find and fun to eat at Disney.

Our orthodontist is amazing and rescheduling appointments is difficult because he's so busy. I wouldn't put off an appointment if I could avoid it.

They are much kinder and gentler than the braces of old! My DS just got his on, and he has no bands, just the brackets, so he used a lot of wax the first few days to keep the sharp edges blunted, otherwise he was pretty good.

 

[Aliceacc]

I wouldn't chance it. Push the appointment back a week and let your son enjoy his vacation without worry or pain.

 

[dotfurio]

I'd wait since it's only a month later. Initial braces can really tear up your mouth until you get used to them. Also there will brand new restrictions on foods you'll have to think about while dining out. It might be easier to navigate that at home.

If you do go for it, you need to bring wax, pain reliever, and I'd also add orajel.

 

[kerry1379]

I would wait. When my oldest got his braces, there was a wire that kept poking him and it took a few visits to get it right. It was at the very back and they kept trying to clip it shorter so it wouldn't poke him. Then they clipped it too short and the whole bracket on that tooth came off. None of that was really a big deal and could be fixed in minutes at the office. But if we hadn't been near the office, I think it would have been quite painful if allowed to keep poking and rubbing. That wasn't something that wax really helped. It got him through the night but it wouldn't have helped for much longer.

 

[Kimberle]

I would stick close to home the first month they are installed. My dd was sore for the first week or so. The biggest problem was a wire dislodged and was poking her in the cheek. We were able to visit the ortho the next day. I can't imagine going for a week or having to find an "emergency ortho". She also didn't get them put on the same day. Top first, then bottom the next week.

 

[BigAlsGal]

This. Times 2.

How long between getting the braces and the actual Thanksgiving meal? I remember taking at least a week everytime I had adjustments before I could eat "normally".

It will be over a week between placing them and Thanksgiving.

 

[Thing 1]

I would reschedule. When DS got his, we made a couple trips back that first couple weeks till we had a few things adjusted. Not a fun thought if you are many hours away on vacation. His pain was pretty much limited to 3-4 days, but it takes a bit of time to figure out how to comfortably and easily eat some foods.