DS getting braces right before trip?

[BigAlsGal]

Hi Disers! I have zero experience with braces. I've never had them. My son is scheduled to get them 3 days before we leave on our Thanksgiving Disney trip. I'm worried. Will they be hurting him the whole time? The office says it usually takes a couple days to get use to. The next available appointment is a month later and DS agrees he'd rather get them sooner than later. Your experiences please. WWYD?

 

[mjkacmom]

It only hurts for a day or two.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

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

 

[tamerbelles]

I think he'll be fine. The pain isn't excruciating - from what I remember, it was more a dull ache for a few days. I agree you should keep wax and ibuprofen on hand, and also make sure to ask the orthodontist about foods to avoid (specifically candy since you're going to be surrounded by gift shops with candy).

 

[Wishing on a star]

Wow... right at Thanksgiving AND a vacation trip.
This is one time I would not be a 'suck it up' kind of person.
Is there any way that this could be rescheduled for a little later, when you get back?

I got braces at Halloween (candy, etc...) I think it was the day before, if not actually ON Halloween. It really, really, sucked.

Yes it makes your teeth sore for a few days.
The new unfamiiar metal and wire in the mouth can rub and poke and be abrasive to the inside of the mouth (lips/cheeks).

 

[Klayfish]

Honestly, I would reschedule the braces application. I had them, but that was decades ago. My DS, age 12, has them now. He wasn't crying in pain, but he wasn't very happy for the first few days. It took some getting used to for him and was a distraction. He had the uppers put on first, then had the lowers put on a week before our trip (which I also think was Thanksgiving last year). He was OK, because he already had his uppers on and knew what to expect, etc... But 3 days before, and no prior braces, I think I'd reschedule if I could. If you can't, I'm sure he'll be fine, but it's less than ideal.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Gee, I'd wait if possible, since it's only another month. When she had braces, my daughter had to avoid really crunchy things like Doritos and Wheat Thins as well as super sticky things like taffy. If she ate something like apples, they had to be cut into bite-sized pieces. She couldn't just take a bite out of a whole one. Plus, what if a wire comes loose while you're in Florida? You'd have to find a local orthodontist and hope they can get him in. I certainly wouldn't tell someone with braces to NOT go to Disney, but since you have the opportunity to go with or without braces, I'd just say it would be significantly easier to go without.

 

[DizBelle]

I think fresh braces would definitely detract from enjoyment at WDW. I'd wait.

FTR - I had braces myself and they tore up the inside of my mouth until I got used to them.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My oldest only took Tylenol right after he got them. He never needed it again. My middle used it for about 48 hours. I think the pain would be gone for your DS.

The thing to think about are the kinds of food he eats in Disney. Both of my kids ate a caramel apple right before they got braces on, but this is not something they normally eat in Disney - neither is corn on the cob or whole apples. Now, we did discover the caramel shop in Epcot since braces so if you always go there, that would be out. However, you can still eat Mickey Bars with braces!!

 

[gemini2727]

Two kids with braces here, I would reschedule, for sure. The initial soreness with applying the braces isn't horrible, but it's no fun either. I would never schedule that before any important event or trip.

ETA - A month in the big picture of the whole process won't make much of a difference anyway...

 

[pooh4evr]

Yes, he's going to be really sore for a few days to a week. He won't be able to eat hard, chewy stuff, and no popcorn. Also have plenty of dental wax and stuff for gums, and inside of the cheeks which can get fairly torn up and sore because of rubbing on the metal. It might be best to reschedule.

 

[cabanafrau]

When my daughters went through orthodontic treatment, for different issues, it was no big deal. Based on that, a little wax, some ibuprofen if needed and some attention to what he eats and I see no reason he can't enjoy the trip. Matter of fact, all of the distractions of Disney sound perfect to keep his mind off the braces in the initial stages.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Thank you everyone! I'll be discussing these responses with DS. He's pretty laid back about stuff. I'm going to be calling the DRs office regularly to see if they get an earlier appointment come available. I'd just hate for him to be sore through the trip.

 

[mjkacmom]

Honestly, I had braces, as did 4 of my kids (2 sill have them on). We ate everything (sticky candy, popcorn..). Never had a problem.

 

[bjscheel]

The worst pain for my DD is the spacers you get a week before the braces. I don't remember exactly how long it hurt after braces installed (she's had them put on twice now), but sometimes after a normal monthly visit with adjustments she wants a soft food diet for a few days, which is hard to do away from home. It's hurt up to a week a couple of times. She was due for an appointment immediately before our vacation this year and we asked to put it off till the next month. I'm sure it varies by kid but I think my DD would advise him to either move it up or after the trip.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, the spacers were painful!!!

Also, the possible need for any attention or adjustments, etc. to the braces, right after they are first put on, that could be an issue as well.

I would not consider the input of anyone who has not had braces on their own teeth.
Just because somebody else's kid(s) 'seemed to do fine'... Nope....

 

[princesspiglet]

My daughter was actually scheduled to get her braces on a week before before our trip in 2013...once her ortho found out we were going to Disney, he told us to push it back. He really wanted her to enjoy the last experience of eating whatever she wanted before she was limited. It was about 3 weeks after we got back that she got them on and she was sore for a good week. She was so happy she waited. She got to eat whatever she wanted without worrying...and I didn't have to stress out about it either! In the grand scheme of things, 1 month will not make a difference! She just got them off in August after 3 years on!

 

[BigAlsGal]

Yes, the spacers were painful!!!

Also, the possible need for any attention or adjustments, etc. to the braces, right after they are first put on, that could be an issue as well.

I would not consider the input of anyone who has not had braces on their own teeth.
Just because somebody else's kid(s) 'seemed to do fine'... Nope....

I'm not sure about spacers. They didn't say anything about spacers. Do all braces get them?

 

[princesspiglet]

I'm not sure about spacers. They didn't say anything about spacers. Do all braces get them?

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.

 

[Poohlove]

I would say that it depends on your child, if they are able to withstand discomfort relatively well then I would go ahead with what you have planned as is. When my daughter got her braces on she was in some discomfort but nothing that some ibuprofen and milkshakes and ice cream didn't take care of. She was not able to eat solid foods for 24 hours after she got her braces on so that everything could dry and tighten. Think of the relief that a Dole Whip will bring

On the other hand, if your child doesn't tolerate pain so well I would push off the braces for a month. In the grand scheme of things another month isn't going to make that much of a difference and if your son is going to be cranky, therefore making everyone else cranky, it will be a month well waited.