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I wore them for four years as a teen and my sister is currently wearing Invisalign. Soft foods helped when my teeth were sore but I semi enjoy it when my gums are sore so chewing helped them feel better in a way. I guess it's like how babies like to chew on things when teething.

@KT326: I got metal braces when I was 29 and had them on for 3 years. Best decision ever! You story sounds similar to mine. I was a jaw surgery candidate. I was dealing with a 10mm over jet, my midline was off, and had some crowding. I found a doctor would who said he'd correct my bite without pulling teeth or surgery, it would just take longer. I basically wore rubber bands throughout my entire treatment - those are horrible.

What helped me was meal planing for a week after adjustments such as soups, smoothies, pureed beans, mashed potatoes, tender pulled meats, yogurts, protein shakes, scrambled eggs. I found Macks pillow soft silicone ear plugs worked better than wax. Keep a small bag in your purse with things you'll need such as those christmas tree picks, toothbrush/toothpaste, wax, rubber bands and chapstick. Take pain killers before an adjustment. If you are getting metal braces opt for light gray bands over white or clear. The gray will blend in and white and clear will stain. Everything gets stuck in them! So when you eat, get in the habit of swishing the water around your mouth every now and then.

Good luck and it will all be so worth it!!

@KT326: Also! As a kid, I was a jaw surgery candidate but I ended up not needing it because the combo of chains/rubber bands was enough to bring my jaw/teeth forward. My friend did have the jaw surgery in high school but she had a very, very small jaw and headgear/rubber bands wasn't enough to bring it forward.

@KT326: My husband had his taken out (one at a time) and wasn't under general anesthesia for it.

Wait, what? Braces are that painful? I've been considering getting them because my bite is getting worse and worse. I figured they're such a common thing, how bad can it be? Now I'm terrified...

@KT326: i had that expander as a teen. It wasn't very pleasant but nothing ibuprofen won't take care of. It's also better than the alternative which is one you turn yourself with a key

Rubber bands weren't great and having to get them adjusted hurts but so worth it to have a corrected bite and a nice smile!

Good luck

sounds like our issues were not too dissimilar! i didn't have to have surgery, but did have to use two kinds of expanders and then was able to do invisalign.

i have to say, i felt like my doctor undersold the expanders and how bad they would be. for me the problem was that they rubbed against my tongue (because my arch was so small!) so in addition to the pain of teeth moving, i had my tongue get swollen pretty regularly. i had wax that was supposed to help the problem, but it really didn't work. i ended up relying a LOT on soup and shakes. and i honestly dropped like almost 10 pounds over the few months i was wearing them. hopefully whatever the way your mouth is shaped and the expander is, you won't have this problem, but i did wish i had known what to expect a little more (on the other hand, it was probably good i didn't know and couldn't really back out by the time i had it).

now on the far end of the process i'm so glad i did it--i finally know where to put my top jaw when i bite down! and i think my teeth just look so much nicer. good luck!

@KT326: I had a palate expander as a kid and don't remember it being too terrible. Not bad enough to give me any lasting negative memories, at any rate! Ditto with braces pain. Definitely sore but manageable.

I am going in next week for a final Invisalign consult (already done the xrays and stuff). I'm 36 and my dentist has been gently (and not so gently) suggesting braces for several years and yeah he's right, I need them. I had braces as a kid, teeth pulled, adult teeth removed before they came in, palate expender, retainer and while my top teeth are OK, even after all that my bottom teeth are jacked. Bah. Here's to the best for both of us

I don't have problems with my jaw, but I just got Invisalign last week to help straighten my bottom teeth. It was painful the first few days, but I haven't felt soreness since then. It's just annoying to have to take them out each time I want to eat or drink anything other than water and then brush my teeth before putting them back in.