I used to think that braces were a universally hated experience. I recently got mine taken off after a solid year and a half of labor, and I honestly could not be happier. Finally I could enjoy my favorite foods normally, without the worry of needing to set up an appointment because something was a little too crunchy. I welcomed these foods back with open arms – apples, caramel, banana Laffy Taffy – which is the best flavor, fight me.
However, it turns out that some people didn’t actually mind the metal contraptions. In fact, some people – at least five – actually enjoyed having braces.
Seeing the data was eye-opening, for sure. I originally thought that we all collectively hated these steel bits littered on our teeth, going to get them tightened every month, and being barred from all things good – but then again, there’s always at least somebody that does the nichest stuff.
As of today, about 40% of students claim to still have braces, and roughly 45% only need a retainer. Frankly, I’m glad that I was able to abandon the former, but some don’t seem to think the same. I think food might’ve been a factor that won some people over on braces, as 43% of students appear to have actually liked having braces, giving them a score of at least six out of ten, whilst 16.5% rated braces a one out of ten.
As expected, ice cream was the most popular post-tightening treat, unsurprisingly followed by smoothies, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and pasta. Which makes sense, as 1. These are the perfect foods to eat, requiring little effort from the consumer, and 2. You deserve a sweet treat after going through the pain of an orthodontic appointment.
In retrospect, I probably should’ve asked how long respondents had braces, as someone who only needed them for a few months probably has different experiences than someone who had them for years.
Looking at the data has me thinking – maybe braces weren’t so bad? Maybe I judged them to harshly, maybe I was too hung up about the food, maybe I should rethink my opinion. I mean braces are still not the best thing to have ever been invented, but at the same time, they also aren’t the worse.
Whenever I’m eating something that I couldn’t have had, I often think back to the days when I did have braces. Sure, they were painful, and sure, they were sometimes hard to work around, but at the end of the day, all they really want to do is give you a more beautiful smile.
