Hi Julie! I’m so glad you found the post and can see all of the other comments, too. LOTS of kids have the same experience. It takes a few days to adjust but I hope your son is doing much better before returning to school. That was smart timing! My son is 14 now and has had his full mouth of braces off for at least a year. It feels awful now, but they get used to it and this too will pass. Hang in there! Let him enjoy his favorite soft foods for a while until he’s got the hang of eating. Wishing you and your son lots of luck and a BEAUTIFUL smile at the end of the journey!

We are on day 3 after the procedure and he is still struggling to eat, swallow, and talk. I was not fully prepared for what this whole procedure would involve and have been trying to respond to his needs (and pain) as we go. We both were ready to have it removed yesterday but continue to wait for the light at the end of the tunnel. We are currently on winter break from school so it has been nice to figure things out without the immediate return to school. Thank you again for sharing your experience! I find myself returning to this post to remind myself it will get better!

Hi Emily! Glad you found this helpful. It’s totally possible that the procedure has changed, and I’m not at all surprised that the price has gone up since my son had his expander. It’s crazy, and then you have to pay for braces when it’s all over. It’s 100% worth it for that smile at the end, but I tell my kids, this is a GIFT! Take care of your teeth! Wishing you and your son the very best and a smooth transition to wearing his expander!

Oh noooo! That’s so pricey for the expander. I’m sorry! Hopefully your ortho has payment plans but I know it’s still painful to the wallet. Prices must have REALLY gone up since my son got his in. I hope your son adjusts quickly. His smile will be worth it in the end!

hi Emily. First, know that he will adjust. You can see from these comments that none of our kids like this at first, but they do adjust, and they make it through the school day. Your son will, too! I would pack some soft foods for him to eat at lunch – thermos of soup, yogurt, pudding, etc. He can probably go to the bathroom and swish really well with water to rinse out afterward. You might even get him a water bottle with a sports cap that he can squeeze toward the roof of his mouth. Practice with the chewable foods at home first until he gets the hang of eating without getting things stuck. Hang in there! It’s really not bad for long and kids get used to it fast. I hope your son does great with his expander!

I’m so sorry she’s struggling! It can be uncomfortable in the beginning. Sounds like you did all the right things to comfort her. I hope she adjusts soon. The beautiful smile is worth it in the end!