Can braces affect your ability to think?

[KelahRammy]

Call me a neurotic premed, but I just got invisalign and I feel like they are affecting my ability to think. Today is the second day, and I am having a difficult time getting used to them. I can take them off whenever I want, but the orthodontist has told me to keep them on 22 hours a day everyday.

I switch trays every two weeks so I imagine that every two weeks, I will feel this discomfort and then eventually get used to the postion again.

My question is this:

Will having braces affect your ability to sleep, think, and function to the best of your ability? I study all day considering i'm taking a very difficult physics course during the summer, and I have only been thinking about this all day yesterday and today. Can someone tell me if I am just being paranoid, or if there really is truth to this.

I am going to try to switch trays after or before midterms/finals week so that I don't have a tough time those days. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

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[schrizto]

How do you think your braces are affecting your thinking ability? Is it discomfort that interrupts the thought process, or some sort of psychological inadequacy feeling or what?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Call me a neurotic premed, but I just got invisalign and I feel like they are affecting my ability to think. Today is the second day, and I am having a difficult time getting to them. I can take them off whenever I want but the orthodontist has told me to keep them on 22 hours a day everyday.

I switch trays every two weeks so I am imagine that every two weeks, I will feel this discomfort and then get used to them.

My question is this:

Will have braces affect your ability to sleep, think, and function to the best of your ability? I study all day considering i'm taking a very difficult physics course during the summer, and I have only been thinking about this all day yesterday and today. Can someone tell me if I am just being paranoid, or if there really is truth to this.

I am going to try to switch trays after or before midterms/finals week so I don't have to have a tough time those days. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

you're a neurotic premed

 

[vickpick]

u study all day just for undergrad classes?

i think u're just paranoid, this is not the truth.. having braces just cannot affect ur sleep.. but this comes from a person who only sleep when he is truly tired.

 

[vickpick]

you're a neurotic premed

yes, i second that.

 

[zayka]

There's not really anything you can do about it, is there? So, for your sanity, assume it's a "no" (although I have no idea and never wore braces myself). Don't worry about it!

 

[kia ora]

How do you think your braces are affecting your thinking ability? Is it discomfort that interrupts the thought process, or some sort of psychological inadequacy feeling or what?

seriously?

to the OP, I have never had braces but I have had my share of dental work. I recall once having a temporary crown that drove me crazy. it felt "off" and I couldn't think about anything else. I went back to the dentist and it turned out the crown just needed to be shaved down a tiny bit. probably a mm or so, if that, but it was throwing my entire bite out of whack. my point being, mouth pain is horrible but it doesn't even have to be actual pain to become all-consuming. it could just be that you need a bit more time to get used to the braces, or perhaps they need to be adjusted. I'd go back to your orthodontist if I were you - explain that the braces are driving you to distraction and have him/her check their fit. it's possible that a slight adjustment will set your mind at ease. if not, it's likely just a matter of waiting a few days to get accustomed to feeling weird stuff in your mouth. good luck!

 

[Mellymel09]

It's normal to feel that dicomfort during the first couple of days when you switch trays (or get braces tightened), because your teeth are actually moving around (micro millimiters or less every day). Think of it this way: it's temporary and sooner than you know it, you'll be rockin' a million-dollar smile 🙂 ! Maybe try some pain relievers during those first couple of days... tylenol or advil but talk to your orthodontist first, he may have better solutions since he deals with this all the time!

Good luck! Def do-able! Been there, done that 😉

Mel

 

[searun]

There is a rumor that people with braces perform much worse on the MCAT than people who do not wear braces. Personally, I doubt this but it is something to consider - a correlation with dental problems and brain disfunctrion. Apparently, dental problems can contribute to heart disease but I have not seen any studies regarding dental issues and cognitive problems. Perhaps the OP is on to something.

 

[apumic]

Call me a neurotic premed, but I just got invisalign and I feel like they are affecting my ability to think. Today is the second day, and I am having a difficult time getting to them. I can take them off whenever I want but the orthodontist has told me to keep them on 22 hours a day everyday.

I switch trays every two weeks so I am imagine that every two weeks, I will feel this discomfort and then get used to them.

My question is this:

Will have braces affect your ability to sleep, think, and function to the best of your ability? I study all day considering i'm taking a very difficult physics course during the summer, and I have only been thinking about this all day yesterday and today. Can someone tell me if I am just being paranoid, or if there really is truth to this.

I am going to try to switch trays after or before midterms/finals week so I don't have to have a tough time those days. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

5 minutes ago, before subjecting myself to this post, I would have answered "NO WAY!"
However, now that I have read your post, I think I'm a believer. Braces MUST effect your ability to think. It's been "proven" by you, my friend. Congratulations.

 

[KelahRammy]

How do you think your braces are affecting your thinking ability? Is it discomfort that interrupts the thought process, or some sort of psychological inadequacy feeling or what?

Yes, it's the discomfort that interrupts the thought process. Like I'm thinking about the subject of "Electric Flux" in physics and then all the sudden, my mind goes off toward thinking about my braces. Maybe you guys are right, I'll get used to them. Thankfully, I'll be taking my MCAT a good while after I have my braces taken off for good. So hopefully if the rumors are indeed correct, it won't effect my score!

 

[KMFDM]

Take some tylenol for the first two days after you switch to a new set of trays.

And then stop being so anal.

 

[shemarty]

The very first set hurt the worst because your teeth aren't used to being pushed around. After a few sets of aligners, it still hurts when you switch to a new one but the pain's not as bad and doesn't last as long. You get used to it after awhile. I just finished my invisalign treatment this year 😀

 

[kami333]

Never had Invisalign but I did have regular braces (ceramic, not metal so it wasn't as noticable) back in high school and yes, they drove me crazy for a few weeks before my teeth start moving and then for a few days after each adjustment. I had a shaved down mouth guard that I would bite to releave some of the pressure sometimes, probably not the best thing to do. I imagine that it's pretty similar with Invisalign as the other say. For those who've never had braces, it's much like having a toothpick jammed between your teeth that's too wide for the gap and is constantly putting pressure on them.

 

[dw2158]

There is a rumor that people with braces perform much worse on the MCAT than people who do not wear braces. Personally, I doubt this but it is something to consider - a correlation with dental problems and brain disfunctrion. Apparently, dental problems can contribute to heart disease but I have not seen any studies regarding dental issues and cognitive problems. Perhaps the OP is on to something.

Yes, it's the discomfort that interrupts the thought process. Like I'm thinking about the subject of "Electric Flux" in physics and then all the sudden, my mind goes off toward thinking about my braces. Maybe you guys are right, I'll get used to them. Thankfully, I'll be taking my MCAT a good while after I have my braces taken off for good. So hopefully if the rumors are indeed correct, it won't affect my score!

fixed. pet peeve.

you will get used to them. this isn't braces affecting your ability to think; this is you being distracted by pain or discomfort. two very different things. relax. 🙄

 

[dmblue]

How do you think your braces are affecting your thinking ability?

Since the OP made created this post, it's clear that the braces are affecting his/her thinking ability.

 

[bigbad]

I got braces about a year and a half ago. My teeth were horrible, like one on top of another and growing above my natural toothline(I dunno what its called). I had 4 teeth removed to make space for braces and now they're nearly perfect. I know people that had braces for 4+ years... I have no idea what their dentists are doing.

Just keep it on as much as you can and don't get lazy. And taking pain killers might also affect your ability to think...

 

[schrizto]

Since the OP made created this post, it's clear that the braces are affecting his/her thinking ability.

good point.

 

[LAman10]

Call me a neurotic premed, but I just got invisalign and I feel like they are affecting my ability to think. Today is the second day, and I am having a difficult time getting used to them. I can take them off whenever I want, but the orthodontist has told me to keep them on 22 hours a day everyday.

I switch trays every two weeks so I imagine that every two weeks, I will feel this discomfort and then eventually get used to the postion again.

My question is this:

Will having braces affect your ability to sleep, think, and function to the best of your ability? I study all day considering i'm taking a very difficult physics course during the summer, and I have only been thinking about this all day yesterday and today. Can someone tell me if I am just being paranoid, or if there really is truth to this.

I am going to try to switch trays after or before midterms/finals week so that I don't have a tough time those days. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

look at that logic. I hope you never do research. EVERYTHING is uncomfortable when it's new. and obviously if you sit around daydreaming about your teeth 24/7, you won't be able to concentrate on your studies. please, don't be stupid. here's to hoping you go through mental puberty

 

[ILikeDrugs]

The raw-type pain last for several weeks and then goes away. That raw pain doesn't come back after that even after you get a new alignment. I remember my teeth feeling tight for a day or two after i had my braces "realigned" (not sure about the exact term) and that was it. No pain.

 

[armorshell]

Oh lawdy, did I find some pre-meds talkng bout dentistry!?

Note that since Invisalign is a tray-aligner system, the trays actually open your bite slightly (create a malocclusion). Some people cannot tolerate this well, and literally can't think about anything else. So yes, OP, you are correct. That being said it should go away soon. If not, see your orthodontist.

Alternate theory: The trays are opening you out of centric relation and your mandibular condyles are poking you in the middle cranial fossa. Jk that's unpossible.

 

[Van Chowder]

Call me a neurotic premed, but I just got invisalign and I feel like they are affecting my ability to think. Today is the second day, and I am having a difficult time getting used to them. I can take them off whenever I want, but the orthodontist has told me to keep them on 22 hours a day everyday.

I switch trays every two weeks so I imagine that every two weeks, I will feel this discomfort and then eventually get used to the postion again.

My question is this:

Will having braces affect your ability to sleep, think, and function to the best of your ability? I study all day considering i'm taking a very difficult physics course during the summer, and I have only been thinking about this all day yesterday and today. Can someone tell me if I am just being paranoid, or if there really is truth to this.

I am going to try to switch trays after or before midterms/finals week so that I don't have a tough time those days. Any other suggestions?

Thanks for the help.

No.. but having teeth that look like have been chewing on rocks will hurt your ability to get laid..😀

 

[Equality]

I hope you never do research... please, don't be stupid. here's to hoping you go through mental puberty

That's just a mean thing to say.

BTW, what does OP stand for?

 

[dmblue]

That's just a mean thing to say.

BTW, what does OP stand for?

overused, but as usual, deserved

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=op

 

[LuciusVorenus]

I have regular old braces right now and I do remember that the first week was really uncomfortable for me (I started getting really OCD about them). Lucky for me I got them during the summer. After a while though you really do forget they're there so I wouldn't worry about it too much (give it a month at most maybe?). As for me, each time I went to get my braces tightened it got less and less uncomfortable to the point where I stopped feeling it at all.

If anything, I would disagree with the whole premise of this post. I have found that when I am taking a test/doing homework, playing around with my braces help me concentrate 😀 Maybe it's acting like an antennae for knowledge, or something. Eh?

 

[KelahRammy]

Oh lawdy, did I find some pre-meds talkng bout dentistry!?

Note that since Invisalign is a tray-aligner system, the trays actually open your bite slightly (create a malocclusion). Some people cannot tolerate this well, and literally can't think about anything else. So yes, OP, you are correct. That being said it should go away soon. If not, see your orthodontist.

Alternate theory: The trays are opening you out of centric relation and your mandibular condyles are poking you in the middle cranial fossa. Jk that's unpossible.

Man I'm glad a dental student checks the preallo threads. Who would ever imagine that a premed would need advice from a dental student? lol jk

I really appreciate everyone's opinion. Even the guy who said I should go through mental puberty lol

 

[Iced]

If braces are going to come between you and your dream of medicine, then just switch majors.

 

[armorshell]

Pffft! I had 4 of my premolars removed as a med student and that was real painful! The first two teeth were lodged in and needed over 90 minutes to get them removed. I had a fever from so much manipulation and was in a lot of pain for 3 weeks! And I still went to class the following morning (though I couldn't speak a word at first). What a lame excuse not to pay attention to class. The braces are a laughing joke in comparison and they never gave me problems to pay attention, they were a minor speech impediment though.

Who did the extractions? No extraction should take 90 minutes, and full-bony impacted 3rd molars (the hardest teeth to extract) take a moderately experienced practitioner about 5 minutes each.

 

[TopSecret]

Pain can affect your concentration.

 

[armorshell]

Man I'm glad a dental student checks the preallo threads. Who would ever imagine that a premed would need advice from a dental student? lol jk

In some weird, roundabout way, I'm a premed also, though I'll never take the MCAT. Only reason I'm even here, figured I should learn something about the med school I'll be attending.

 

[Evergrey]

in some weird, roundabout way, i'm a premed also, though i'll never take the mcat. Only reason i'm even here, figured i should learn something about the med school i'll be attending.

dds/md?

 

[MissIrish]

...

 

[dmblue]

Who did the extractions? No extraction should take 90 minutes, and full-bony impacted 3rd molars (the hardest teeth to extract) take a moderately experienced practitioner about 5 minutes each.

This is not entirely true. Many teeth break apart as you extract them, and removing the roots can take up to an hour on rare occasions.

 

[KelahRammy]

Wow I didn't think having a tray in my mouth all day would be so hard. It's not only aggravating me to the point where I lose focus, but I also have to worry about cleaning my teeth right after eating. I also can't help biting down on them.

How the hell am I supposed to have floss, a toothbrush, and toothpaste everywhere I go? To top it off, I have to deal with disgusting bathrooms almost everywhere I go. If I could go back, I would probably pick regular braces over invisacrap.

Has anyone here experienced this and have any recommendations?

 

[bigbad]

Wow I didn't think having a tray in my mouth all day would be so hard. It's not only aggravating me to the point where I lose focus, but I also have to worry about cleaning my teeth right after eating. I also can't help biting down on them.

How the hell am I supposed to have floss, a toothbrush, and toothpaste everywhere I go? To top it off, I have to deal with disgusting bathrooms almost everywhere I go. If I could go back, I would probably pick regular braces over invisacrap.

Has anyone here experienced this and have any recommendations?

Invisalign sounds like a hassle. I'm glad I decided to look like a dork for a while 😀

 

[armorshell]

This is not entirely true. Many teeth break apart as you extract them, and removing the roots can take up to an hour on rare occasions.

Read my post again, and feel free to think on the difference between *can* and *should*.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

In some weird, roundabout way, I'm a premed also, though I'll never take the MCAT. Only reason I'm even here, figured I should learn something about the med school I'll be attending.

Oral surgeon?

 

[dmblue]

Read my post again, and feel free to think on the difference between *can* and *should*.

your post implied that the surgeon is doing something wrong if it takes longer than 5 minutes per tooth.

 

[LuciusVorenus]

your post implied that the surgeon is doing something wrong if it takes longer than 5 minutes per tooth.

Well I imagine the surgeon also has to numb each tooth, prepare you, clean up after he's done, all that good stuff. I remember when I went in to get a teeth pulled I was in the chair for well over an hour but the actual extraction took like 15 minutes (and that was probably because it was infected).

 

[armorshell]

Oral surgeon?

Applying, so I similarly get to be grilled by med school admission committees. 😀

your post implied that the surgeon is doing something wrong if it takes longer than 5 minutes per tooth.

Re-read it again, I didn't imply they were doing something wrong, I implied they were of less than moderate experience. Specifically I was wondering if the dude got them done at a dental school, which would fully explain the amount of time required. 😉

 

[panthera]

braces are a biatch. when i first i had braces, i showered myself in advil. it sucks and it is painful, but it's only like that for the first week or so.

DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR INVISALIGN UNLESS YOU HAVE TO. it will prolong the pain but more importantly the time it takes for your pearly whites to become straight.