21 Struggles Anyone Who Had Braces As A Kid Will Remember

Being really excited to get braces because all your friends had them, only to realize how painful they actually are

Absolutely dreading school picture day

Wondering what you could've possibly done to deserve this torture

Thinking that your orthodontist was a actually a sadist

Living in constant fear that you had something stuck in your teeth

Lying to the orthodontist about how much of the forbidden foods you actually ate

Eventually realizing that although you could choose the color of your brackets, it didn't make braces any cooler

Getting to leave school early only to have to go to an orthodontist appointment

Feeling as though you'd be stuck with braces forever and absolutely hating how they made you look

The horror of having exposed wires or brackets dig into your gums

And the relief you felt once you applied orthodontic wax to ease the pain

The face you'd make when the orthodontist came towards you with metal tools

Trying to convince yourself that braces were cool since you were going to be stuck with them for a while

The awkward face you made when you tried to smile with a mouth full of metal

Feeling a little bit better when you saw that even celebrities had to have braces too

Trying to hook your rubber bands to your brackets properly and being afraid they'd snap

Being terrified that this would happen

Being thrilled when you were told you were getting them removed soon

The feeling you got when you ran your tongue across your teeth right after getting them off

Being so excited to finally wear a retainer because anything was better than braces

Knowing that in the end it was all worth it because now you have a beautiful, straight smile!