Braces were a constraint

When I wore them, I figured that braces were just an annoyance, a fashion (or anti-fashion) statement that also corrected crooked teeth.

Then I remembered the sheet that the orthodontist gave us, the one that got magnet slapped on my fridge.

There were about 10-15 foods we couldn’t eat. Stuff like popcorn, hard candy, gummies… stuff that kids the age of a kid getting braces really enjoys.

And yet, the cost would be too high if something were to go awry. A broken piece of metal in your mouth just because you had a Starburst craving isn’t exactly a great situation to have.

So, we (or maybe just I?) dutifully stayed away from the foods on the no list (I think ice was on there, jeez).

But as a nearly 40 year old human, I have a hard time not taking handfuls of oreos if they are around me.

The biggest difference, I suppose, is that oreos carry with it a short term high and with a potential for long-term suffering (becoming overweight, diabetic, etc). Maybe we're bad at being considerate to our future self

Breaking braces have an immediate cost.

Business idea: braces that are installed just to keep people from eating certain foods.

Written on 2024-03-21