I had non-extraction orthodontic treatment at the dental hospital attached to a university hospital. It’s been 5 to 6 years. Since childhood I had a habit of sticking my tongue out, so my teeth stuck out forward. The gap between my teeth was wide, so they said both non-extraction and extraction were possible. I said I didn’t want to pull out healthy teeth, so I chose non-extraction. They said that if I didn’t correct my tongue, my teeth would protrude again even after orthodontic treatment, so before the braces, for about 6 months I used a device called a tongue crib, mainly used by young children, to train myself not to touch my teeth with my tongue. After that, I removed the tongue crib and wore a bonded orthodontic appliance for about 1 year and 6 months. Back then, because of the tongue-thrusting habit, I slept with my mouth open, which made my mouth dry and caused drooling, but after orthodontics that improved. It also helped aesthetically a lot. There had been a huge gap between my teeth, and it all got closed. The downside is that the upper right gum was worn down as an orthodontic side effect, so it stings whenever I eat cold food. And because my gums were originally somewhat weak, they have become weaker. Also, I wear a retainer every day when I sleep, but compared to when I first finished treatment, the teeth have moved, the gaps between my teeth have increased again, and the front lower teeth have become a little crooked.
I’m more satisfied with the functional and aesthetic improvement, so I don’t regret it, but if you’re about to get orthodontic treatment, I hope you think it through carefully.