The Ever Growing Popularity Of Braces

[susah_sih]

Do you know why Thai people in general like to exhibit their smiles more than any other Asians? The answer to that is BRACES off course. Thai have confidence that their smiles are worth displaying and therefore this land is full of smiles. Braces have gained popularity in use in Thailand long time ago and even gaining ever now. Fake braces are even sold in Siam Square as a fashion statement.

Thailand as a developing country has more than per capita of brace users than Japan as a developed country. It is little wonder also that there are so many Japanese with crooked teeth.

[Shola]

... so many Japanese with crooked teeth.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or no teeth! (They don't use fluride in their toothpastes)

[Jai Dee]

Do you know why Thai people in general like to exhibit their smiles more than any other Asians? The answer to that is BRACES off course.

And do you really think that the smiling little kids in the poorest Isaan villages with the perfect sets of pearly whites have ever had (or had the money to pay for) braces?

[chuchok]

Do you think braces would help this gentleman?

Edited February 18, 2005 by chuchok

[sriracha john]

Do you know why Thai people in general like to exhibit their smiles more than any other Asians? The answer to that is BRACES off course. Thai have confidence that their smiles are worth displaying and therefore this land is full of smiles. Braces have gained popularity in use in Thailand long time ago and even gaining ever now. Fake braces are even sold in Siam Square as a fashion statement.

Thailand as a developing country has more than per capita of brace users than Japan as a developed country.

What a complete load-of-cow-dung statement is that?

The REAL reason Thailand has more braces per capita is because Japan and most other developed countries requires that their citizens have braces put on by someone who went further in their dental studies than Somchai's Welding Shop.

The Nation reports:

Do-it-yourself fake braces are now available in Thailand. Although many people still have the devices wired to their teeth by vendors, who aren't dentists and is often a painful procedure.

As for fashion, “It’s just like any other accessory. You can wear them, change the colourful elastic ties, and take them off whenever you want – see?” said Supaporn Srisit, a 19-year-old university freshman.

A lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Dentistry, who asked to remain unnamed, said that the colourful ties were only meant to encourage kids who needed braces but were scared of the treatment, as well as help encourage cleanliness.

“It’s not right for them to put braces on themselves for fashion’s sake,” said the dentistry teacher.

According to providers of fashion braces, the business was a good source of income and demand was plentiful.

Nineteen-year-old student Surapong Promsombati, who opened a stall near Ramkhamhaeng University, said about 80 per cent of his customers were girls studying at the level of secondary school or university.

While wiring a customer’s teeth, Surapong said he studied the technique at a Ratchaburi shop and set up his stall over a month ago. The fitting costs Bt250 and takes 10 minutes to complete.

Since the legality and safety of the practice was debatable, Ake would not give his full name nor that of the shop. “I might register my shop when it seems like it has been legitimised,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Institute of Dentistry announced it would consider the issue of fake braces, which it considers a problem, at its October 15 board meeting.

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personal addendum:

It saddens me when I see Thai people I care about suffer unduly.

[taxexile]

the train track braces that seem to be all the rage are not in fact "wired" to the teeth but glued to the teeth with adhesive.

unless the train tracks are under tension there will be no movement of the teeth , but what will happen though is that food particles will get caught in the wires,bands and clips , and given the generalised poor oral hygiene of thais and the amount of sugar in the diet here , these food particles will not be regularly or thoroughly removed and will decompose into plaque with a high level of bacterial contamination leading to caries (cavities), halitosis and gum problems.

[tuky]

Very strange, I would never have thought braces could be a fashion item. I still thought I was a young man until I read this news article

[chuchok]

the train track braces that seem to be all the rage are not in fact "wired" to the teeth but glued to the teeth with adhesive.

unless the train tracks are under tension there will be no movement of the teeth , but what will happen though is that food particles will get caught in the wires,bands and clips , and given the generalised poor oral hygiene of thais and the amount of sugar in the diet here , these food particles will not be regularly or thoroughly removed and will decompose into plaque with a high level of bacterial contamination leading to caries (cavities), halitosis and gum problems.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

but they are under tension tax.

As for oral hygiene, I would have thought that Thais rate right up there.She who must be obeyed can be heard from on end of the house to the other when she's brushing.seems like it goes on for hours too.Sounds a bit like a wire brush on a rusty rail.

[sriracha john]

If anyone thinks they can get safe and proper dental braces for 250 baht has never been to a safe and proper real orthodontist.

[pautai]

this whole braces thing is a passing fad , they look horrible.

my guess is that the lower classes who could never afford them when they were younger can catch up on some brownie points .

they see it as a middle class thing which previously they could never aspire too ,but now they are dirt cheap they can join in .

just add a pair of glasses for the full look .

[chaladmak]

I don't not reliability of such statistics. but my wife told me some time ago that it is sort of fashion nowdays in Thailand - a lot of teens like to and do wear brace - but most of those are fake, can be purchased on the sideroad from plentifull vendors. - like those near to Gaysorn Plaza or Central World trade or at Siam and near to MBK and even JJ

[taxexile]

but they are under tension tax.

they cant be. or i would be extremely surprised if they were. if the rubber bands that are used are stretched between teeth then they may indeed be under tension.

if they were then the teeth would move and the bite would change , this would be extemely uncomfortable.

if the bands are just wrapped around one wire on the appliance then its probably just cosmetic.

tension is usually applied to braces after they have been attached to the teeth. by the correct placement of rubber bands and little screws.

these cosmetic things are probably just non-functioning copies of braces.

i dont think oral hygiene is that great here , plenty of red inflamed gums on show during smiling.

[jackr]

this whole braces thing is a passing fad , they look horrible.

my guess is that the lower classes who could never afford them when they were younger can catch up on some brownie points .

they see it as a middle class thing which previously they could never aspire too ,but now they are dirt cheap they can join in .

just add a pair of glasses for the full look .

Face, class and look what I've got

[jackr]

Had braces as a kid and tried to do everything to not wear them and leave them somewhere so they'd get lost. How times are changing

[BaanOz]

Or no teeth! (They don't use fluride in their toothpastes)  

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

On this subject, what about Thai toothpaste?

My wife started getting this Thai "herbal" toothpaste that tasted like it could have had some of whatever is in tiger balm in the toothpaste. Not that I have tasted tiger balm but you know what I mean!

She started to buy it all the time and I couldn't read anything about it having fluride in it so I stopped her buying it

On the subject of braces, my wifes sister has had hers on for years now and we have been trying (even offering to pay) to get her to go and get the ###### things removed. Now I understand why!

Cheers BaanOz

[buadhai]

The fake ones I've seen are not glued on but are connected to a plate that sits on the roof of your mouth, sort of like false teeth. They go on and off pretty easily, so I guess it's possible to maintain good oral hygiene while making this rather dubious fashion statement.

Lord knows when braces got "cute". I just remember seeing fellow elementary school kids with all kinds of junk stuck in them after lunch. Never thought that was cute at all....

[aletta]

It's not just the youngsters who are into this craze,it's the girls in their thirties who now have their teeth wired up.

[Shola]

I remember being 13 and the dentist saying I might need fixed braces, I absolutly balled! I was devastated! Already hearing the cries of 'Brace face' , 'Metal mouth' and 'train track teath' in my mind!

Luckily I didn't need them in the end, but how things change ay?!