Coming from a 4-year veteran of braces, here's a few tricks
If the wires are starting to dig in the back of your mouth, (happens when the wires are left just a wee bit too long on the back tooth), simply cap the wires with wax. Ask your orthodonist for some of it if he hasn't already given it to you.
The lumps are a pain in the but, however, they're there to keep you from being in more pain by grinding your teeth, (at least that's what mine were for). Soup, spaghetti, (actually most pasta if allowed to cook a little longer than al dente), pudding, jello, ICE CREAM, ICE MILK, YOGURT, and SHERBET are life savers, and if you have your favorite flavor, it can also be a sanity saver.
Most of the stuff they tell you that you can't have is utter bullshit. Chew sugarless gum, (less sticky), eat whatever sounds good to you. Avoid really hot or cold stuff, (metal conducts temperature REALLY well. Sensitive teeth will HURT, especially after something super cold), and stay away from hard candy and taffies including caramel.
To help ease the pain, take 2 tylenol and a warm cup of tea. It helps.
The itty bitty rubber bands are fun to shoot at assholes, but if you're the only one around with braces, it's probably not a good plan. Surround yourself with other tinsel-teethers.
Yes, you CAN paint your braces. Use food coloring.
CUT YOUR APPLES!! Biting into one tends to break the main wire up top.
If you figure out how to floss, tell everyone else. Flossing's a bitch.
Circular motions with the toothbrush hurt less.
ORAJEL. Maximum strength. Become a stockholder.
And it's perfectly fine to grin in the sunlight, especially when the guy talking with you is pissing you off.
