had them for...hang on... *counts* 5 freakin years!!! i didn't sleep for 5 years!!! at least not well. i had 3 different braces, 2 of them at the same time for a couple of months. and it was soooo painful. the first weeks after i got the second one i could only eat soups and other liquid stuff. the pain, uncomfortablism, and the lack of sleep for 5 years was SO not worth it. so listen up, if you have a choice between having braces ---> straight teeth, or not having braces ---> get some sleep, THINK CAREFULLY what you prefer.