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I thought I would ask what reactions you have all had from other people about your braces.
So far I find people either stare at your mouth but say nothing, Are upfront and ask you about your braces, or don't even notice (or if they do they are very discrete).
The best reaction so far (or probably the worst) was a work colleague saying "oh you've got braces - its about time you got sorted out" Knowing this person they were not joking and it was not meant to be nasty they are just not very tactfull. I was a bit miffed at the time but I now see the funny side.
Anyone else had any bizarre coments or reactions about their braces?
I told some of my work colleagues beforehand that I was getting braces. They were a bit surprised (I was 40 when I got em) but other than that nobody really says anything except now and again to ask me how things are going.
The one exception was a colleague who is not known for her tact, who said "Why are you spending all that money on your teeth when you could get run over tomorrow by a bus?" at which I laughed and replied that at least I would have a nice smile when people came to view me in my coffin I wasn't offended because she just speaks without thinking sometimes, she isn't deliberately mean.
Mostly everyone knew i was getting braces and those that didnt didnt really say much! Ive been told you can hardly notice mine so Im quite happy now that Ive got used to them!!
Little kids are the best, they just stare for a little while and then blurt out (in the middle of conversation mind you) "You've got braces!" to which I inevitably reply "Oh really? I never noticed!" So far it's worked great for me as the subject usually doesn't go further than that.
Other than those sort of reactions, people generally either don't notice or just ignore them. Those people who do notice usually only stare for a moment and then get over it.
i think i told just about *everyone* i was going to get braced up before i went - i didn't want anyone goggling at me in shock when i was feeling selfconscious after!
best response i got was from my housemate at the time, when i'd just walked in from having the (clear) brace fitted, after having made a song and dance about it. and she said.......
"oh, i thought you were getting train tracks rather than just the straight line brace?"
YESSSS!!!
lots of tea and brightly coloured food later, they're not quite as pristine but i've still met people who've later said, "oh, you've got braces... i hadn't noticed" .... perfect
I don't have my braces yet but I had a super big gap between my front teeth when I'd finished expanding after SARPE. The reaction of most Germans was something like "Goodness, what have you been doing to yourself?" followed by interested questions about the treatment when I explained. Then I went to England for a week and the Brits just stared and politely said nothing, even people I've known for years! I think I prefer the more "direct" reaction, myself.
Ive briefly spoken to my mates about my brace but never felt the need to prep them or give them updates. I understand why some may feel they need to tell people so they can speak about them and vent etc, but i didn't feel it was anyones business. I see braces as a medical treatment and i wouldn't go and announce that im on antibiotics like it was everyones business, so i didnt feel i needed to 'warn' people about braces. Braces are just a small part of a person and i think if anyone does focus in too much on your braces or makes continual comments then then it says more about them.
people notice and ask or make a comment. Some friends were a bit surprised at first but that has passed. Now that I have headgear which I wear all the time, every body can see. no big deal.
I think getting braces as an adult is actually better psycologicly, then in high school. There are the random questions I get ALL the time:
1) Mona! You got braces?!?!
2) When are you taking the braces off, Mona?
LOL. My reply is always:
1) You're kidding?! WHAT?!?! or: No they're fake. I thought it was a cool look.(This was before I knew that some people actually thought so LOL)
2) Uhm, IDK. Some time. Hopefully.
Actually some adults, like uncles and friend's dads act like: Oh you got braces.. Like weird. hm. anyway, sometimes they seem to bother others more than it bothers me. It's probably not true though.
For the most people don't seem to care/notice.
It's really what you make out if yourself, I guess. Have a sense of humeur, and it will be fine:)
i'm clearly a lot more shy than you, newmetal! i suppose, working in a primary school, if you even change your hair or put glasses on in assembly, there's a ripple of interest and staring from children, so i thought i'd pre-empt that. i also wanted to keep the children updated with what was happening, as i figured a bunch of them would probably have orthodontic treatment themselves later in their lives and wanted to make it less mysterious or stigmatised. don't know if that worked though!
regulering17, you just reminded me of the latest thing people are saying to me - it's now been sixteen months since i got them on - "you've still got the braces on, then" ... "you got them on AGES ago... isn't it two years?" "haven't you got them taken off, yet?" i'm not a big fan of that!
I mentioned my braces to most of my friends the first time I saw them after getting braces - "I just got braces - want to see them?" - mainly because I thought they were interesting. I got one comment similar to yours, Muppet. There was one person who said, "It's about time," and I thought it wasn't the nicest thing he could have said.
The only unsolicited comment I ever got in the 2 years I had braces was on a trail in Kakadu National Park in Australia, just from another hiker my husband and I had been talking with for a while. He asked me if I was also planning to go to the prom (braces and prom are things that younger people do, I suppose).
When I got my uppers off, one of my friends - someone I see every week - said, "Oh, do you have lowers too?" This was after she had seen me every week for a year and a half with my upper and lower braces.
Most the time when I see people I see for the first time since being braced for a year is: Hey! youv'e got braces!.And what shocked me was everybody said GOOD FOR YOU! And some even admitted they wished they would have done i and some even related back to their own expieriences.
Some people have even asked when I was getting my uppers braced and I said I got them the same time as my lowers.
Some people see them and talk about when they had them and some even admitted they would like to do it some time but are waiting to see my results.
And some clod at Walmart was trying to sell me tooth whitening strips and I told her I would like to try them after braces. She looked at me funny and asked to see mine,Then she noted that my teeth didn't looked like they needed braces. I just told her that I had them for a year already and they sure looked like I needed them then and probably till I was done.
It's nice to know that we are all experiencing similar reactions even if some people are more tactful than others
This morning I have woken up with a hugh mouth ulcer on my bottom lip. My lip is now swollen and looks like someone has punched me . I don't think it is caused by the brace as it is not in contact with a bracket for which I am eternally grateful
It is very very sore and just in time for xmas diner just as the teeth were settling down and I have been eating normally. (Good excuse to pass on those xmas sprouts) Oh well I just hope it's gone by friday when I have my adjustment.
I will just keep drooling for now while feeling sorry for mysel - Lisa65 you coffin response made me laugh but then my ulcer rubbed on my lower brackets ow ow ow. I must remember to be miserable until this dam thing heals!!!
I wasn't offended because she just speaks without thinking sometimes, she isn't deliberately mean.
Most the time when I see people I see for the first time since being braced for a year is: Hey! youv'e got braces!.And what shocked me was everybody said GOOD FOR YOU! And some even admitted they wished they would have done i and some even related back to their own expieriences.
. I don't think it is caused by the brace as it is not in contact with a bracket for which I am eternally grateful