Being Noticed - Feeling Paranoid Now

[sparkles]

How many people get noticed these days with having braces on?
I went into town today with my husband (not the first time I've been out the house since being braced 4 weeks ago mind you) and I did notice a couple of people (shop assistants mainly) kinda looking at me funny.
But by the time we had finished our shopping (gone in about 7 shops or so) my husband commented that people kept looking at me today.

I asked if I had bird poo on my head , looked odd or something and the only thing that he can think of is my braces.

So far no one has seemed to notice them at all so why today?
I feel all kinda paranoid now. I'm not usually self-conscious about my braces at all but this has thrown me today.

Oh and does anyone else feel the most self-conscious when faced with another person with braces? The girl that served us in the coffee shop today had braces...first thing I noticed and I suddenly became ever so conscious that here was 2 people both with braces.

Maybe I'm having an odd day today

[purpleteeth]

What you described sounds perfectly normal, at least it is very similar to what I experienced when I first got braces on 7.5 months ago.

When I see another adult in braces, I just tend to smile even bigger -- knowing, well... at least I can't be judged!

In terms of people noticing, I know people do with me. I smile a lot and I did a lot prior to getting braces. My speech sounds funny every once in a while, so people kinda look at me strange when I misprounce... but I am beginning to accept this as normal. People at work noticed first because I got them on during the middle of my work day, then came back - hehe!

I already look young, as I have long hair and glasses and don't wear makeup. The braces just make me look even younger, especially when I first got them and the brackets were all over the place! Now, my teeth have leveled out quite a bit and I look a little more "normal" with the braces on. When I wear my hair in double braids, I still look like I am 14 though... and I'm 25.

Some days I feel so self-conscious with these things on, other days I don't notice. The days I feel most self-conscious though, I tend to notice others "noticing" too... so maybe it is all in my head.

[*melissa*]

yeah, i still go through that sometimes, i look young too...but what can ya do?

[dagwoman]

What you've experienced is sadly sometimes the case. It always takes me by surprise when people notice or comment on my braces, because most of the time I forget that I have them! The other day a guy working at the checkout not only asked how much I was paying for my braces, but proceeded to show me (in detail!) his bite and teeth problems and explain that he wanted braces, too! People are strange...

[KLC]

My orthodontist told me that most people who look at you funny or make side comments are actually just very envious that you had the guts to go through with it... and they probably need them and are too chicken to do it!

[Faerydust]

Maybe it's because I have ceramics which are pretty discreet, but I haven't really had the feeling of other people noticing my braces.

When I see someone else with braces I don't think much of it. If it's someone I see often I might ask how their treatment is going, but that's about it.

[jjpj]

Hello I got top braces, for now, a week ago and i do attend my acting classes-we do a lot of showcasing, scene taping etc.

One time I was doing the scene the producer did not even noticed my braces-i told him and he said" oh really let me see" he walked closer to see them then he said" they really did a good job-i could not see them"

I even got one scene perfect and we printed it for agents to see.

I was having second thoughts about going back to class but I realized that life is a show and show must go on. For my as an actor is much much more difficult to adjust but surprisingly i let my mind go, no fear , no doubts-i freed my mind-it's all im our minds.
As to what other people say-well, lets see who will have the last laugh or i should say a million dollar smile! go with that attidude and you'll be fine-remember no pain no gain!

jjpj

[wearetheborg]

My orthodontist told me that most people who look at you funny or make side comments are actually just very envious that you had the guts to go through with it... and they probably need them and are too chicken to do it!

Yeah I think so too.

Whenever I thought people might have been noticing them (and note that I had too missing teeth in front the whole time), I would think to myself in Cartman voice "Screw you guys, I'm going home"

[spartanforever]

I'm actually proud to wear braces - i had some initial inhibition but now I don't really care. It's for the good. We undergo through so much sacrifice and pain during the process, and so I don;t really care what other people think or comment.

The other day I went proudly to the hippest club in san francisco and everything was as normal as ever...!!

And also, I just told my co-workers that i was wearing braces and they were surprised that they hadn't noticed it till now! and its been almost two weeks.

be proud and not conscious!

[SDFD TSchott]

haha when people were staring at me I just thought to myself there just jelous that I'm getting perfect white teeth and there not =}

[Miranbrady20]

the only reason i notice people who have braces right away is because i want them and that all i been thinking about and i tell people that i like them and that im getting some in july... i hope im not offending them i just had alot of questions!

[catfish]

I don't mind when people ask me about my braces. I'd rather have them do that than give me funny looks and leave me wondering what they're thinking. I've never had anyone say anything annoying or inappropriate. They've just asked about it because they would like to have braces someday, or they tell me about their braces experiences.

[lilypea]

it seems like most people have worn braces at some point in their lives, so they'll smile understandingly. i only feel self-conscious when i catch myself smiling big b/c i was very careful about smiling w/my mouth closed before. now it's harder to smile like that, but who cares? my teeth are a work in progress!

[retainerjoe]

i have people looking at me kinda strange, then i rember i have my hawley wire retainers in ,an the wire is seen vary easy when i talk as it is very shinny

[acd]

I think I look better with braces and almost straight teeth than I did with crooked teeth and no braces so I'm not afraid to show them.