Metal Mouth Message Board

It is so frustrating, everytime i confide in a friend that i am thinking of getting braces for my overbite and jumbled teeth, they keep saying, oh no, i dont like braces, your teeth are not that bad are they? do you have to do that? I really...really want this for myself, but as in my last post, im a bit discouraged. Have anyone else gone through this?

You don't have to justify yourself, but getting your teeth fixed is not only about appearances. Crowded, overlapping teeth are harder to clean which can lead to decay and gum disease; a bad bite can lead to uneven wear and possible jaw pain and TMJ issues.

My tip: if you're doing this for you then don't tell anyone else but just do it! Believe it or not, there's a fair chance some of your friends might not even notice!

I went through the exact same thing before I got braces! I thought that my teeth problems were fairly severe, but because they were not immediately obvious when I talked (my crowded teeth were on the side and bottom - I spent quite a while learning how to talk/laugh without showing too much of them) most of my friends didn't understand why I would want or need to get braces. I felt so discouraged by this because it was so important to me but the people who were trying to be nice and make me feel confident about my appearance were actually making me feel so unsupported in my decision. But as sauerkraut says, this is for you and only you - the people that matter to you will support you in any decision you make, including this one.

By the way, almost everyone who originally said I didn't need braces has since complimented me on my changing smile

Thanks everyone. So right Caitlin....i cant wait to get it done....i'm taking earlier advice and not tell anyone again, my family are telling me to get it done as soon as possible if i see fit...im so happy for that

Before I got braces people told me the same thing that my teeth are not that bad. Still I wanted them and got them for myself and tell people this is the best thing I ever have done for myself. Even though they are saying discouraging words just tell yourself it's not for them its for you. Also a lot of people got braces when they were younger, who are they to judge and tell you, you shouldn't when they had the opportunity to get straight teeth? It's not fair to judge in that case, don't you think? Only if they already have straight teeth that is.

My friends/family are saying the same thing, but honestly this is YOUR decision.
You only live once, so live life how you want to live it...If that's with straight teeth and perfect bite then who is to stop you?
There are loads of people on here you CAN confide in, and who will tell you getting braces was the best thing they could have ever done.

That's the last thing you should worry about. What people think or say. In fact I'm embarrased 2+ years in, remembering even before I took the plunge having to explain / justify what I was doing even though no one really asked. It's an enormous mental game taking the plunge (and once done, one really has to wonder why), but hoping that you being told so, from others who have gone through it all, will let you know it's a part of the process, for whatever reason, feeling that you need to explain yourself to others, when in reality you do not.

Do not let that put you off doing it. It's part of the process and will be a source of amusement for you once you get going.

That's the last thing you should worry about. What people think or say. In fact I'm embarrased 2+ years in, remembering even before I took the plunge having to explain / justify what I was doing even though no one really asked. It's an enormous mental game taking the plunge (and once done, one really has to wonder why), but hoping that you being told so, from others who have gone through it all, will let you know it's a part of the process, for whatever reason, feeling that you need to explain yourself to others, when in reality you do not.

Do not let that put you off doing it. It's part of the process and will be a source of amusement for you once you get going.

I found the same thing; my teeth weren't horrible by any ortho standards, yet I've never been happy with them and have always wanted beautiful teeth. In the end I just decided to do it for myself, knowing that I'd be so happy I did it one day.
I don't know if anyone else has found this, but the people who would question my decision were often those with mildly crooked teeth, but the most supportive people have always been those who have HAD braces in their past. The ones with the beautiful teeth.
Maybe the judgers are all just jealous, as they know how fabulous we'll all look when we are done!!

What amazes me from reading this website is how many of us are deeply affected by what other people think. I know I was so incredibly nervous about how everyone else would react to them. The truth is, some people notice, some people don't - and 99% of people don't care anyway. In my 9 months of having a metal mouth only one person has asked me about them. I still feel self-conscious when I laugh or grin but the rest of the time they don't bother me too much. It has had very little effect on my life.

You need to do what you want with your own life. Would you let your friends and family put you off the job or girl/boy of your dreams? No way. So why let them put you off the smile of your dreams?

I had the same experience. My teeth were overcrowded and crooked, nothing major but enough for me to research braces. When I finally decided to take the plunge I was *so* excited that I had made a positive decision about something that I had not been happy with for a long time. All of my friends looked at me as if I was completely bonkers when I told them!! No-one could understand why I was spending so much money on my teeth (when there are obviously lots of clothes/shoes/bags to waste my money on instead ). My family were all very supportive of my decision though and that meant a lot.

Even now, if I've had a painful adjustment, my friends will ask me if I'm going to carry on with my treatment ... as if I would have my braces taken off whilst my overbite wasn't right, my midline was off, and I still had gaps to close!!!!

I'm well over a year in and, whilst it has its moments, I still stand by my decision as one of the most positive decisions I have ever made.

Good luck, and I hope you make a choice that is right for you.

I, too, am amazed at how other's opinions make such an impact on us. I'm curious if most that are very subconscious about this are in their 20's or are older?

Reading this thread, I was struck by the fact that as I am getting ready to have braces put on today, I haven't really thought much about how others will react. I have only been focusing on how it will feel, how I will take care of them, what they can accomplish, etc. Thinking out loud here, I wonder if it is because I am doing this merely for a functional/jaw misalignment issue. My teeth are straight, and honestly I didn't think much about them until I learned that I needed to put braces on them to fix the TMJ issues I was having. Or is it because I'm nearing 40 and have gotten way past worrying what other people think about me? I have way too many other more important issues to stress over.

I've mentioned it to a few people that I'm doing this, who immediately said why? I wonder if as I progress through this journey, if others' opinions about this will matter more or less? Interesting...

I'd love to hear some opionions on this. Do you care what others think about your choice to have braces? Does it bother you? Why? Do you think your age makes a difference on this issue?
Steph

I went through some of that too, and do now from time to time with strangers. Something like, "Were your teeth really that bad?"

I know it's hard to take the plunge when you're self-conscious about your teeth already, but it is absolutely worth it. I'm a year in right now, and the difference is incredible. It hasn't been a piece of cake, but ultimately it's about your happiness and the long-term health of your teeth.

Don't let anyone talk you down.

You shouldn't worry about other people, but should do this because it's something you want for yourself and that's going to better you, make you happier. I've gone through the same thing with my family. I have a diastema (gap) that has been really bugging me, and I've a few other gaps in my lower teeth. My parents never understood my need for it, to them, there's nothing wrong with my teeth. And in my country diastemas are loved and seen as a sign of beauty, luck, wealth and some other things. But aside from that, they think there's nothing wrong with my teeth. But i've this big gap that has always affected me and i'm getting older and need to start being more comfortable with myself. It has gotten to a point where I stopped smiling in public and even have a hard tie approaching people. The spaces have only been getting bigger as I'm getting older. I never noticed the ones in my lower teeth ad they were much smaller before, but they got bigger and a few times when I laughed two people in my family commented about them and how they're also getting big. Well, i'm just finally getting them at the end of this month and i've never been more excited about anything in my life. My parents don't know i'm getting it, they'll just find out . I know they'll understand eventually. And i'm old enough to make my own decisions. My siblings understood and my brother especially, I told him a few weeks ago and he totally understood and supports me, even went to some consultations with me. Even if he didn't i would go ahead with it, but it's always good to know someone understands. So do what you have to do for you.

When I decided to get braces, my mom was quite sad that I had to have two premolars extracted. As for friends, they said the same things like the rest ("Your teeth look fine, why go through the pain?" yadayada).

Once you have them on, after a while, you'd get used to it and they too.