Metal Mouth Message Board

I'm so pleased to have found this website! I have been feeling very down in the dumps since getting my metal braces this morning I did have s little cry after seeing them but I will get use to it and it will 100% be worth it. I hope this self conscious feeling passes sure it will just dreading work tomorrow ( I work in an airport) but at 31 I have been waiting a long time for this so will hold my head up high and be proud of my metal mouth!

Welcome, and congratulations!!

I almost cried when I first saw mine (without the wire), too. I went to the sink to rinse out, and when I looked in the mirror, I was stunned. But I didn't want to have any strong reaction in front of the ortho, so I just trudged on bravely. After he put the wire in, I was much happier! It takes a lot of guts to do this as an adult (and I'm 43, much older than you!). Something must be wrong with me, because I must admit I've never felt subconscious about mine one bit. I went straight from the ortho's office to the drugstore to fill my toothpaste prescription, and I was grinning away (colored-dotted-brackets and all! ) The one and only time I felt awkward was when I horribly stained my clear ligatures by drinking orange juice for over a week (didn't know that stained), and NOTHING would get them clean. But as soon as they got changed, I was back to smiling.

You will find that most people (like, over 90%) don't give a rat's patootie about your braces. They may be curious and ask you about them (once or twice), but that's about it. The more you try to hide them and be ashamed of them, the more awkward you will appear. Be proud that you are being proactive and fixing something that's bothered you for a long time. Braces have done wonders for my self-esteem, believe it or not!

Are you going to take progress pics! They really help to get you through the "I don't see any movement!" stages. They also give a lot of encouragement to those on here who may have similar problems as you. You could start a story in "My Braces Stories".

Good luck!
-Cathy

That's right hold your head up and be proud! For the most part people will say nice things like they'll tell you of their past experiences with braces or give you some encouragement to hang in there because it's all for the better. They might ask a few questions but in my experience no one has been outright nasty to me (with the exception of one woman but she is diagnosed with a cognitive disorder that severely impairs her social interaction, so she doesn't really count).

CountessDeSangre wrote:... no one has been outright nasty to me (with the exception of one woman but she is diagnosed with a cognitive disorder that severely impairs her social interaction, so she doesn't really count).

That is HILARIOUS! I think you're talking about my sister. A couple of weeks after I got my braces, she asked me to smile so she could see them, and when I did, she stared and... LAUGHED HER A$$ OFF!! And said not one other word. I wanted to smack her and say, "Well, at least I'm doing something about my bad teeth which - by the way - look WAY better than yours do now!" (Also wanted to tell her, "Jealous, much??")

catgyrl wrote:

CountessDeSangre wrote:... no one has been outright nasty to me (with the exception of one woman but she is diagnosed with a cognitive disorder that severely impairs her social interaction, so she doesn't really count).

That is HILARIOUS! I think you're talking about my sister. A couple of weeks after I got my braces, she asked me to smile so she could see them, and when I did, she stared and... LAUGHED HER A$$ OFF!! And said not one other word. I wanted to smack her and say, "Well, at least I'm doing something about my bad teeth which - by the way - look WAY better than yours do now!" (Also wanted to tell her, "Jealous, much??")

Don't worry about her, you'll be laughing when you have a smile worthy of a celebrity!

Aww Sweeney it will be okay. I'm 32 and I have embraced my brace face. I've gotten all positive comments about my braces. At first I did wonder if I would have trouble with dating, but it doesn't seem to be an issue.

You will have a beautiful smile when it's all done. Hang in there.

I had my braces put on this morning too. My sister was has straight teeth and Iv'e been so jealous. I used to say she has cow teeth. I can't wait to show off my beautiful straight smile and no longer say I have a good and bad side. Let's keep our chins up. Let me know how eating is going, I struggled all day to chew normal, think I'm going to starve.

I had my braces put on this morning too. My sister has straight teeth and Iv'e been so jealous. I used to say she has cow teeth. I can't wait to show off my beautiful straight smile and no longer say I have a good and bad side. Let's keep our chins up. Let me know how eating is going, I struggled all day to chew normal, think I'm going to starve.

Thank you everyone! I am off to work in a bit I just want to get it out the way and show my braces off maybe I will do a tannoy announcement!! I didn't eat too much yesterday and just taking soup to work. Does everyone clean their brace every time after eating? Thanks again everyone straight lovely teeth here we come :)

hey sweeny31

everything will be ok i don't know if anyone else out there has cried but i cried too.... it did make me feel slighly better.
Straight teeth are going to be great... that way when you bite all those nasty commented people will you get better grip.

look forward to seeing your progress

Huggy- Keep your chin up things will get better