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Hi everyone!
I am new and I just wanted to introduce myself (I also have a question ). I'm an 18-year-old college student. I've been thinking about getting braces for about a year now. My teeth are not that bad but I have a little bit of an overbite and I just want to have beautiful straight teeth. My parents are not too happy about this idea (they think my teeth are okay the way they are) but they agreed to pay for them as a Christmas present if I really want to have them. Well, I don't care about the look but I am afraid that having braces will hurt a lot. I know it sounds stupid and it's probably not that bad, but it's just something that really scares me. Now I'm a bit confused and I don't know what I should do. Did any of you had braces without having a big problem with your teeth? Did it hurt a lot? And is it really worth it? Oh, and what do you think about my situation?
Maybe my questions are stupid, I'm sorry for that . I guess I just need to be reassured.
(Also, I'm a french canadian so if I don't spell right feel free to correct me!)
Some people have a lot of pain, some hardly any. I have had hardly any. (But if I did, I'd do some mental science and some aspirin.) It didn't affect my love life; the man I've been dating for five month asked me to marry him the night of my first day in braces...and we are over 50! I wish I had done it when I was young. Like you, my teeth were OK. They got less OK as I aged, but had I done it when young, I'd have had all those years of lovely teeth, and if I'd done the retainer thing, probably still would have them.
I say do it. It's not that bad. The inconvenience is the worst of it, but I will say this: it helps you with your food choices! Saturday night, we were goign to the movies and were running late. THe local restaurants all had lines and we already had tickets, so we HAD to eat quick. We could eat right away at the bar of one restaurant, so we did. The only things on the menu for which I wuldn't need to run to the ladies room and brush thoroughly (just a quick swipe for the time being) were chili and french fries. Oh, and Jameson's on the rocks. So that's what I ate, enjoyed it thoroughly, and saw a great movie, Good Night and Good Luck.
So I say just go do it. If you wait as long as I did, your parents won't be paying for it. Accept their gift and enjoy a lifetime of lovely teeth.
And please don't be like me and take over 20 years to make the decision ...
Welcome, Tilidop! I agree with Kiwi, don't wait until you're in your 40's like me and then wish you'd done it sooner. Get it over with and enjoy your beautiful new smile instead of always thinking your smile is not quite right.
It's really not a big deal. A little soreness for a few days here and there, but the days of discomfort are way fewer than the days you don't even remember you have braces. Go for it. You'll be glad you did!
Chris
Top Ceramics: 10/11/04; Bottom Ceramics: 02/16/05 DEBANDED: 05/03/07
How little is your overbite?
If it's just a little bit of an overbite, has a dentist said it can be fixed?
If so, I would go for it now and not wait until you are in your 30's or 40's. I wish I had addressed my orthodontic insecurities earlier but am happy to say that I am doing so now.
WRT to pain and discomfort, everyone seems to be different. I've had little pain or discomfort but it has mad me consider every morsel of food I put in my mouth which has lead me to loose 7lbs in my fist month of being braced
Thanks everyone for your replies. It really helped!
Al Carter, my overbite is really not that big and yes, my dentist said that it could be fixed if I wear braces.
So, my mom called my dentist today to refer me to a good orthodontist and make an appointement. He will evaluate what are my possibilities and how that would cost, but I'm pretty sure that I will do it anyway. It may hurt but I will get over it and at the end, I will have beautiful teeth, like all of you. It will be worth it!
). I'm an 18-year-old college student. I've been thinking about getting braces for about a year now. My teeth are not that bad but I have a little bit of an overbite and I just want to have beautiful straight teeth. My parents are not too happy about this idea (they think my teeth are okay the way they are) but they agreed to pay for them as a Christmas present if I really want to have them. Well, I don't care about the look but I am afraid that having braces will hurt a lot. I know it sounds stupid and it's probably not that bad, but it's just something that really scares me. Now I'm a bit confused and I don't know what I should do. Did any of you had braces without having a big problem with your teeth? Did it hurt a lot? And is it really worth it? Oh, and what do you think about my situation?
. I guess I just need to be reassured. 
