Metal Mouth Message Board

I've always hated taking pictures, but ever since I got braces, it's much worse. If I smile, the braces takes up the whole space and I look hideous and when I don't smile, I look mean and like I have buck teeth. I hate it. I hate having to feel so ugly every day.

I am sorry that you feel so bad. You are making a step in the right direction though so be happy about that.

I think my moodiness comes from not how I look now but what my eventual outcome is going to be. I am worried about my lower teeth ever looking right. Thank goodness it is my lower teeth. My ortho mentioned bonding on the upper teeth at my last appointment and I was like, uhhh, I thought we were going to try to avoid that if possible? I think he must have forgotten.

Anyway, I watched American Idol on Tuesday/Wed with Stevie Wonder. I watched in amazement as people conversed with him because all I could think about is "This guy is blind! He doesn't care what anyone looks like!". Do you realize how amazing it would be to have people not care what we look like?. And if they couldn't see us, they surely would be so much more in tune with our voices and our personalities and our inner beauty!

I'm so sorry you feel this way, but try to think about how it will be when your braces are off! You'll have a beautiful smile you'll want to show everyone! I'm the opposite of you. My esteem and confidence levels have risen tremendously since being braced.

I hope you feel better about your braces after a while!

Hi! I haven't got my braces on yet (waittinnngg) but I know I'm going to feel really bad when they arrive... Just try to think positive. Think that after this whole thing you'll have the smile you've always wanted, no matter what. It's better being ugly for 2 or more years then looking "alright" for the rest of your life! 2 years go by SOOO fast! Relax!
Joanna

Hey Avion! I feel your pain, I definately have my days when I feel ugly as heck in pictures because of the braces. It's hard because my twin sister doesn't have them so we're constantly being compared, and she i guess is labeled the 'prettier one' although I think that's unfair because I have braces and she doesn't, but anyways I definately do understand how you feel. Just once wouldn't it be nice get a picture of yourself sans braces and nice straight white teeth instead?

All we can do is wait and know that when the braces come off, we'll be literally searching out the cameras and smiling for every one!

Eve

I totally understand where you are coming from! I absolutely hate taking pictures! I always look horrible and the braces definitely don't help! Its hard to decide whether to totally smile or kind of hide it, just really awkward!

Eve, That's totally unfair about being compared to your twin sister because of braces! I think it would be really cool to take a picture with out braces with perfectly straight white teeth, though at this point that is so hard to imagine!

~Hannah




Top braces: 4/28/04
Bottom braces: 11/16/05
Last Adjustment: February 28, 2006 where they gave me a new bottom wire and attached my impacted canine, newly bracketed, to the wire! OUCH!

I had to have my picture taken for my driver's license last year. I smiled, all I saw was metal. The lady taking the picture took pity on me and took the picture again. This time with my mouth closed.

Before I had braces, I HATED my smile. I had a huge gap and my front teeth jutted out. I'm so exited about getting the braces off!!

I have found it hard to smile in pictures recently. I don't look like the same person. I used to be very photogenic, now I feel gawky and juvenille. Especially candid pics. I look like a total goof. I keep telling myself - - - someday it will all be worth it!!!!

It will be well worth it in the long run! And you will take a lovely picture when the brace is out!