Feel too old for this

[Beckett]

Hey everyone. New here, getting braces on Monday. I'm just past 40 and am on my third kid in braces as well, so I certainly feel too old for this. But I know correcting my bite issues is going to be a good thing in the long run. My biggest concerns? What others are going to think (I know, I really shouldn't worry about that one. It's my mouth, not theirs) and how having braces on may change my profile. Silly worry...I wonder if people are going to make financial judgements. I have a pre-teen in braces right now, so me also getting braces is very $$$. People aren't stupid, they know braces are expensive. Are they going to wonder how we can be spending so much on orthodontics? Especially when to first look at my smile you'd never think I needed them in the first place. I have friends or know other adults with extreme issues that they aren't fixing, chances are because of how expensive it is. So am I going to look terribly vain for spending so much when my smile doesn't really look that bad? The main reason I'm doing this isn't for vanity, it's for bite issues and tooth movement as I've aged.

So yeah. Hi.

[44yobraceface]

Hi
I'm in exactly the same boat Beckett. I'm 44 and have bite issues, TMJ to be precise, and the dentist and ortho have suggested braces to fix my deep bite. This will also fix my crooked teeth in with the bargain but I know people will think i'm doing it out of vanity. It'll be hard not feeling the need to defend myself every 5 minutes but i'm going to do my best not to do that or it will stress me out. My nearest and dearest know why i'm doing it and that's all that matters

I look forward to hearing how you get on, I still have 5 weeks until I get mine and i'm really excited

[emily0709]

Aw. I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I am 37 and just got mine on Monday. Today is day 3. I try to keep reminding myself that we are our own worse critic. And you're right! $$$ is def everyone knows about braces. I have a few years before my kids are in them, but I still had to finance the heck out of these. Many, many payments have to be made. I am a single mom on a small budget and part of me feels guilty about doing this, so you are NOT alone.

[MummaFish48]

Don't worry about what people think or say...everyone says actually it's only you who care! I'm 53 and mine go on in 3 weeks, I am expecting some comments, but will simply say "I am doing something I should have done 40years ago! Better late than never!!".....In reality, I doubt anyone really cares, it is just us undertaking it!! As for cost......hopefully we will all be around for a good number of years and if you break the cost down into years/months/weeks/days left with straight teeth, a better smile and additional confidence I am certain it is worth it! It is up to each individual how they spend their money, and really no business of anyone else. Thats why the orthodontists now do payment plans so people ordinary people can afford it. Straight teeth once done will last forever if you look after them pretty good value compared to a new car which devalues daily! Also teeth move all the time, I am having mine done as I am sure they have moved more over the last few years and I can't imagine where they might be when I am 70!!
Embrace brace day and don't worry about others!! Keep us posted...I join you in 3 weeks...Yikes...

[Wintersong]

I've had my top braces on for a little over a week. It felt SO strange to be 43 with braces on. I was self conscious about it the first day. I didn't know how to smile right anymore and my speech felt slurred and it felt like when I did talk and smile people were staring. It has gotten a little better and I feel a little more comfortable and confident. I got all metal brackets and if people want to stare and judge, let em. You're doing this for YOU, not them. People can and will judge others for anything and everything so we just have to do what is right for us.

[spree43]

I'm getting my top done on Monday too! really nervous. every day I get up this week I'm thinking this time next week I'll have braces. at 42. this weekend I plan on having a farewell steak dinner. I've been trying to think of the end goal and not the whole process. good luck on Monday let me know how it goes!

[TheProfessor]

It will be fine! I'm near the end of a two year sentence on braces and will hopefully get them off before my 42nd birthday which is at the end of May. You will be self-conscience at first, but you will get over it. The nice thing about having braces after 40 is that you've lived long enough to survive many more embarrassing things than braces! Remember, no one cares about your teeth or what you do with them as much as you do!!!

[Beckett]

Thanks everyone! It's wonderful to find such a great support system. I am a little worried about how it will affect my speech, I'm a talker (and yet an introvert) so hopefully it won't be too noticeable for long. I also wonder if after treatment is over if I'll talk a bit different due to new teeth positioning. Maybe that happens so gradually over the course of treatment it won't seem drastic.

[kbrown6245]

Don't worry about others! At least you are being proactive about the problem and are fixing it! I think people will realize that too. My boyfriends dad just got his braces off and said how much better he feels now than before. I'm 19 with braces now and thought it would be the end of the world going to college with braces but I feel way more confident now even with braces than I did with crooked teeth. And like other people said, most people probably won't even care! If they do, then so what!? You'll feel much better in the long run and won't even care what people have to say.

[Montch8]

It's one thing to know you shouldn't be worrying about what others think, and another to actually listen your own advice. I, too, have just had braces fitted and an in my early fifties with two teenagers who have either gone through, or are going through treatment at the same time. I, too, am conscious that some will make judgements on the treatment I'm having. But I don't care about their judgements, because if they don't ask me, they won't know.

Those who have asked I have found to be sympathetic,, supportive and encouraging. They say things like, Crikey, you're brave! Though I say it's all self inflicted - I want to have a better bite, better spaced teeth for cleaning (flossing is sooo difficult with tightly packed teeth!), and not to feel like smiling with my mouth closed because I'm conscious of my teeth.

The money issue is your concern and yours only. Everyone puts stock in different things. I always say to my children not to be affected by people's possessions or the fact that some friends may go on expensive holidays - it's the people themselves and their values that are important. People spend money on different things... Someone living in a modest house can be seen driving an expensive sports car. Others living in lovely houses can't afford expensive holidays. We all choose to spend our money in different ways and its not really anybody's business to make assumptions about the way you choose to spend yours, or where it came from.

Good luck with your treatment -,you are totally justified in your own mind why you are doing this, so don't let anyone else's prejudices get in your way. I hope you're really pleased with the outcome!

[Beckett]

All the support and positive reinforcement is great! It's helping me be calm, my appointment is in the morning. I'm nervous, but trying to distract myself. We were out of town this weekend and we splurged at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. I bought a square of English Toffee smothered with chocolate and chopped almonds. Great last pre-braces treat.

Should I take Advil before my appointment? Or will it wear off too soon since getting everything on is going to take a while and I should just take it as soon as I'm done?

Thinking of purple bands. That was the first color my 10 year old got and they looked cool. Plus it's my favorite color. I should really have fun, instead of trying to go invisible all the time.

[spree43]

I'm getting mine in the morning too..SO nervous. I think I will just take advil after I am done. I don't think getting them on will hurt, the pain will prob come after. I'm just nervous at how self conscious I'm going to feel but I think we just have to keep our eyes on the prize
Good luck tomorrow and let me know how u are doing!

[emily0709]

I've been a week in braces today. I got the "steel" colored bands because I did not want to be "immature" about it and now regret it! Go for the purple. I am counting down the weeks until I can get hot pink and black. I have embraced them! (pun sort of intended)

[testimony777]

I just wanted to wish you well today! I have been in my braces for a little over a week now. By the time you read this you will probably be feeling some level of discomfort but, I can say it definitely gets better. This time next week you will feel like yourself again

[kazinka]

Hey today was the big day haha, hope everything went really well! Hope you didn't feel any pain, good luck!