More self conscience than I thought

[furious george]

I'm dreading next week when my hubby is back at work and I take my son to baby & toddler groups as I worry it will be reason for people to gossip, or worse the kids ask questions or are freaked out I am also embarrased about eating with other people around, as food keeps getting stuck.

I took my kid (5) to a birthday party this weekend and not one person said boo, until I turned down pizza (you are right, eating in company is a pain) and a teen with braces mentioned that she felt my pain. We laughed about it...and I got lots of sympathy for skipping the food, but no awkwardness. The giant zit on my cheek was way more unfortunate than the expensive braces on my teeth. Ive decided to pretend my fancy grill is like driving around in a BMW.

Questions from kids don't bug me, I know they aren't judging. Most just shrug and immediately move on.

[Noni]

I believe most of us do at the beginning feel selfconscious , I hated the braces I didn't know that braces will make Me look different .
My teeeeeeth looks huge , and when I smile I feel like the only thing you can see on my face is wire and brackets.

The first 2 weeks I was thinking to go back to my ortho and remove them . But with time you just feel better it will take time until you feel ok with it.

I was more confident to talk to stranger than talking to friends and Family , couple of people I know told me you look different with braces , and that my lips looks Buffy , and I hated this comment when every time someone just say it and when someone say " why did you get braces on , your teeth were perfect " if I didn't need them I won't wear them .


Then I started preparing my self for those kind of comments in the event of meeting any one who didn't see me yet with braces , it kinda make me feel better.

Hold on there , you will just be fine , read other people posts about their experience with braces , it help so much , I appreciate finding this forum .

Good luck , and all the best .

[starfish88]

I honestly hate my smile so much I can't imagine hating it any more when I get braces on. I'm actually hoping having braces will hide my smile to some extent or at least demonstrate to people who might be judging me that I'm doing something about it. Not sure who's judging though...the smile police maybe?

[revelvia]

Once they stop hurting and you've figured out how to eat with them, you'll stop caring.

I had about three weeks of pure hatred of them. As far as I was concerned, I felt and looked like I'd eaten a bus. I spent every day wanting to go back to the hospital and have them taken off.

Then I just stopped caring

No one else actually cares. Sometimes I forget I have them on. I've recently moved to a new city where I don't know anyone and at first I refused to go and meet anyone in case people judged me for them. I was convinced everyone would make fun of me, but seriously, NO ONE cares. I have had absolutely no problems making friends with them, and have been asked out with them on. It's not an issue unless you make it one. Now I think they look kind of cute on me and have absolutely no problems smiling with them on. I sometimes regret this when I go to the toilet and see that I had something stuck that no one bothered to tell me about But aside from that, really, no one minds. They probably aren't even very noticeable. The only person that has actually made a comment about them was just someone who wanted to know if they hurt or not.

[Angel269]

I've had my braces 3 days now. I went to my in laws Saturday night who knew I was getting them and they saw me Friday afternoon anyway.

I saw my brother in law then who I was talking to quiet discreetly trying not to show them and then when no one else was looking I said I've done it and showed him the braces-He said he genuinely hadn't seen them and that they are barely visible. He did say he noticed something about my speech though
Then a bracket broke at the table and my husbands step brothers wife said what is wrong and I said a bracket has come off-She hadn't even noticed until I pointed them ou when I had a problem.

Feeling better about being an adult in public with them-yesterday went to farm shop and girl at counter had metal uppers and lowers and today went to library and guy behind desk had metal uppers and lowers. Both these people must've been 18-19 max I reckon though but as they had braces I felt comfortable enough to keep eye contact and sort of smile (a first for me!)

Still haven't seen anyone else I know since family on Saturday and nobody else knew, will be interesting. I think biggest challenge will be my son's 1st birthday party next week as lots of people will have a surprise and I'd be reluctant to eat the yummy party food in fear of food stuck in brackets

[hellomrman]

I know exactly how you feel. I had "Six Month Smiles" put on in January and I was looking forward to them like crazy because I have always been very self conscious about my teeth, I did not care if I would have braces for approximately the next year. As soon as I got them on, though, it turned into a different story. I realized that I had a lisp (only for about a week because my teeth were so sensitive) and that I could not eat in public any more (I love to eat,lol). HOWEVER, all that has gotten so much easier. Just be patient and you'll learn all the tricks and pretty soon you won't even notice them!

[kreyFL]

I'm dreading next week when my hubby is back at work and I take my son to baby & toddler groups as I worry it will be reason for people to gossip, or worse the kids ask questions or are freaked out I am also embarrased about eating with other people around, as food keeps getting stuck.

Funny enough, I do not mind the under 7 year olds. They love them. "Why do you have those things on your teeth" I usually say "They make my teeth straight, you might have them one day"...and almost always I get a "COOOOLLLL! They're neat!"

LOL

In response to the eating...it does take time and I always hit the bathroom afterwards to sort myself out. I also now have a handy supply of toothpicks in my purse. You learn which foods are more difficult than others. Pizza always requires a brushing. Rice too. They are like the perfect size to wedge between brackets, lol. I have learned to tear off bites, chew with my molars - keeps my front brackets a little more clean.

[Angel269]

Not sure who's judging though...the smile police maybe?

Sorry that last comment tickled me

I have seen a couple of people I know today and they said had I not had pointed them out they probably wouldn't have noticed my ceramic braces.

I am feeling a tad better about them but loathe eating and still embarrased especially when I know that I will be likely to bump into someone I know, as I worry about the questions

I have really felt comfortable talking on this board and have just about felt ok to post pictures on my story

[ellieb]

Me too...you can't even see mine but the lisp! It's not even that bad but I can see it in people's faces that they are having to listen to me extra closely or figure out why I sound funny. I've actually been avoiding people I know. I kind of have an issue with people feeling bad for me, I don't like it. But of course the more embarrassed I act the worse people feel for me, like a vicious circle! I don't know, I'm just doing my best to continue practicing speaking. I will be getting a wire across the front of my top teeth soon, like September or October. I can't decide if that will be better (people will know why I am lisping) or worse (no hiding it from anyone).

Oddly I find I am MUCH LESS embarrassed around strangers than friends.

[Toasty79]

I've had mine on for a week and a half and I think the not caring has started. I was VERY self-conscious at first as they have affected my speech, but the last few days I've forgotten about them a few times

One comment I do NOT expect to get is the one about "why do you have braces, your teeth are fine" - mine definitely aren't and I'm sure it is obvious to anyone that I DID need them they are seriously crooked and uneven!

I've spent my whole adult life hiding them and trying not to smile, so anything's an improvement on that, frankly

[unspec]

I have to say I was the opposite of self conscious with the uppers in. Instead I was showing them off, as a number of people were saying how they were thinking of braces and were impressed by the ceramic ones I had (they hadn't seen them before).

Anyway I'm sure you'll get over it and that embarrassment will grow into confidence as your teeth get better and better. :)

[Glandyover]

I plan on being insanely smiley with my braces. I'm not going to mind them in the slightest and give everybody big smiles. You really have nothing to be ashamed of and you're really your own worst critic. Go out there and wow people with your smiles. You all definitely need the practice for when they come off!