Self Conscious about my braces and need some advice/support

[Darcy Houghton]

Hi this is my first post

I'm 16 (17 in September) and I got my braces on, on the 23rd of May this year. My orthodontist says i will need to have them for 18-24 months, I have the clear sort of braces on top, and the metal ones on my bottom teeth. I've always been self conscious about my teeth because they have always been crooked, and I was only able to get my braces on in May because my last baby tooth had only just fallen out, so I had to wait longer than most kids. I really struggle with the fact I have braces and feel like I'm a joke (girls wont like me etc..) because almost everyone has there's off and I'll be lucky to have mine off before I'm 18. I don't really know the point of this, I just need some people who can relate and give me advice on how to deal with them, I'm a self conscious person I guess.

Thanks.

[Hanka01]

Stick with it and stay positive. The end result will be worth it and every day braced is a day closer to an awesome smile. Any girl worth your time won't care about your braces.

[jem]

I think many of us here were self-conscious about our braces for the first little while. But really braces are no big deal and in time you will sometimes forget you even have them. But DO keep smiling. A happy attractive person is a happy attractive person-irrespective of braces. And 17 is a better age to have braces than 57-loads of youngsters still have braces at your age and many others will only just have had theirs taken off and will be able to identify with your situation.

Good luck with your treatment!

Jem

[bmueller]

Hi there!
I can totally relate. I had braces in middle school but then needed them again as an adult. It does feel weird to be the only one with braces at an older age. But I have to say, many of my friends had braces in high school, I wouldn't think you're the ONLY one. I would try to ignore the fact that you have braces and live each day as if you are the happy self confident person you want to be.

When I was in high school, I let so many external superficial things rule my life and I did make changes to try to dress like the popular kids or hair or whatever. Those changes didn't matter. I still wasn't popular! People actually do like or dislike you for who you are and who you portray yourself as. People saw me as an easy target because I didn't have self confidence.

Be true to yourself, take this as a growing experience, just like a growth spur or pimples and be thankful you won't be 30 or 40 or 50 and doing this!

[karebear1008]

Darcy, I am a 48 year old business woman going through this as well... I wear a business suit, have a full staff of analysts that work for me, and am constantly in front of people speaking, I completely understand how you feel... Self conscious. just know that you are still you! In this together!!!!!

[sirwired]

It's a lot more common to have braces at your age than later... while I can't speak for what it will do to your social status now, I CAN say that years down the road, you'll have little memory of what did or did not happen in high school, at least I don't.

What I CAN say is that if people don't notice braces on me, a 35-year-old engineer, they aren't going to notice them much on a teenager, where braces are perfectly normal.

It's always better to correct orthodontic problems earlier than later. And they'll certainly be easier if you can get them done before you aren't living at home any more.

[Bloomingcactus657]

I agree with all the above.
I'm 21 and I've actually been complimented by a lot of people about how cute my braces are. I think we self-perceive our own awkwardness bc we aren't used to them.

[Catlady]

I totally understand how you feel. I'm 21 and I have braces.. It's held me back from getting a job. I don't want to work anywhere with braces because I will be talking to people. It's embarrassing and i'm completely self conscious about it. I feel like a child. When I go to the orthodontist, there is always all these little kids there (Around 10-14). I feel so weird getting check ups and what not. Just remember how awesome your teeth with look when your older. Just think about 2 years of YOUR entire life that you'll deal with this and the rest of your life you will have awesome teeth! We are all in this together! I've had mine for alittle over 2years and I forget I even have them sometimes. Just be confident!!

Much love, Catlady! xx

[agrace90]

I am 22 and have felt that before I got braces I was way more self conscious about my teeth than after braces. I feel that the braces 'hide' my teeth and I'm on the road to straighter teeth every day! I hated my teeth so much and now I absolutely love my braces(besides the food issues and time consuming cleanings each night) They definitely took getting used to but now at nearly 7 weeks I forget about them more often than not.
Good luck!
~Ash

[pearlies]

You are so lucky to be getting them done now while you are still in high school! Just think about what a stunner you will be in your 20s and 30s when looks and confidence count most.

There are many of us older adults who are doing this after decades of having been self-conscious about our teeth and hiding our smiles from the world. Now that's something you don't want to deal with! You're so lucky to have your parents covering you for your treatment (many of us didn't get that when we were your age) and...you have clear on top rather than metal, even better!!

[mapleleafman888]

Hey I'm a 25 y/o guy, when I was your age I turned braces down because I was to proud/cool for my own good...They are a whole lot cheaper and definately more common place at your age. When I see people in braces it's just not really anything that phases me, and I think we make them out to be a bigger deal than they are. Your going to have a great mouth for 10 years more than me, lol want to switch places? Good luck!

[starfish88]

Thinking back to myself at that age - I would have felt dorky and uncomfortable braces or not - sadly its pretty normal for teenagers. So you may as well get braces now and then when you finish uni/get a job your teeth will be stunning. Its also much easier to do this when you are young than when you are older. Its easy for me to say this now looking back on my teenage years when i had so many expectations of being cool....I laugh about this now!