New to braces, really need help!

[hwah]

Hi there!

I'm a 15-year-old girl who's three full days into wearing my metal braces, and I simply can't help but look forward to the day I take them off! My orthodontist has prescribed me for a 15 to 17 month course, depending on how well my teeth responds. The pain stopped yesterday and I have been using wax but I simply hate my braces. They look so ugly and make me feel more insecure about my teeth than ever before. I have never really had any major issues with my teeth, just a very slight overbite, which led my parents and me to the decision that I needed braces. I absolutely hate the way I look in it and it is extremely difficult for me to close my mouth entirely. Wearing braces have kind of made me go into a kind of variable/ bipolar mood. Sometimes I'm at my highest, positive and extremely optimistic about my braces, telling everybody about how much I love them and how much I look forward to picking new colours every month; and sometimes I go into terrible mood swings, screaming constantly into my pillow and crying while looking at myself in the mirror repeatedly, and yelling at my sister for her teeth being so perfect. I just really really really want to take my braces off this very moment and toss them in the trash, never to glance at them again. Right now I feel like taking my braces off as soon as possible, because I can't deal with this mental oppression for at least 400 more days... But I know that within the course of two hours, I'll be back to my normal, cheerful self, grinning at every passer-by with my braces and telling everybody loudly cobalt blue is my most favourite colour choice for my braces. It's just really hard to explain this through words but I don't want to go through this any longer and I want to take them off as soon as possible.

Will taking them off now, me being nowhere near my finish date, be a bad choice for my teeth? Will it cause them to be misaligned and grow badly? I don't even mind if they go back to the way they were before I got braces, I just want to be free of my mood swings and be happy!

I honestly feel like I've lost all confidence in myself and I dread having to go back to school after spring break is over this week. Heck, I dread going to church this Sunday! Today is the first full day I've ever locked myself in my room, refusing to let anyone see me, with the exception of my family, because I'm afraid to show them my braces... I don't know, I just really don't know. Please help me! What should I do next? Is it advisable for me to remove my braces or if not, what can I do to overcome this kind of mental torture my own mind is inflicting upon me? Please help! God bless you!

[djspeece]

Being 15 is tough enough as far as moods and daily challenges go, so I definitely sympathize. Mood swings are going to happen. They sure did for me. Do many of your friends have braces? When my kids (twins) were in braces as teens (they are in their mid-30s now, so you know I am ancient ) it seems as though nearly all of their friends were in braces, so that helped. I think they all kind of bonded over the experience. In any event, it will get better with some time -- I doubt you will ever love the look of braces, but they become tolerable. And believe it or not, a lot of people don't notice. Well I am not sure that holds for teenagers -- so there may be teasing -- so you are going to have to let it roll off. I think you are on the right track with colored bands, etc. and trying to have fun with it, at least in some degree. I wasn't that brave.
As far as what happens if you have them taken off -- hard to tell since we are not orthodontists. Your parents have your best interests at heart, as you know. When this is all over you will be glad you did it, trust me.
Braces do not define you. You are much more than braces on your teeth. From your post I see that you are very intelligent, articulate, and sensitive. Probably have a fun-loving streak as well. Those are the sorts of things that make you -- YOU! These braces will be off in due course. Be patient. Hang in there. Embrace your braciness!

[FlyByNight]

Just know you'll have perfect teeth in the end.

[FlowerPower]

Without braces your teeth will progressively get worse and depending on your issue, will be harder to treat as an adult. I'm not 15, I'm older than you, but is it that serious? You're not paying for them and this seems to be the common age to have braces in. Maybe it's the realization seeing in but give it a week or 2 and you will be back to normal. I remember feeling depressed about having to brush my teeth 3 or 4 times a day, I even was depressed about choosing ceramic because people here seem to hate them, but now that I'm about 2 months in and seeing changes and getting used to the routine, braces aren't bad at all. It's exciting for me to see the changes.

[Steph30]

Hi there!

I'm a 15-year-old girl who's three full days into wearing my metal braces, and I simply can't help but look forward to the day I take them off! My orthodontist has prescribed me for a 15 to 17 month course, depending on how well my teeth responds. The pain stopped yesterday and I have been using wax but I simply hate my braces. They look so ugly and make me feel more insecure about my teeth than ever before. I have never really had any major issues with my teeth, just a very slight overbite, which led my parents and me to the decision that I needed braces. I absolutely hate the way I look in it and it is extremely difficult for me to close my mouth entirely. Wearing braces have kind of made me go into a kind of variable/ bipolar mood. Sometimes I'm at my highest, positive and extremely optimistic about my braces, telling everybody about how much I love them and how much I look forward to picking new colours every month; and sometimes I go into terrible mood swings, screaming constantly into my pillow and crying while looking at myself in the mirror repeatedly, and yelling at my sister for her teeth being so perfect. I just really really really want to take my braces off this very moment and toss them in the trash, never to glance at them again. Right now I feel like taking my braces off as soon as possible, because I can't deal with this mental oppression for at least 400 more days... But I know that within the course of two hours, I'll be back to my normal, cheerful self, grinning at every passer-by with my braces and telling everybody loudly cobalt blue is my most favourite colour choice for my braces. It's just really hard to explain this through words but I don't want to go through this any longer and I want to take them off as soon as possible.

Will taking them off now, me being nowhere near my finish date, be a bad choice for my teeth? Will it cause them to be misaligned and grow badly? I don't even mind if they go back to the way they were before I got braces, I just want to be free of my mood swings and be happy!

I honestly feel like I've lost all confidence in myself and I dread having to go back to school after spring break is over this week. Heck, I dread going to church this Sunday! Today is the first full day I've ever locked myself in my room, refusing to let anyone see me, with the exception of my family, because I'm afraid to show them my braces... I don't know, I just really don't know. Please help me! What should I do next? Is it advisable for me to remove my braces or if not, what can I do to overcome this kind of mental torture my own mind is inflicting upon me? Please help! God bless you!

Hi! I just wanted to let you know I just got my braces today... I'm feeling a lot like you are right now.. I keep reminding myself that the end result will be worth it.. and to be honest.. If I just talk normally they arent that noticeable. We are our own worst critic. When I look at other people with braces I honestly admire that they were so courageous and took a step to have a healthier smile! Now we are in their shoes and im sure other people will feel the same when noticing our braces.. if you ever want to vent or just talk about things feel free to message me! Good luck and hang in there.. All of this adjustment takes time and will be soooo worth it in the end!

[Jeska0113]

Dont beat yourself up kid. I wish i had gotten my braces when i was 15 ! Tbh people dont always even notice you have them. I had mine on for like 2 weeks until my boss and coworker asked when i got them ! Lol. Just hang in there, your teeth will thank you when you're older i dont like my braces either (who does?) but had i not gone to my ortho, my molars would be all worn down by now(overbite) . it will get better !

[FlyByNight]

When I got my braces put on, I never really felt embarrassed about having them. I smiled with my mouth closed for school pictures but other than that, I would show them off. Think that you will have a straighter smile than anyone you see.

[billysil]

I wanted them off after 3 days too, but that was because the pain was the highest at that point. Now everything is fine and I actually feel more confident than I did before. My brain has probably realised that the end result is worth it all.
I think people don't really notice unless you've told someone before getting braces on. It took 2 weeks for some people in my class to go "Oh, you've got braces?" The conversation then usually goes to cost and how much they need or want braces too.

[erin5550]

Hi there!

I'm a 15-year-old girl who's three full days into wearing my metal braces, and I simply can't help but look forward to the day I take them off! My orthodontist has prescribed me for a 15 to 17 month course, depending on how well my teeth responds. The pain stopped yesterday and I have been using wax but I simply hate my braces. They look so ugly and make me feel more insecure about my teeth than ever before. I have never really had any major issues with my teeth, just a very slight overbite, which led my parents and me to the decision that I needed braces. I absolutely hate the way I look in it and it is extremely difficult for me to close my mouth entirely. Wearing braces have kind of made me go into a kind of variable/ bipolar mood. Sometimes I'm at my highest, positive and extremely optimistic about my braces, telling everybody about how much I love them and how much I look forward to picking new colours every month; and sometimes I go into terrible mood swings, screaming constantly into my pillow and crying while looking at myself in the mirror repeatedly, and yelling at my sister for her teeth being so perfect. I just really really really want to take my braces off this very moment and toss them in the trash, never to glance at them again. Right now I feel like taking my braces off as soon as possible, because I can't deal with this mental oppression for at least 400 more days... But I know that within the course of two hours, I'll be back to my normal, cheerful self, grinning at every passer-by with my braces and telling everybody loudly cobalt blue is my most favourite colour choice for my braces. It's just really hard to explain this through words but I don't want to go through this any longer and I want to take them off as soon as possible.

Will taking them off now, me being nowhere near my finish date, be a bad choice for my teeth? Will it cause them to be misaligned and grow badly? I don't even mind if they go back to the way they were before I got braces, I just want to be free of my mood swings and be happy!

I honestly feel like I've lost all confidence in myself and I dread having to go back to school after spring break is over this week. Heck, I dread going to church this Sunday! Today is the first full day I've ever locked myself in my room, refusing to let anyone see me, with the exception of my family, because I'm afraid to show them my braces... I don't know, I just really don't know. Please help me! What should I do next? Is it advisable for me to remove my braces or if not, what can I do to overcome this kind of mental torture my own mind is inflicting upon me? Please help! God bless you!

I got my metal braces on 3/9 (have to wear for 27 months!!), and I definitely wanted them off the first few days. I promise you in 2-3 weeks it really won't be a big deal. I am 34, will be 35 next month, and wish my parent had gotten them for me when I was a teenager. A lot of teenagers here have them, and my almost 11 year old daughter is devastated that the orthodontist told her she can't have them for another year, while her 12 year old brother has them and could care less. He just wants his expander out, lol. People around here seem to think they're cool. Just hold on, and make it through the first couple of weeks, and it'll all be worth it. In 15-17 months (that will fly by), you're going to love your smile.

[Tyrantblade]

15-17 months isn't that long to get a better smile, I've had braces for almost 20 months now, still have until August and then 2 permanent implants.