embarassed about my braces- need some encouragement

[Anna5]

Hello!

I just got my braces yesterday and I am excited about this: finally something is going to be done to correct or at least improve my open bite. I have been very selfconscious and even a bit depressed about my open bite lately. I found it hard to be happy with myself and therefore decided to get braces to improve my appearance. But for now, the braces have only worsened my open bite (because of the bite pads/elevators they put on my molars). So it's getting worse before it is going to get better. ..
I talked to some people today and they all immediately noticed my braces. Their remarks weren't bad,even friendly, but still I felt a bit uncomfortable. On Thursday I have to go to my work again and I am already a bit afraid of my coworkers' reactions..... I asked their advise before I got braces and none of them said I needed braces (although I think my bite/jawline is very bad and the orthodontist even recommended jaw surgery for me). My collegues even advised me against braces (too painful etc they said...). Probably I will be fine with my braces soon, but for now I think I just need some encouragement. How did you experience your first days in braces? Were you also a bit embarrassed? I hope to hear from you!

Greetings from Anna

[Harmony]

Hi Anna

Well I think your braces look fab I wish mine looked as well (you'll see my metal ones in recent posts) for me I've a Class II division, an overjet of 12mm and I need lower jaw surgery then braces afterwards. I only wish mine were like your's so hopefully that makes you feel better!

At the start yes it's not easy but you will get used to them and just keep thinking on the end result. Some people say I'm mad to go through all of this but I'm doing it for me and I'm excited as well. Wax has been a life saver for me.

This forum has really helped me and the journey is so gonna be worth it in the end and you'll be so glad you done it!

Harmony

[joeyyeo]

There's nothing to be embarrassed about, think about the fabulous results you will get when you're done! Think of it like... Cosmetic surgery? When someone first gets cosmetic surgery, they have to be bandaged up like a mummy and can't even go out to face the world. Be glad you ain't that person (: Be proud of your smile, and just know that it will get better, just give it some time BE HAPPY!

[fleur26]

Your braces look awesome! And at the end your teeth will too, they have lovely shape and colour. Trust me I've been in braces for two years four months and the embarrassment passes! X

[SunshineRay]

I have the same exact feelings but tell myself that the akwardness will only last a few days then they will just become part of me.

[isthistaken]

No! Would you be embarassed if you broke your leg and had crutches?

[KatrinkaNoir]

I know what you mean, at least I did. I wanted them so bad, but at first having an overbite, plus brackets really made me feel self conscious. However, three weeks in, I feel great about them! You know what? I'm going to have a great smile in the end, and I feel good about making my smile better . So, the shyness/embarrassment has passed . I hope you get there quickly.

[margarets]

Your teeth are no one's business but your own and anyone who makes ANY negative remarks about ANY aspect of your physical appearance is rude rude rude.

So, I say you have nothing to be embarassed about and if anyone says anything mean go ahead and LET THEM HAVE IT. As in "Mind your business and shut your mouth!"

Admittedly, I am cranky today.

[Anna5]

Dear all,

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging messages, it means a lot to me. I find this forum so encouraging and you are all wonderful people. It is great that we can encourage and share our journeys with each other.
I know that I should not be embarrassed, but it is so hard. Till now, nobody has been rude or unkind to me because of my appearance and/or braces. In fact, the only one who is rude is myself, telling myself that I am ugly, that it is all my own fault because of thumbsucking for far too long, that I don't have the right to be happy with such a bad bite etc. I even have talks to a psychologist to help me feel better about myself and my appearance. I hope my braces are going to help me as well. My teeth won't get perfect (in order to get them perfect I need 2 surgeries as well and this is too stressful and invasive for me, at least at the moment), but I am hoping for at least some improvement so that I get happier about myself and feel more confident.
Do you also recognise this, feeling bad about yourself because of your teeth? Feeling not happy? Looking in the mirror a bit too often and not liking yourself because of your teeth? Was this a reason for some of you to get braces or did you all got braces for other, more functional, reasons?
I wish you all the very best on your journeys. Hopefully, one day we all have a great smile!

Greetings from Anna

[bmueller]

I think everyone can agree that "You are your worst critic." As adults, people don't really care if you have braces. You may be self conscious, I was very self conscious when I first got them on. I explained that I had a lot of residual health problems poor bite, tmj, airway issues... and people were happy to hear I was getting those fixed.

Some of my coworkers said they wished they were able to get their teeth fixed too.

I think its an awkward situation for most people, they feel the need to acknowledge something but then sometimes don't know the right thing to say. Much like if a coworker "looks" pregnant.

Your teeth will look better and better every day and you'll gain confidence!

[Mauvaise]

What helped me getting braces at 41 was to just embrace it. They are going to be noticed, no matter what brackets you have. Trying to do the sorts of things to minimize the fact that you have them I think makes them more noticeable.

So I figure if people are going to notice them, they were going to notice them on my terms! I have the same brackets as you, which do not require ligs (the small rubber bands around each bracket), but my ortho will put them on if you want. I went full colors - hot pink, dark blue, maroon, purple, green. I alternated black & orange for Halloween; red & green for Christmas, etc. Once I got elastics, I would get the colored elastics and color coordinate with my outfits.

So have fun with your braces, go wild, and be full of confidence and shine on anyone that gives you flak for having fun with them!

[cbreeze]

I definitely felt the same way when I first got mine! The wires just really emphasize the crookedness, and with time you will get the satisfaction of seeing the wire slowly straighten out. I've only had mine 5 weeks and I've always seen the wire get straighter! I felt a lot more comfortable after 2 weeks of having them.....mostly because it just FEELS weird in your mouth --- so then you assume they LOOK weird. But really, no one will notice them as much as you think they will. Hang in there!! Your teeth are going to look amazing!

[cbreeze]

Also, I can relate with looking in the mirror and not feeling totally satisfied with my smile. So just know that you are doing something not only to benefit your health, but also to improve your confidence!

And again, I have finally gotten to the point where I don't feel the need to "introduce" my braces to new people (co-workers, people I meet at bars, etc). Once I stopped feeling the need to point them out, I felt way more comfortable. And honestly, no one ever points them out or makes comments. So even if they NOTICE, it doesn't seem to phase them.

[oldfart]

This has happened twice to me in the last two days.

"Hey you got braces, Cool."

" yeah I got them for....."

blah blah blah.. other topic...

People see them, think its cool you are doing it, but two seconds later they move on to the next topic, as you are sitting there focusing on the braces still.

The only people who will be really interested in them, or what you are trying to fix, are those that have had recent treatment, or those already have them.

If I were you, I'd be proud of how clean your teeth look.

[Angel269]

I was embarrassed too at first even with clear brackets and a coated archwire.

I had alot of stick about doing it mainly because of the amount I spent on myself, more than the appearance of them anyway.

I don't work (as I have a little one) but was conscious when taking my son to groups and what the other mums would say. Funnily enough I am in the UK and it's rare for me to see anotehr adult with braces but in October one of the other mums got upper and lower metals and didn't even realise I had braces anyway.