Sick of having to justify braces!

Message

#1 Post by Le » Sun Nov 29, 2009 7:34 pm

I've been in braces for 7 months now and am really happy with the progress that has already been made, and I have personally gotten over most of the embarrasment in letting people see I have braces.

But one thing that does bother me is the fact that I have had several occasions (usually with work ppl not friends!) where I have had to defend my choice to get braces.

I have been accused of just being vain, and of chasing the myth that we all have to look 'perfect' etc. etc. I usually say that I had to get them for medical reasons, and will need jaw surgery later which shuts ppl up. But was not the initial reason for wanting them.

Why should I have to defend trying to look better though??

Has anyone else encountered this kind of negativity?

#2 Post by **smilesunset** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:08 pm

Wow, people can be so insensitive. I'm sorry to hear you've had to go through that. I actually have had the opposite experience -- a co-worker, when she noticed my braces, commented that a lot of people she knows seem to have jaw and bite issues and have to get braces later in life for medical reasons. "Oh no," I replied, "I'm fortunate not to have any issues like that. I just want straight teeth." It's as good a reason as any and it's your choice.

#3 Post by **talisman** » Sun Nov 29, 2009 8:42 pm

I'm sick of a lot of people saying "why have you got braces? you don't need braces!"

Obviously i feel i do need braces, and the inevitable question "so how much are you paying for this?" comes up.

I find it quite insulting actually.

#4 Post by **paperbackhead** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:52 am

My friend was telling me that braces was for cosmetic reasons. (she had braces herself) Obviously we want to look/feel better, that's one of the reasons we get them. But also, if we have an overbite, underbite, etc. we want those to be fixed too because teeth just get worse and worse and later on in your life you're going to regret not getting them. Don't know why some people don't understand. I'm going to tell my friend that if she says that next time lol

I'm also kind of sick of hearing "you don't even need braces, their not even that crooked." I mean, I know they're trying to be nice, but let's face it, if it's crooked it's crooked. I've been looking at my teeth for 18 yrs and I should know if it's not straight

#5 Post by **karencoutts** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:38 am

I could have written your post. I get it from everyone. So annoying and judgmental. Amazing how insensitive they can be. I try to ignore the ignorant, but I agree it can be challenging!

#6 Post by **kittenmaisey** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:50 am

It's kind of like enquiring why someone is walking around with really crooked teeth!!

And telling them so. I always tell people..especially older Bracites, how much I admire them for going through with the treatment.

What is so wrong with wanting attractive teeth, with a healthy bite to accompany it!

#7 Post by **Laura1985** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:52 am

I got this a lot in the beginning as well. It was really annoying, and embarrassing that I felt like I had to justify myself. People said the same thing, "You don't need braces. Your teeth are not that bad. Why are you doing that to yourself?!"

Pshhh...now that I'm further into it and I look at old pictures, they were that bad! The process of being braced isn't a walk in the park, but it's worth it! I think sometimes people just think they are being polite by saying we don't need them. Regardless, it's a personal decision!

#8 Post by **Margie** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:42 am

I completely agree with Laura1985! I feel the exact same way.

#9 Post by **Aia** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 11:55 am

Yeah! That's one of the reasons I hate having them!

When I first got them everyone was like "whyd you get braces?". Everyone just acts so weird about it. Which I guess I probably would too if someone I knew got braces. I guess people do think it's kind of a vanity thing.

I don't think people say "you don't even need them" just to say it. I'm sure most people don't really look and see imperfections that you might notice about yourself. I mean unless they were extremely crooked I'm sure no one even noticed. It's not like they're all up in your face inspecting your teeth lol.

But yeah, I don't even want to like run into anymore people that I know that I haven't seen since I got them because I don't feel like going through it again.

#10 Post by **Bellalalala** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 3:48 pm

Wow.

This is completely foreign to me.
I have never had anyone say anything other than be supportive or curious.

I can't even imagine people being that rude.
Maybe it's because I'm in Canada hahaha

#11 Post by **evilnel** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:39 pm

I also haven't had that experience. I had one person ask me 'why now' and I said 'couldn't afford it before.' That was the end of it. Most people either are like 'you got braces' and move on. It's really not that interesting, lol.

#12 Post by b » Tue Dec 01, 2009 2:27 pm

Bellalalala wrote:Wow.

This is completely foreign to me.
I have never had anyone say anything other than be supportive or curious.

I can't even imagine people being that rude.
Maybe it's because I'm in Canada hahaha

my experience is exactly the same, and I live in Canda also.. hmm.. :p

#13 Post by **Aia** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:15 am

Bellalalala wrote: Maybe it's because I'm in Canada hahaha

Probably! People in america are rude!

#14 Post by **Snowglobe32** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 6:35 pm

You would be surprised at how many people, even close friends, were shocked when I told them I was getting braces. A friend who I haven't seen in over a year, just found out I got braces, she said, "I don't remember you needing to have braces..."
So, most people don't see what an ortho sees. I just tell them I am fixing a bite issue.

#15 Post by **trillium** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:50 pm

I don't think that you really have to justify it to anyone but yourself. It's your choice.