If you have uneven or crooked teeth, they may make you feel embarrassed or insecure. For many people however, the solution – braces – can also cause confidence issues. Here are a few tips from our Surrey orthodontists to help you to feel confident when wearing braces.
Stay focused on the end result.
If you’re feeling less than confident in your new braces, just remind yourself: they’re only temporary, and the end results will be worth it!
Keep on smiling, knowing that moment by moment, your teeth are getting straighter.
Consider clear braces.
If you just can’t imagine that you’d be confident enough to smile with metal braces, then ask your orthodontist about more inconspicuous options such as Invisalign clear orthodontic aligners.
Think of your braces as accessories.
Your braces are going to be a part of your appearance for many months, or possibly even years. Try to think of them as an accessory, like a necklace or earrings. Use colourful elastics or bright lipsticks to highlight your braces, rather than trying to hide them.
Remember that braces are actually kind of cool.
We know what you are thinking: that’s a stretch. But it’s true. Braces are incredible! They are intricate little mechanisms that you wear in your mouth, that quietly work away at straightening your teeth, without your having to do anything. You may not love how they look, but you've got to admit, they’re pretty neat.
Just smile.
Whether you feel confident about your braces or not, just smile anyway! Fake it until you make it. The fact is, the more you avoid smiling in an awkward attempt to hide your braces, the less confident you’ll feel – and look. People are going to know you have braces whether you smile or not, so you might as well go for it!
The more you smile with braces, the more comfortable you’ll get, and the less self-conscious you’ll feel.