[avaanstar]

I have had braces for two and a half years now. I am getting them off hopefully at the end of September. Yay! Well, here's the problem: I have to wear rubber bands that are vertical from my two top front teeth to my bottom front teeth. I hate it! It really is embarrassing... I look like a snake or a vampire. So whenever people come around, I take them off. The problem with that is it is delaying when I am getting my braces off.

It is summer, so it isn't so bad because people from school don't know I have them in. BUT, school starts September 3rd and that means I will have to wear them to school.
I am extremely sad. I really thought I'd get my braces off before school started and I believe I'll be so much happier when I get them off. Why? Because then I'll be able to smile and laugh. I really don't smile as much as I used to and I don't laugh that much because I don't like showing my rubber bands. I know my rubber bands may seem like a lame excuse to not smile as much---but it's true.

What should I do? Any comforting tips?

[YourDarkMystery]

I also have braceses and I hate those enough. I feel bad for the rubber band issue because my friend had to do that. I felt so bad. It looked lik it hurt, but you no what, she got them off a week later. Rubber bands (if you ware them 24/7) yes it will hurt that's why you got medicine! :] but you will be very happy with the quickness they actually work! So don't worry! I see your pic and your a beautiflu girl. Don't be embaressed because your friends will understand and hell, when you get those braceses off, you will be sooo happy, I honeslty think it will all be worth it.

So all in all

Don't worry about what they think

This is for you, and only u

Love the pain and embarrassment, because those babies will be gone in no time!

Good luck!

:]

[avaanstar]

i also have braceses and i hate those enough. i feel bad for the rubber band issue becuase my friend had to do that. i felt so bad. it looked lik it hurt, but ya no what, she got them off a week later. rubber bands (if u ware them 24/7) yes it will hurt thats why u got medicine!! :] but u will be very happy with the quickness they actually work! so dont worry! i see ur pic and ur a beautiflu girl. dont be embaressed because ur friends will understand and hell, when u get those braceses off, u will be sooo happy, i honeslty think it will all be worth it.

so all in all

dont worry about what they think

this is for you, and only u

love the pain and embarassment, because those babies will be gone in no time!!

good luck!

:]

Thank you!

:]

[jillianleab]

I had that elastics configuration too - and I was in my 20's! :) I hated it, I thought it made me look like I had long stringy spittle dangling in my mouth all the time...

BUT - I'm the only one who thought that, and the only one who noticed or paid attention to them. Everyone else ignored them, and after a while, when I realized no one cared that I had braces and elastics, I got over my anxiety. Then, before I knew it, the elastics were gone. Then, before I knew it, the braces were gone!

Hang in there. It's almost over, and keep in mind how you will have a life of beautiful, healthy teeth if you just get through this. At your 10-year high school reunion, no one will even remember you had braces! In the meantime, keep wearing your elastics as instructed, because in the end, compliance with treatment gets them off faster!

[Jigicou]

I have the same thing you just got to wear the bands and get it over with it. And the longer you don`t wear the bands the longer you have to wear you braces

[JBeaucaire]

Seriously, Avaanstar, NO ONE is paying as much attention to your looks as you are. If anyone cared that much, they'd be fretting over themselves, too.

I understand the fretting, but it is a complete waste of energy, isn't it? And you've said it yourself, when you give in to the fretting and take the bands off, you lengthen the whole process, right? That's lose-lose.

Nobody else is giving it any thought at all. They aren't. And if you can find ONE person at school who actually does manage to say something inappropriate about your rubber bands... I'll bet you money it will turn out to be someone you couldn't give a rip about yourself.