Making the choice to get braces is the first step toward achieving a beautiful smile that will give you confidence for years to come. However, the end result of a gorgeous set of straight, gleaming teeth can seem a long way off when you first get your braces put on. Some orthodontic patients, particularly adults, find themselves struggling with a lack of self-confidence and an unwillingness to talk, laugh, or smile in front of strangers due to self-consciousness about their braces. Though they know the payoff will be huge in the end, the immediate aesthetic appearance of their braces can bog them down. Here are a few things to remember in order to boost your self-confidence while you are undergoing orthodontic treatment:

Braces are Like Tooth Jewelry – Instead of thinking of your braces as a dental appliance, re-imagine them as jewelry for your teeth. After all, you are making an investment in your future by caring enough about your smile to rock your braces for a year or two. Today’s braces are nothing like the appliances used 10 years ago; you can select from a variety of styles and colors that best reflect your personal taste, and you can also make a statement with your braces, rather than be embarrassed by them. After all, it’s a sign that you care about your smile!

You Notice More Than Anyone Else – While you may sometimes feel as though the whole world is staring directly at your braces whenever you open your mouth to speak, take a moment to think about how unlikely that really is. After all, when you meet someone with glasses, do you stand there staring at them, or are they a pretty commonplace addition to a person’s face? The same is true for your braces. While you may notice them all the time, particularly because it’s your teeth they’re attached to, you would be surprised how many people won’t even notice your braces when they’re talking to you.

You Can Make Them Disappear – If you are really bothered by the idea of wearing braces that are noticeable, one solution is to wear braces that are virtually invisible. You can now get clear braces that are far less prominent than traditional brackets and wires, and they are often virtually undetectable in pictures or videos. Another option is to go with an alternative appliance like Invisalign, which is a series of corrective molds that gradually ease your teeth into alignment and are virtually invisible.

The most important thing to remember is this: the amount of time you wear your braces is relatively short compared to the lifelong, beautiful smile you will be rewarded with once your treatment is complete. As with any self-improvement journey, it can take a while but you will come out on the other side of your orthodontic treatment with fantastic results and a smile that gives you the self-confidence you need to take on the world!

Ready to take the first step on the road to a brilliant smile? Call Bret Johnson Orthodontics today at  509-466-2666 to schedule your initial consultation. We proudly help patients in and around Spokane, WA achieve the smile of their dreams every day. Make the call today for a bright and beautiful tomorrow!