People think you are towards the end of the process, when in actuality you are just beginning. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

Asking People What It Is Like To Have Braces As An Adult

Braces are not fun no matter how old you are, but what is it like as an adult?

158
Asking People What It Is Like To Have Braces As An Adult

Recently, I have gotten braces, and they are not exactly what I expected them to be. I reached out to a few others I know who have braces as an adult, and not in their middle school years.

Here are some of the things they had to say...

You always look younger than what you actually are.

Giphy

This is a general consensus among almost everyone I talked to. Arguably this can be considered a good thing, to still look "youthful". However, one person mentioned it is awkward trying to go to a bar, and the waitress doubting your ID.

Finances are why we didn't get braces until we were adults.

Giphy

A lot of our family's could not afford braces for us, or had insurance that did not cover any portion of the cost.

"I couldn't smile before, I was embarrassed with how my teeth looked." - Anon.

One person I talked to was thankful to have braces, even if they are an adult. They are so thankful to get the problem fixed.

"You stopped smiling in pictures the way you used to without them..." - Lyndsey.

Giphy

The opposite is also true, some people feel ashamed to wear braces as an adult. To quote Lyndsey again, "we are surrounded by the stereotypical 'Instagram culture'." Everything can be about how you look, and for some people, braces destroy their self-image.

Other people: "Why didn't you just do Invisalign?"

Giphy

What's the big deal with having braces? A lot of people have asked me why I didn't just do Invisalign. It gets annoying.

Here are some reasons why people don't do Invisalign...

Some insurances only help cover part of the braces expense, and none of the Invisalign. Some orthodontists are not specialized in Invisalign, and lastly, depending on what troubles you are experiencing, Invisalign will not be able to help you.

People think you are towards the end of the process, when in actuality you are just beginning.

For those who had braces applied shortly after graduating high school, this part is annoying.

New people you meet think you had them throughout high school and it should be "any day now" when you can get them off. No, the process has just begun.

Other people: "I had those in middle school, I get your pain!"

Giphy

Do you really get my pain though?

I love something Lyndsey said when I was asking her about her experiences. "No one's story is worse or better than anyone else's."

This is true with ALL struggles in life!

Interviews, professional work place, etc.

Giphy

Preparing to be interviewed is daunting already, now I have these braces to work with.

While interviewers should not be judging whether someone is wearing braces or not, it just adds to the stress.

Did I pick out a good outfit for this interview? Do I LOOK like a professional? Will I be silently judged for. *thing 1*, *thing 2*, *thing 3*, *thing 4*, and now these braces?

Ugh.

Bullying.

Giphy

The one thing I recognize that we do not experience the same, kids vs. adults getting braces, is the bullying.

Adults, for the most part, think it is cool that you have the chance to fix your teeth when you weren't able to before. I know kids would get taunted for having braces in elementary and middle school.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

2084
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

448637
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

21156
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

44243
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments