Dodgy teeth

Spiritus Mundi#

I really hate my teeth but i didnt realise that it was something others perceived at all until i overheard a friend of a friend saying they've never seen me smile. I've always tried to avoid smiling, laughing etc in the presence of strangers, and even with friends...just never realised other people notice it too.

My teeth aren't actually that bad, (pretty white) they're not very good either mind you, a lot of fillings, not very straight and about a million miles from being a candidate to be Colgate model! Terrible smile....i do pretty well in terms of the opposite sex but even with my last girlfriend (2.5 years) i was always conscious of smiling around her. Sometimes even covering my mouth with my hand a little or turning away a bit. Stupid i suppose. I really needed braces badly when i was younger (24 now) and for one reason or another never got them done.... even if it were still possible to have them now i wouldnt do it.

Anyone else have similar issues with teeth in particular or another body part even? My self-confidence and self-esteem in general is very positive, but it was a bit of a jolt to the system to hear that others notice the no-smile-zone.

Glowing

I had braces when I was 17, and it worked wonders for my self confidence. I hated my teeth growing up, and tried to avoid smiling. It only took a year of treatment and looking back now, it was such a short period of time to make such a difference.

Why wouldn't you consider getting them? I know plenty of adults getting braces, I would even go as far as to say its fashionable! It might only take a year or so, and if you got a retainer (as opposed to traintracks) they'd hardly be noticable.

If its making that much of an impact on your life, and you're ONLY 24, why not go for it! You'll have your teeth for another 60 odd years.

Have a chat to an orthodontist and see what your options are before you disregard the idea .....

delly

Have a friend who got braces in at 29 as well as a lot of other work done in order to sort his teeth out. Its taken close to two years but he's all done now and I have to say the difference is like chalk and cheese. He thinks it was well worth it as well as anybody who knows him.

If its really such a big issue you should consider getting braces or similar, don't rule out a short term inconvenience for a a long term gain.

hunnymonster

There is a dental forum sci -> biology -> dental.
The mod over there fitz is full of useful information. I've had my teeth fixed recently. It wasn't cheap but it does help confidence hugely.

cold_filter

I know what you mean, i very rarely smile and if i do im very conscious of it, i had a front tooth upper jaw knocked out when i was 15 at the time i really didnt want to get a false tooth so i got another tooth moved and a crown placed on it, big mistake my teeth look odd, hopefully very soon ill be getting a dental implant other than that my teeth are fine but im very self conscious of them

Caliden

nothing wrong with getting braces at your age and the end result will be a definite confidence booster