self conscious about braces

agent_smith

Right,

I would like an honest opinion please from the ladies. I dont have bad teeth... they are not perfect either. I have what can only be described as fangs either side of my mouth which i used to get a lot of slaggin about as a kid... vampire etc...
Here is the thing.. Im thinking of getting braces now (28). I am not a candidate for invisalign, so my options are train tracks, or ceramic clear braces (more expensive). I'm going to go down the route of ceramic.... or at least Im thinking of it.
I'm back single for the past 8 months and only starting to get back out on the dating scene and get my self confidence back ( the dental treatment could be a small part to play in that). Can you tell me honestly, if it would put you off a guy knowing he has braces and does it make him less attractive initially in your eyes. Please be honest, nobody and I certainly would not call you shallow or unfair if you did. Could simply be a case that you dont find them attractive. thats fair enough. I just would like to get some honest answers and whether it would be worth it !

Thanks

agent_smith.

Silverfish

Braces are ridiculously hot. And I know some of my friends think the same thing.
Dunno, they just make someone stand out, I think.

pookie82

I think train tracks on a guy are incredibly cute. people's opinions will differ on this of course, but I and lots of other girls I know would have no problem with them or would actually find them attractive. I don't think you should get hung up on it, it's a short term measure to improve your teeth, most poeple probably won't even notice.

GirlInterrupted

Short term option for long term gain, go for it.

clara98

I got brace (train tracks) when i was 17,my mother had been trying to convince me to get them for years and i refused even though my friends used to tell me i had rabbit teeth. Then i thought feck it if i'm going to benefit in the long run, why not just go for it and it was well worth it. I ended up having them on for less than 2 years because my teeth weren't that bad, but the time flew and i barely even remember having them now...
I also know a woman in her 30's who got train tracks a couple of months ago and honestly you forget them they are there after a short while.. A male friend of mine had train tracks too and he had no problem with the ladies...IMO i don't think that people are less attractive because they have braces.

Chinafoot

Totally agree with Silverfish and pookie82....hawt hawt hawt!!

Not everyone will agree of course but remember, it's not forever and anyone who would be put off by something like braces is not someone you should be wasting your time on anyway.

Captain Ginger

Well I'm a guy so this may not be much help to you, but I never really notice people with braces on, and I have been with girls who have them and it's made no difference to weather I have been attracted to them or not.

So in my opinion I would go for it (if I was in your position I would.)

Trinity

I like the fangs. I had 2 but one got filed down and i miss it.

I was self conscious about it when i was younger til a dentist told me its these imperfections that make us stand out and also if i was ever murdered my body would be easier to identify

Back to the question braces wouldnt bother me at all either, do they affect kissing though?

m83

Braces are hot and your teeth will be amazing when they come off....

WIN WIN!!!! now do me a roflcopter!

LegacyUser

I definately think its worth it to get the braces, you will be glad in the long run, straight teeth are always a plus. would you look into the six month braces? they do them in Seapoint . They are just as good as normal ones, it is a new technique around same price 2. If you are hesitant about it , getting shorter term ones mite be just the push you need as you will have them for shorter. oh you can get them in ceramic too, i did .
As for girls well it depends on the girl if you get to know them im sure they ll get over it...

Kinetic^

Got them when I was 22, off at 24. Best decision I ever made, no doubt about it.

Giblets1067

In general I don't think people pass too much heed to braces now. Lingual braces are another option though is you think that you would be too self conscious to go ahead with the ceramics. Linguals are brackets that are applied to the backs of your teeth. They take a little longer to get used to than regular braces but nobody can see them.

tbh

Don't overthink this man. You've an issue with your teeth that makes you self-concious, you can fix it, go fix it. It'll only be for a short time, and once it's done, it'll be done forever, and any awkwardness you felt wearing the braces will be gone forever.

Of course there's going to be girls that are put off and you might feel a bit weird for a bit, but the sooner you start, the sooner you finish. In this case, it's all about the destination.

I had them for about four years 16 years ago. I can't remember what braces are like but my teeth are still straight.

Plek Trum

Got mine on at 28 - best decision I ever made. I had thought about them off and on for at least 12 years previously, slight imperfection (think of Kirsten Dunst's teeth, very similar) The last 2 years have FLOWN, I've only approx 6 months left and everyone remarks on how lovely they are. Go for it.. and remember that you qualify for tax relief on the total amount under the Med2 scheme and also on your visits to your dental hygienist. Best of luck!:D

Solarball10

I'm 24 and I was thinking I was too old for them...I have a b/f so the aspect of chatting people up and worrying if they'd be turned off by the braces was irrelevant to me..however i HAVE been chatted up since I got them, and people tell me I look cute with them! I don't think they're "cute" myself but....

Anyway OP, go for it - I always hated my teeth and I really regret not getting them done when I was in my teens - but of course, you're much more self-conscious during those years so it's harder....don't give a damn now really And think of the end result!!

Solarball10

Trinity1 wrote: »

do they affect kissing though?

Deffo not

Abi

agent_smith wrote: »

Can you tell me honestly, if it would put you off a guy

Absolutely not. The stigma of having braces was designed and fed by primary school kids. I agree with the other girls, there is something kind of cute about them, you might even be sorry when they have to come off :pac:


Do it !

LifeISforLivin

From a personal point of view I find fangs really, really sexy on a man, but thats obviously not much help!

Get the braces, life is long and you may as well be happy!!!

corcors

I was in a similar situation, my teeth weren't terrible but they weren't great and I was conscious of them so I decided to bite the bullet and get train tracks at 24, I had them for 15 months and while I was initially conscious of them I found they didn't affect my love life at all! in fact it got better.

I love my teeth now and it was totally worth the expense. People who arent' teenagers are really not bothered by braces and what they look like, do it!

Drift

I'm a 25 year old guy and I find braces on a on women VERY hot. I've no idea why but they really appeal to me.

metaoblivia

While I don't think braces are hot, it's not a turn off or anything, just like a guy who wears glasses wouldn't be a turn off. I would be curious as to why you got them at such a late age, since everyone I know who had braces got them as a pre-teen/teenager. So in that instance, it would be a conversation starter!

Sleepy

Just a word of advice, I got braces for the exact same reason. Came off the morning of my debs which was fortuitous timing but once my wisdom teeth came, the 'fangs' got pushed forward again so I still don't have perfect teeth. I'd imagine you have your wisdom teeth by now, but if you don't, hold off on the braces until they're up.

sunnyside

I'm female (29) and the braces wouldn't turn me off at all provided your overall appearance was neat and smart. I'd be impressed that you were taking enough care of yourself to have gone to the trouble, expense and inconvenience of wearing braces. Loads of Irish men have terrible teeth so taking steps away from that category would impress me.

I've never kissed anybody wearing braces, no idea what that's like. I expect it's nicer without braces but they are a short term thing.

The type of man who decides to "fix" his teeth is the type of person I'd like and braces come with "fixing" teeth so it wouldn't bother me. Short term pain for long term gain and all that.

It's not unusual for people who are no longer teenagers to have braces. Getting teeth fixed is in the same category as cosmetic surgery these days and that's why adults are doing it.

lorna100

i still have bottom braces, had my top ones for 4 years almost.

kissing - they dont affect kissing at all!

my boyfriend at the time preferred me with them and was dissappointed when they came off.

i dont know anyone who thinks there a turn off. i say go for it - any gal worth her salt wont be put off by them.

Soss

To be honest... unless my teeth were really bad I wouldn't go through the expense and discomfort of getting braces in my late 20's. Are your "fangs" really that noticable? Because the braces certainly will be.

Personally crooked teeth would not put me off a man who I otherwise found attractive, in fact too white and pearly would freak me out a bit. That's just me though, and if it's important to you, or they really are that noticably bad then you should go for it.

random_banter

Im 22, got mine on exactly a year ago.. best decision ive ever made! Theyve come on leaps and bounds and im getting compliments as to how much theyve improved.

Like you I was self conscious before but I was afraid braces would make me feel worse, and unnatractive of course! However it didnt put my new guy off when I got them.. and he doesnt mind them at all now! The people who you know will also get used to them and not notice them day-to-day.

I say go for it! Alot of people will also give you respect for going for it, since some people are afraid. Plus the source of your self consciousness will be gone!

geminilady

if i was you i would get the braces. They will make such a difference to your appearence and might even probably boost your self esteem. sure you would only be wearing a brace not for too long pending on case example just say a year. Well in that year your teeth are going to look excellent. : )
Good Luck

Talliesin

Like many other things, they look well on some people, dreadful on others, and are much of a muchness on yet others.

Also, like many other things there are some people who will find them particularly attractive or unattractive.

Pigletlover

One of my front teeth overlaps and sticks out, it never really bothered me when I was younger, but since my wisdom teeth have come down it has gotten a lot worse. I was considering getting braces, but thought I was too old (I'm 24 btw). After reading all the positive comments on this thread I think I'll go for it!

elle

Sorry to jump on the thread ... i'm 25 getting braces on tomorrow...I'd be in a similar situation to the OP in that my teeth are not awful i just don't like them and have been waiting a whlie to get them done..getting a ceramic brace on my top teeth, had two removed yesterday(near the back not too scary looking)...just worried because i'm supposed to have a date on friday and I don't really want to cancel but i'm just terrified I won't be able to talk properly, the pain won't bother me but not being able to speak properly could be a problem ...

RhubarbCrumble

Braces on a guy definitely wouldn't bother me anyway. To be honest, I think if a girl is put off just because you have braces she'd have to a very shallow person, and why would you want to go out with someone like that anyway.

Go for it, a couple of years and you'll have a grin like this!

Overheal

Girls with braces were always kinda attractive. im sure thats not a unilateral thing.

Now that guy in my class with the shark teeth? dont know how he ever pulled.

dory

I have braces! Female, 25, just got them on 7 weeks ago. Like you I got them on a Thursday and went out on the Friday. It wasn't a date but it was dinner with friends. It wasn't too pleasant. While they were chatting my head was down concentrating on eating, and getting the food to the right teeth. It's not that it hurt, just that the metal at the back was rubbing against the inside of my mouth and tore it a bit. So, maybe avoid food on the date? And use wax!

I was very self-conscious at the start. Kept adding 'as you can see I have braces' to the middle of every conversation, as I presumed it was all anyone was thinking about.
But now I'm not bothered at all and no one seems to notice.

And anyway, the difference I have seen in 7 weeks makes me not care. Go for it and good luck! Arch Wired has a great forum if you want to talk to other brace wearers.

moco

If I were you I’d try my best to get the type of braces that aren’t obvious. I had train tracks when I was 14-16 (I’m 30 now) and although I was shy anyway I feel they made me really self conscious and I wouldn’t even smile to show my teeth!

They didn’t seem to put boys off, but I suppose it’s more normal for teenagers to have braces.

Definitely get your teeth fixed if you’re not happy with them, but if I were you I’d spend the extra money if possible to have the less visible type.

elle

Well I got them on earlier today and have to say not a problem. Only on top teeth, a ceramic brace .. only have a silver one on each end, my brother didnt even notice them and i was chatting to him for ages .. no problem eating or biting anything, no pain at all .. only thing is that I'm very conscious of them at the moment but anyone i've spoken to thinks i sound the same... probably will avoid food for this date thing, the paranoia isn't worth it at all!! I'm afraid to stop talking now incase I can't speak properly when i start again!!