Deciding to get braces as an adult isn’t an easy decision. Maybe you had braces when you were younger, but didn’t keep up with your retainer and your teeth have shifted back. On the other hand, maybe you’ve never had the money until now to get the smile of your dreams. The good news is that it’s more and more common for adults to have braces. According to Humana, about one million American adults wear braces, so you’re in good company. Getting braces can be a big commitment, but no matter your age, you can rock them. Here are four ways you can wear your braces with confidence and style.
Be confident in your decision.
Age is just a number, and no matter how much braces cost, they shouldn’t cost you your confidence. You’ve decided to take the leap of faith into the world of braces, and you should be proud that you’re doing something good for yourself. Braces should actually be considered a form of self-care. Unless you have jaw alignment issues, you likely got them for cosmetic reasons. Take time to be grateful for the commitment you’ve made to yourself.
If you find that your current orthodontist can only fit you in during your workday and you have to take time off just to be seen, you may want to consider switching to an orthodontist that’s willing to see patients during after work hours. Premier Orthodontics understands that as an adult, you’re busy. If you can’t fit in an appointment during the workweek, they can even see you on the weekends, so you never have to interrupt anything that you have regularly scheduled. Get a completely free consultation for braces or Invisalign with Premier Orthodontics before switching offices. Honor the commitment you made by taking care of your time and schedule.
Whenever you get down about the metal in your mouth, think about how amazing your smile will be when you get your braces taken off, or you’re done with your teeth aligning program (there are many to choose from these days, FYI). One way to look amazing and confident while you have braces is by continuing to smile. If you try to hide them, your body language will be awkward. Try to flash that smile whenever you can! You’re a beautiful work of art in progress.
Boost your wardrobe.
An easy way to make you feel better about your external appearance is by doing a little retail therapy. Once you’ve gotten your braces, go out shopping and buy something you feel like a million bucks in. You don’t have to break the bank to get a great new outfit.
Go out and try on a white skirt, blouse, and blazer. You’ll look like you should not only be running your office but the whole town for that matter. If you look mature and professional, your co-workers won’t even notice your braces (not that you’ve got anything to hide!) Wearing new clothes will help you keep your shoulders back, your chin up, and your smile radiant.
Update your hairdo.
When was the last time you updated your hairdo? You can make serious strides in your confidence and appearance with a new “do.” If you’ve wanted to do something dramatic, now might be the time. Your co-workers and family will be so focused on how great your hair looks, and how beautifully it frames your face, that they might not even notice you’re also updating your teeth. Take this time to treat yourself! You might not have control over how your teeth look at the moment, so take the reins where you can.
Make the switch to contacts.
Nerds are absolutely beautiful. The “nerd look” is actually quite popular, especially in Asian countries where people are actually wearing fake braces as a symbol of status. However, if you think your face looks a little too crowded with glasses and braces, it might be time to make the switch to contacts—if you want.
You don’t just smile with your mouth, you smile with your eyes, too. By switching to contacts, others will be able to see your eyes light up more when you laugh. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and if you’ve clearly got a beautiful soul, nothing can bring you down.