I don't think people will mind that you have two little bumps on your lower lip. They probably will mind if you don't smile!

I have had braces since October and have to wear elastics. At first I thought people would notice them and I would have to explain what they were to everybody but nobody has said anything. So don't worry. I'm sure if they do ask and you tell them they will understand that you're not happy about how they look and not talk about it.

p.s. We both have the same name!!!!

Trust me, no one will care!  I'm fifteen and started HIGH SCHOOL with braces last year.  I've had my braces for right around 2 years now.  At first I had to have something called a tooth retrieval done (which requires surgery, a gold chain sticking out of gum and lots of pain). Now I have a beautiful canine tooth where this gap used to be.  Now I have elastics which are a removable herbst and trust me no one will make fun of you or not talk to you because of your braces (if they do they are jerks and you wouldn't want to be their friend anyway).  Plus braces give you a fun excuse to talk to new people (ones with braces) and share horror stories about your orthodontic treatment.  And just think of how awesome your teeth will look in the end! 

PS- don't be shy or hide; instead, shine. Then people will be able to see past you and not just your "ugly mouth." Good Luck ^_^

Seriously, don't worry. I have braces, and they're really not as bad as everyone says they are. They hurt for the first few days, and then a little more after they're tightened, but other than that they're awesome.

And, yeah, I've been through all the anxiety of not liking how they look at first. Mine are dark blue, so I didn't want to smile for the first few days out of fear that it would look like my teeth were black. Now I love how they look, though, and can barely imagine myself without them.

I got an expander a few days before 6th grade, and I couldn't talk right for a little while because of the extra appliance in my mouth. I was worried that everyone would think I was stupid or something, but almost nobody noticed. For the ones that did ask about it, I would just explain, and then it would be no big deal. It's true that the people at the school already knew me a little, because I'd been there for a year already, but I'm sure something similar will happen in your situation.

I have a hyrix (and braces) its like I can't smile these small rolls of metal on the infernal thing pushes my teeth down my family picture was BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have braces with horrible springs on them in the top of my mouth. Don't worry about the braces looking bad, everyone has them and they know how you feel. At least that's how it is at my school.

I have a problem, too. My problem is mainly that I have this very strange skin condition called dermographia, apparently caused by a virus when I was 3. Although, the allergist I went to "diagnosed" it by scraping my arm with his dirty fingernails, so he wasn't exactly too competent. Anyway, you can seriously write on my arm by pressing something with imprinted letters (like the logo on the remote) into it. When I got my braces my mouth swelled up huge for a week. I can never get my ears pierced, even though I make earrings.

Does anyone else out there have dermographia, or something similar, or some condition that most people don't know about?? Please respond!!! I need to know that there are others!!!!

Don't worry about how you look. Be yourself.

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