Boschken Orthodontics discusses: How to Wear Adult Braces with Confidence

Some adults with braces, at times, can’t help feeling a little bit self-conscious. One in five orthodontic patients are over 18 years old, but sometimes it may still be common for an adult to be the only grown-up at a party or work conference wearing brackets and wires. We’ve found several ways of helping you get past the awkwardness and thereby learning to be really comfortable in braces:

• Carry Your Supplies. Make sure you’ve brought along whatever works best for keeping your teeth clean on the go—a travel toothbrush, dental floss, wax, proxabrush, etc. The first step is being prepared!

• Eat Wisely. When you hit the hors d’oeuvres tray, choose bite-sized items you can chew with your back teeth. Anything that fits on a toothpick is usually a good guideline choice. Cheese, small slices of deli meat, grapes, and olives work well but bread, rice and celery, not so much. Also, meats such as bacon have a way of getting lodged between brackets and gums and is really hard to remove. So eat that bacon sparingly if you must, but be prepared for a restroom brushing session later.

• Put Your Best Smile Forward. In addition to doing a good job with your daily brushing and flossing, be sure to get your teeth cleaned regularly at your general dental office! Since it’ll be harder to give those tooth surfaces a good scrubbing, they may start to look a little dingy. The hygienist will thouroughly clean your teeth and remove stains, leaving you with shiny, whiter teeth. Also, remember to consult with Dr. Boschken before using any at-home bleaching kits.

• Break The Ice. Sometimes people aren’t too sure of what to say when they see adults wearing braces. It’s almost like you can see the wheels turning in their heads: “Is she wearing braces? I can’t tell for sure. I wish she’d keep her mouth open longer so I can see. Wait, has she always had braces? Hm, should I say something or just pretend I can’t tell? Am I staring?”

Bringing up your braces right away gets the subject out in the open. There is almost always some opportunity to introduce it into the conversation. For example, “Thanks, I’d love some chewing gum but my orthodontist wouldn't approve.” Once you do this, the tension is lifted and the other person generally can’t wait to talk about them. Be prepared for a few questions, and please feel free to refer your friends to Boschken Orthodontics!  (With our Care To Share* program, you will benefit too!!)

*ask us today if you aren't familiar with our referral program benefits (408) 225-6660