A smile is
more than just a smile! It brings out confidence and a first great impression. If two persons who have similar skills and
experience show up to a job interview, the one who smiles beautiful and
confidently has a good shot at landing the job than the one who carries a stern
face. So why aren’t more people wearing
braces to achieve that nice smile? Costs
can be a major factor. Time, not wanting
to spend 1-2 years in treatment, is another one. Beyond, there are other factors that prevent
people from seeking orthodontic treatment.
Here are seven common fears that our patients express when thinking
about braces:
1) Fear that braces will hurt.
Fear of pain is normal to most
people. The truth is that braces does
not hurt that much. Many research and
studies conducted on people with braces, patient ranked the pain level is
average 3/10. Most of the time, it is a
light dull aching pain for 2-3 days then disappear. There is also over the
counter pain medication such as Tylenol and Ibuprofen to help with discomfort.
Other aids such as wax and silicone protectors can minimize any discomfort.
2) Fear that metal mouth that will look bad.
Kids and teens may fear that
braces “look funny” and other kids may make fun of them. The truth is that nowadays braces are so
popular that braces are seen as a fashion trends. Most teens like to customize
their braces with specific color ties to match their fashion sense and outfits.
For adults or teenagers who cannot have braces, Invisalign or lingual braces
are alternative options.
3) Fear that food will get caught in between their teeth.
Having braces required more
hardware in the mouth. There is a higher
tendency for more food to get caught in between the teeth and will require a
little more time for cleaning. Most
people spend an extra 10 minutes at night to clean in between their braces
before bedtime. They also spend a few
more minutes during the day to brush or swish out the mouth with water in
between meals.
4) Fear that they will get bad breath.
Bad breath caused by a heavier
load of oral bacteria that release sulfur gas.
There are individual variations when someone is more prone to harbor
these type of bacteria than others. In
general, if you brush your teeth thoroughly, brush your tongue daily, and go to
your general dentist 2-4 times per year during orthodontic treatment, you can
prevent bad breath. In case that you do,
discuss with your general dentist as there are ways to treat bad breath.
5) Fear that treatment will take too long.
For some teenagers, the thought of
having braces each year seem like an eternity.
If treatment may last two years, it sounds like forever. However, given two years of braces to achieve
a lifetime of having a beautiful, straight smile is something not to
regret. That confident boosting smile is
worth a lifetime of happiness.
6) Fear that braces cost too much.
In the 70s, the cost of braces is
close to purchasing a new car and only those people who are wealthy can afford
treatment. Nowadays, braces are so much cheaper and many offices offer monthly
interest-free payment plans to make braces more affordable. By eating in and not going to a fancy
restaurant once a week, four times a month, you can save enough money to pay
toward braces.
7) Fear to make a change.
When there are fears, some people
may not act. It seems more comfortable to stay on status quo and not doing
anything about it. After all, you have this crooked smile for many years and
you are identified to it. The thing is
it takes courage to make a change. If you want a beautiful smile, you need to
make sacrifices. You need to take the
first step to set up an orthodontic consultation and begin. There is a Chinese proverb that said “Success
begins with taking the first step.”
If you are
thinking about getting braces, the best recommendation is to schedule a
face-to-face orthodontic consultation so our orthodontist, Dr. Nancy Phan, can answer
your specific questions.
