Many adults are getting orthodontics treatment and this question is something some of them have in mind. There are adults who happen to not have a stable relationship at that time and their worries are normal: what if the fact they are braced might ruin the chance to actually get a date for the entire treatment time?
It is possible.
Still many of them decide to go for the treatment and do the worrying afterwards. In the end it’s about their own wellfare and this should be their priority. Here are some tips to go through all these months and maybe even not stop dating.
1. You are not suffering from a terminal disease. You don’t have Ebola. There’s no reason to cut of your socal life.
Many orthodontics patients feel bad about their braces/Invisalign aligners. They are self-conscious about their teeth and smile and realize the braces don’t look that amazing.
And still those braces don’t look that bad either. You should start from this. Don’t feel bad about your braces. Why should you? You are taking care of your teeth, you’ll have healthy and nice teeth in months, you are improving yourself and there are only positive things to come from these months of hardwork.
You are not disabled, you are not ugly, you are in a treatment, but this doesn’t make you less attractive.
FEEL GOOD about yourself and you’ll see the change in how others perceive you.
2. Don’t stop smiling and be ready to do some explanation if needed.
Many people dread what they don’t know anything about. Most people who might stare at you are people who have no idea about this entire orthodontics treatment. I had coleagues who didn’t know anything about braces. I was happy to clue them in, show them before/after pictures and even answer any questions.
And you know what their reaction was when they found out all about braces? THEY WERE AMAZED!
The orthodontics treatment is fascinating, so many things happening, teeth getting aligned. It’s interesting and my coleagues were impressed. Needless to say some do consider orthodontics treatment for them.
People will stare at you, people will ask questions. Remember point 1 (you’re not diseased) and feel good about this things happening to you. In the end you’ll have an amazing smile, why be ashamed?
Another thing many people feel when starting wearing braces is confidence. I know how my teeth will look at the end and I see improvements. Even if I am 1 year far from the end, I feel like having a Hollywood smile already. I smile more and I feel excellent.
3. Make sure your teeth are clean.
Maybe the dates you have won’t have anything against your braces, but they’d surely hate seeing suff tangled in the braces or some “yucky” teeth. Make sure your teeth and braces are clean and there is nothing more there of “organic matter”. Try to notice if the other is interested in such topics, if not, keep the braces stories to a minimun. My boyfriend for instance dreads all dentist related stories. He’s not pleased I got braces, but he’s not trying to force me out of the treatment since he knows it’s important to me. But he’s not too interested in hearing too many details either, so I force myself to not bore him with them.
4. If he/she can’t be supportive, maybe it’s a good idea to find about this NOW!
Having braces is not the end of the world. It’s something important for your overall health and a temporary issues. Have you ever thought what kind of a person wouldn’t date a braced one? What would keep them distant when it’s clear the treatment won’t last too long?
Seeing how many people supported me in this “battle” and how few there were to dislike the “new me”, I came to know the ones I wouldn’t like in my life anymore. The only ones who were shocked to see “how I destroyed my teeth” are older and lived all their life in the countryside. I don’t say such people are stupid, but my relatives from there, way less informed in all this did have some nasty comments to make.
All the others though have been very supportive. My coleagues from the radio station, my boss, who understood my small talking issues after being braces, close friends, most of the relatives and other people I know.
If you’re dating someone who’s willing to give you up because of a set of metal braces, maybe it’s a good idea to part ways. This shouldn’t pose any threat for you in your social or even intimate life. A person who cannot deal with your braces, would surely have issues dealing with other things that matter in your life, but he/she dislikes it. I wouldn’t like to get to attached to such a person.
As a conclusion … many people who were braced also found partners to date. They expected to be alone for all the time and still some of them were able to find ‘the love of their life’. The secret is to be RELAXED and positive about this. Just keep on beeing a nice funny person, dress nicely and be a pleasant presence. People will notice this and good dates will surely come from this. It’s all in the attitude in the end.
