Getting braces can make kids and adults feel embarrassed or self-conscious, especially when their braces are new. Metal brackets and wires are noticeable, there’s no getting around it, and kids may feel like they’re walking around with a bright neon sign in their mouths.
While people with straighter teeth are often considered more successful, approachable, and attractive, and those with crooked teeth may experience related low self-esteem, shyness, and social anxiety, it’s important to recognize that these assumptions aren’t always accurate and don’t apply to everyone. While some may find their new braces embarrassing, it is usually only temporary. Most people report an improvement in self-esteem as orthodontic treatment moves their teeth into their new, permanent positions.
While there are less visible options like ceramic braces and clear aligners like Invisalign, conventional metal braces are still the standard, though they have come a long way in the last few decades. The good news is there are ways to help your child feel more confident and smile widely while wearing braces.
8 Ways to Help Your Child Feel Confident With Braces
1) Highlight the End Goal of a Straight Smile
Braces can sometimes be uncomfortable and even painful, but this will pass. Most people wear braces between one and three years, depending on the nature and severity of their dental malocclusion (crooked teeth, overbite, etc.), and some kids may need to do two phases as primary teeth fall out and permanent teeth come in.
Soreness usually lingers for a few days after getting braces or after an adjustment. On the same token, possible embarrassment of wearing braces usually subsides after a few days or weeks. Most people report becoming accustomed to their braces and no longer noticing them after a few weeks.
As it turns out, this is usually true of your child’s peers as well. They’ll probably notice and may even comment on your child’s braces when they first show up, but soon, they’ll get used to them and forget all about it. Before long, braces will be just an ordinary part of your child’s everyday life. The benefits of enduring braces for a few years last a lifetime!
2) Normalize the Experience
It’s estimated that between 50% and 70% of children will wear braces on their way to adulthood, so your child will have plenty of company. Braces are a rite of passage for teens; they’ll find other kids wearing braces at school, clubs, sports, and other social environments.
Remind your child that they’re not alone. They have peers going through the same thing. It’s always a little easier to walk the path when you’re not alone.
3) Encourage Smiling and Laughter
Most people smile involuntarily when they are happy. It’s the body’s way of communicating positive emotions, but it can also work the other way around. Smiling communicates to the body that we must be happy, and our mood improves, according to research out of Stanford.
When kids are embarrassed by their crooked teeth (or braces), they may hide their smile. The last thing any parent wants is for their child to live without smiles or laughter. Moreover, hiding behind pressed lips draws more attention than a wide smile would (even with braces on). The best thing you can do for your child’s health, happiness, and confidence is to encourage them to smile or laugh as often as possible.
4) Remind Them of the Long-Term Benefits of Braces
Wearing braces for a year or more may not be ideal, but the results will be worth it! Many people report feeling self-conscious in the early days, but this feeling often gives way to improved confidence as the orthodontic treatment progresses.
With orthodontic treatment, your child will have straighter teeth, allowing them to chew more easily and speak more clearly. They’ll have a lower risk of injury to the teeth and mouth, and they’ll have an easier time keeping teeth clean when everything is in its proper place.
5) Let Them Personalize Their Braces
Rather than a hindrance or embarrassment, encourage your child to try thinking of their braces as a custom-made and high-end accessory. They can even choose band colors or themed color combos to express their personality. Teach your child to wear their braces proudly, and no one will be able to make them feel bad.
6) Support Good Oral Hygiene
Because of the hardware in your mouth, it’s easier for food to get stuck in the nooks and crannies of your mouth. While braces work to change the position of your teeth, you still have to do regular dental maintenance but at a much higher level of care. Have your child brush their teeth twice per day and floss once a day. Your child may also need to brush after meals to prevent their teeth from becoming loose and potentially damaging them.
Remove elastics and brush the teeth at a 45-degree angle to the brackets, cleaning both above and below. Meanwhile, flossing can be challenging, as wires often block the space between teeth. However, it is extremely important to do. You can thread some floss behind the wires or use specially designed flossers to slip behind and between the teeth. Make sure to use waxed floss to avoid shredding or tearing the floss. Although it does not replace the need to floss, a water-pik is a great tool to help keep on top of oral hygiene (it is like a mini power washer for your teeth).
Brush the entire surface of the brackets, wires, and teeth, then rinse and check. Your child may need to brush again to clean hard-to-reach areas effectively. And if you have any questions or concerns, your orthodontic team is here to help!
7) Celebrate Milestones
Orthodontic treatment takes time, so it helps to acknowledge the small moments and progress along the way. Celebrate milestones like getting braces on, orthodontic adjustments, or reaching the halfway point with a small reward—a smoothie, a favorite treat, a fun outing, or a post-it note on the bathroom mirror that says, “Look at your smile getting straighter!” or “Way to go keeping your teeth clean!” These mini-celebrations remind your child that progress is happening and give them something positive to look forward to.
8) Speak Positively and Model Confidence Yourself
Kids take cues from the adults around them, so your attitude toward their braces can make a big difference. Speak positively about their orthodontic journey, celebrate their courage, and avoid using negative language like “metal mouth” or “awkward phase.” When you show pride in their progress and treat braces as a normal, even exciting part of growing up, your child is more likely to adopt that same confident mindset.
