I totally understand how you feel. To be honest, the braces, especially in the beginning will feel like monster teeth on you. They will feel absolutely gigantic and awkward. They are noticeable, I can’t lie about that. But, you’re probably so used to covering up your smile now anyway, that in the beginning you’ll feel inclined to do so as well. They’ll also take some getting used to in terms of talking and eating. I can say that if you decide to get them put on now, that you will have them taken off during the beginning/middle of summer, which will be great! For me, I couldn’t imagine wearing braces in the summer because of all the yummy BBQ foods. Plus, at least in the winter, you have a wide selection of soups and comfort foods, whereas in the summer it’s too hot to put the stove on. Plus, for me, I kind of felt geeky-cool and confident as the months went by and as my smile straighten that I was proud of wearing braces because I had wanted a nice smile for so long! (My husband even thought I looked cute!)

After my braces came off, I had to wear an invinsalign style retainer for 24 hours a day/7 days a week for one full month, taking them out to eat and putting them back in after brushing your teeth. To be honest, I thought this retainer was more embarrassing than the braces, but maybe that is just me. I hated the feeling of having plastic in my mouth and in the beginning of wearing these I would always gag. To prevent gagging and the strings of spit that filled up in the retainers, I had to drink water constantly, which was annoying cause then I had to pee like every two minutes. Lol! Did you ever see that movie Date Night, where the wife takes out her mouth guard and spit drools everywhere? It’s basically like that except a little less movie-dramatic! Lol!! (FYI: After wearing this retainer for the past 6 months, my retainers don’t fill up with as much spit as they did in the beginning. I guess they just took some getting used to.) Plus, if you are out in public and get hungry, you have to excuse yourself to the bathroom, pray there isn’t anybody in there, quickly take them out, put them in their container and put them in your purse. After eating, you have to go back to the bathroom, brush your teeth, and put the retainers back in. (When making your decision, imagine doing this for 18 months!) It was extremely embarrassing if someone was in the public bathroom watching this process as spit drools everywhere! For me, I just thought they were inconvenient especially during this 24 hour a day phase. This 24 hour a day retainer phase only lasted one month and then the amount of time I wore them was dropped down to less and less time. Now I only wear them overnight. But for me, I preferred the braces because I didn’t like the feeling of having a plastic thing in my mouth.

If I had to do it all over again, I would 100% get six month braces. You’re so young and you probably look younger than you think. (Gah, 24! You lucky girl!) People in their young twenties look like teenagers to me. (As you get older, it’s hard to tell how old people look! I believe that saying is “the young look younger” or something.) But, whatever choice you make, at least know that your life will be changed for the better and that strangers you come across in public places will probably think you’re a cute high school kid! You’ll have so much more confidence and you won’t be able to stop smiling!

Best of luck in your decision and Smile On!

Michelle

I am trying to calm down about it but I feel like I’m going to be extremely self consious.

Thanks so much for your comment! How are your braces feeling? I hope you’re doing well!! Congrats on getting them on!! Six month braces are definitely legit! I love my new smile!!

Happy New Year and keep on smiling!!

-Michelle

Lol!! Thanks so much! Glad I can make ya giggle!!

Congrats on your braces and keep on smiling!! I can hear dings coming from your mouth every time you smile. Wait . . . that sounds kind of pervy! Lol!

Thanks and best of luck!

-Michelle

How are you? Sorry for the long delay in response. I took a break from my blog for a bit for the holidays. Congrats on your braces! Woot woot!!

I noticed changes every day. But, I would say around the 5th month is when I noticed the most changes, like all at once. This is when I got the strongest (the last) of all the wires placed on, so my teeth moved liked crazy.

Congrats again!

-Michelle

I just want to thank you for posting your monthly progress along with informative tips on the braces. I really found only very little on individuals’ actual experience with the 6 month braces from the internet. I worried that it may not be legit. So I was glad to find your site.

I just got mine in about a week ago and I’ve been using this as a guide on what to expect and why things feel a certain way. THanks for posting your journey for the world to see