It’s nearing the end of the Summer holidays. You’ve survived your first Christmas with braces and you’re already starting to see your teeth change position. It’s been a really great experience so far, and you’re glad you made the choice to get braces.

But now that you’re on your way back to school you’re going to have to show up to your peers with your new braces. Confidence is the real big ticket item for most braces wearers — it’s the end game! Here are a few ways to “fake it til you make it” and get on with the school year with your newest accessory.

Wearing your braces with confidence

The most common thing we hear in our practice is that people are far more challenged at school when they have teeth that are noticeable or out of order than when they are wearing braces to straighten and improve their smile. Most of our patients feel like their choice of braces are less noticeable than the problems their braces are in place to fix.

Make like the models do and OWN THEM

Make like teen cover girl Kitty Hayes or teen model Charlie James and own your orthodontia.

These are two teen models who are their advancing their careers BECAUSE of their braces. Who’d have thought that? Fashion is embracing braces as a tool to perfect the imperfect as a trend, so there’s really no better time to be wearing them. You might not be interested in taking up modelling, but there’s no denying the confidence it takes to get out there in front of the world and bear. your. smile.

Image credit: i-D

Image credit: The Cut

Smile BIG. Everyone will notice because you choose to show them off!

Most of your peers will have braces at some point, but it still feels like you’re the only person in the world facing up to school. Showing them off proudly could be the best way to jump in the deep end and tell everyone you are confident wearing your braces. Science says that teenagers can be fickle creatures, but are less likely to pick on the choices you make boldly over things you might try to keep secret.

Give your braces some personality

Got a sports team you love? Are you really into your school team? Do you have a favourite colour you want to share? Making your braces personal by using coloured bands can make them more like an accessory instead of a medical appliance. You can choose and swap out colours as you need so you aren’t stuck with.

And finally - meet up with your friends before going back.

If you haven’t been away for the break, you will already have seen some of your friends. Real friends will make sure you have a positive experience! They can help you find fun recipes to make that are easy to eat with your new braces and help you come up with colour combinations for your bands. Odds are some of your friends will have them soon or will have them already! It can be tough being the first in the group getting your braces on, but statistically you won’t be lonely for long.

With the standard braces time being between 12 and 24 months, you will likely have cross over with many of your peers. Braces are so common now that you will be joining a group of confident braces wearers and leaving a group of closed mouth smiler’s behind. In fact, braces are worn by nearly 7 in 10 teens! It’s only a matter of time before you get those braces off and can show off the perfect smile!