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I was not your typical teen. My mom was a pediatric dentist. I watched as she helped thousands of kids get, and keep, their beautiful smiles. Braces excited me. Even the idea of headgear was appealing. I begged for it!

Like I said: not your typical teen.

One reason for my orthodontic appliance excitement was that, because of the work my mom and her colleagues did, I could easily see a result. I heard endless stories about how patients were more confident after all the hard work was over. As a teen, I associated braces with confidence, not disaster. (Breakouts before the big dance? That was another story.)

Our teens and children could use a confidence boost these days. According to DoSomething.org, an organization that helps young people create social change:

• Three-quarters of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating.
• More than 40 percent of boys in middle and high school regularly exercise with the expressing goal of increasing muscle mass (not being healthy).
• About 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood.

The power and relentlessness of social media makes it even more difficult for teens to feel confident, but there is another issue that worries me. Boys and girls are able to rely on camera filters to hide every flaw. If they can change their appearance with an app, why explore changes that actually would improve their health and wellbeing?

Getting braces, Invisalign, and BRIUS are not just about creating a better selfie — it’s about creating a strong smile that reflects better health. As the American Association of Orthodontists says, “Oral health is a window into your overall health. … A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak.” We even know now that routine dental care might protect against severe cases of COVID-19.

My young patients’ glee often is infectious once their orthodontic appliance comes off. But that glee is not confined to the kiddos.

I’ve been welcoming more and more adults into my office who are exploring orthodontia. These men and women either skipped braces as kids, or need a little tune up because they didn’t wear their retainers to keep their teeth in place. Often they are not just looking for a better smile, though. Perhaps a bite that has been off is now causing severe jaw pain.

There are many reasons people pursue orthodontia as an adult. Whatever the reason, they are as happy with the results as teens. I want my patients to walk out of the office feeling like they can do anything.

That is the power of good self-esteem. I love this line from Confidence Code authors Claire Shipman, Katty Kay, and Jillellyn Riley in The Atlantic: “Confidence is an essential ingredient for turning thoughts into action, wishes into reality.”

Having a beautiful smile obviously is not the single ingredient we need to build young peoples’ confidence, but it helps. As a recent article in Shape explained:

“Research suggests that dental disorders such as malocclusion (misaligned teeth) can cause a ‘profound impact’ on self-esteem, thereby negatively affecting the overall quality of life. While studies show this to be more common in adolescents (especially given their age and ‘increased aesthetic desire’ and ‘unique social and physiological needs’), a 2019 poll of 2,000 people emphasizes that adults are also subject to insecurities around their teeth. The study, conducted by OnePull and funded by teeth-whitening company Snow, found that seven in 10 Americans are self-conscious about their teeth, and 50 percent try to smile with their mouths closed (perhaps as a result).”

In addition to improving health and self-confidence, we know that straighter, whiter teeth can impact employment prospects and perceptions of leadership capability.

According to a survey by Kelton and Invisalign, Americans perceive those with straight teeth to be 45 percent more likely than those with crooked teeth to get a job when competing with someone who has a similar skill set and experience. Additionally, 73 percent of Americans would be more likely to trust someone with a straight smile than someone with a good job, outfit, or car.

So, skip the trendy new shoes. Come in for a consult instead so we can discuss how to create lasting confidence.

There's something special about customizing the elastics on your braces to fit your unique personality. Once you embrace your braces (no pun intended) you'll realize how many color options and combinations there are to choose from. Although you'll have a fantastic smile afterward, you won't have this level of customizability once your braces come off, that's for sure!

Adding flair to your braces isn't what all patients are looking to do (like those opting for clear aligners or ceramic braces), but it's part of the fun of traditional metal braces! Many of our patients ask us to have their elastics match the colors of their favorite sports teams or their school, but how about changing your elastics to match holiday colors?

Here are some options to consider:

• Valentine’s Day – Red and pink
• Easter – Pink, blue, and violet
• Halloween – Orange and black
• Christmas – Red, green, and white
• Saint Patrick’s Day – Green and white

There are a few colors that some people choose to avoid. But if you’re trying to make your teeth stand out in a crowd, the following suggestions need not apply!

• Brown or Green – can be mistaken for food being stuck in your teeth
• Black – might look like a rotten tooth if someone isn't looking hard enough
• White – Some patients think it will make their teeth look whiter, but in fact it can make your teeth appear yellower than they actually are. White elastics can also stain easily.
• Yellow – accentuates the yellowness of your enamel

Since changing the color of your elastics has no effect on the actual orthodontic treatment process, the idea is to have fun and add a personal touch. So, next time you get your elastics changed at our Bethesda office, why not wear your braces boldly and opt for something festive?

"Motherhood: All love begins and ends there." - Robert Browning

We would like to take this moment to thank all the great moms out there for being so great during their child’s visits to Bethesda Orthodontics. Whether it’s driving their kids to regularly scheduled appointments or for “being there” while their child is treatment, the moms who come to our office are all stellar individuals, so Dr. Negaar Sagafi and our entire staff would like you to know that we appreciate you all!

Happy Mother’s Day and enjoy your special day!

Brace-ism: believe it or not, it’s a concept. The Urban Dictionary defines brace-ism as “acting mean to people who have braces on their teeth.” Phrases like metal mouth, brace face, and train tracks are common jokes uttered by gap-toothed fools who like to make fun of people with braces.

While ignoring these comments and taking the high road is the best thing to do, there’s nothing wrong with having a few clever retorts and quick-witted comebacks up your sleeve.

1. The next time someone calls you train tracks, break into an obnoxious train imitation, with lots of toot-toot and chuga-chuga-chuga. Finish off your crazy locomotive impersonation with some sort of deafening train horn. That’ll keep the bullies at bay.
2. “It’s better to be a brace face than a space case.”
3. Counter with a ridiculously childish joke that makes the schoolyard tormentor feel even smaller than he already is. “Oh. Yeah. Why did the deer need braces? Because he had buck teeth. Hahaha.” Top it off with an exaggerated eye roll.
4. “Yeah, my brother tells that joke. He’s six. You guys should hang out.” That’ll stop the haters dead in their tracks. Or would that be train tracks?
5. Here’s one from the sarcasm grab bag. “Well, I’m just glad there’s a way to fix what’s wrong with my face.”
6. “I can’t wait to discuss this formative moment at our ten-year class reunion, when my teeth are razor-straight and you’re wearing adult braces.”