Since both parents worked I don’t think we were rich, but getting out of class for the daytime appointments was nice. As it was high school I was on my own to walk to and from the office.
When I was growing up, in the 50s in a very rural area, I didn’t know anyone with braces. My teeth turned out fine but my brother and sister should have had braces if only we knew. And if there was even an orthodontist around. And if we had the money.
Having braces at the age of 7 was not a status symbol. It simply meant Halloween candy went into the freezer to be thrown out each time you moved. By the time I was in Junior High, my mom had given up that idea and hoped for the best.
I needed braces, but it was out of the question. My sister got them, went through a lot of pain and discomfort, and within five years of having them removed, her teeth were right back where they started.
Ummmm….Holly? If you’re excited about getting them, take it from someone who practically BEGGED for braces. It is NOT fun! I didn’t have any trouble when I first got them on, but then you have to go getting adjustments every so often and that is extremely painful! You can only eat soft stuff for a few days if you don’t want it to hurt when you eat. And don’t be like me and neglect brushing and flossing. It’s the reason I had braces on my teeth for at least 10 years if not longer instead of the two that it was supposed to be.
I wore braces from the start of 6th grade until the summer after 8th grade. I wasn’t the only person in my class wearing them but I seemed to be the only one getting maliciously teased about them. It was a real hell on earth if you weren’t one of the “popular” kids in school back then! :-(
I ended up having to wear braces again when I was in my mid-30’s but rather than try to keep my mouth closed as much as I could in order to bring as little attention to them as possible, I decided to have some fun with them instead. What else can you do? If you have to wear braces as an adult, you might as well. Right?!? So every time I went to the ortho-dontist’s office to get them adjusted, I chose one of their “attention-grabbing” rubber band colors: it might have been bright red, electric blue, neon green, fuchsia pink ….. whatever I was in the mood for that day! I always got a lot compliments on my “cool” color choices and it made the year I had to wear them go by a lot faster in the process! :-)
When sister and I was growing up, my parent’s did not have the money to pay for braces, dad was laid off more then he worked. I am unaware if other kids had braces back then. When I got older done with HS and gained full employment, my teeth started moving, meaning the front was squeezing 2 middle teeth out, my job helped to pay for braces not health insurance. I paid for 4 years of brace as work out of my pocket, I finished with braces before I married my husband, my teeth was forcing my a tooth out each side, when both was pulled my teeth tried to close that gap. I did wear retainer for a few years, then got where I did not need them, my teeth stayed in position.
When I was growing up in the Dark Ages of the late 1950’s no one my age and economic class had braces. To this day with an English accent I can do a passable Terry Thomas impersonation.
allen@home over 4 years ago
When i was growing up. Never new anyone that was happy about getting braces.
Dean over 4 years ago
Since both parents worked I don’t think we were rich, but getting out of class for the daytime appointments was nice. As it was high school I was on my own to walk to and from the office.
Stevefk over 4 years ago
Her mouth is more than just crowded, she’ll need more than just an orthodontist.
khmo over 4 years ago
Crowded? Those baby teeth will go eventually.
rmercer Premium Member over 4 years ago
Just rip one out and mush the others around.
Gizkok over 4 years ago
When I was growing up, in the 50s in a very rural area, I didn’t know anyone with braces. My teeth turned out fine but my brother and sister should have had braces if only we knew. And if there was even an orthodontist around. And if we had the money.
Grutzi over 4 years ago
Having braces at the age of 7 was not a status symbol. It simply meant Halloween candy went into the freezer to be thrown out each time you moved. By the time I was in Junior High, my mom had given up that idea and hoped for the best.
Dani Rice over 4 years ago
I needed braces, but it was out of the question. My sister got them, went through a lot of pain and discomfort, and within five years of having them removed, her teeth were right back where they started.
bookworm0812 over 4 years ago
Ummmm….Holly? If you’re excited about getting them, take it from someone who practically BEGGED for braces. It is NOT fun! I didn’t have any trouble when I first got them on, but then you have to go getting adjustments every so often and that is extremely painful! You can only eat soft stuff for a few days if you don’t want it to hurt when you eat. And don’t be like me and neglect brushing and flossing. It’s the reason I had braces on my teeth for at least 10 years if not longer instead of the two that it was supposed to be.
Boots at the Boar Premium Member over 4 years ago
I was not excited to get braces. Just what a socially awkward teenager needed.
Gretchen's Mom over 4 years ago
I wore braces from the start of 6th grade until the summer after 8th grade. I wasn’t the only person in my class wearing them but I seemed to be the only one getting maliciously teased about them. It was a real hell on earth if you weren’t one of the “popular” kids in school back then! :-(
I ended up having to wear braces again when I was in my mid-30’s but rather than try to keep my mouth closed as much as I could in order to bring as little attention to them as possible, I decided to have some fun with them instead. What else can you do? If you have to wear braces as an adult, you might as well. Right?!? So every time I went to the ortho-dontist’s office to get them adjusted, I chose one of their “attention-grabbing” rubber band colors: it might have been bright red, electric blue, neon green, fuchsia pink ….. whatever I was in the mood for that day! I always got a lot compliments on my “cool” color choices and it made the year I had to wear them go by a lot faster in the process! :-)
kab2rb over 4 years ago
When sister and I was growing up, my parent’s did not have the money to pay for braces, dad was laid off more then he worked. I am unaware if other kids had braces back then. When I got older done with HS and gained full employment, my teeth started moving, meaning the front was squeezing 2 middle teeth out, my job helped to pay for braces not health insurance. I paid for 4 years of brace as work out of my pocket, I finished with braces before I married my husband, my teeth was forcing my a tooth out each side, when both was pulled my teeth tried to close that gap. I did wear retainer for a few years, then got where I did not need them, my teeth stayed in position.
daleandkristen over 4 years ago
Is she hoping her braces will get caught in a boy’s braces…..?
MissScarlet Premium Member over 4 years ago
My parents couldn’t afford braces when we were growing up. Now two of by siblings have them. All my kids had them and all have great teeth.
ejrayh over 4 years ago
When I was growing up in the Dark Ages of the late 1950’s no one my age and economic class had braces. To this day with an English accent I can do a passable Terry Thomas impersonation.