The cleaning part is still weird for me, honestly. I always feel like people are watching when I pull out my little case and toothbrush in public. Does that ever get less awkward?
I know exactly what you mean. Even after a year, I still get self-conscious when I’m fishing around for my case at a restaurant. The cleaning thing gets a bit easier, but I can’t say I ever stopped feeling a little odd about it. Sometimes I just remind myself that most people are probably too busy with their own stuff to notice. I’ve even had a few folks ask about it and share their own stories—turns out we’re not as alone as it feels.
I totally get that weird feeling—like suddenly everyone’s a food critic watching your every move. I used to sneak off to the bathroom, but honestly, half the time it was grosser in there than just doing a quick brush at the table. After a while, I just started owning it. If someone stares, I figure they’re probably just jealous of my future movie-star smile. Plus, you’d be surprised how many people have their own dental gear hiding in their bags. It’s awkward at first, but you get used to it... or at least you get better at not caring.
After a while, I just started owning it. If someone stares, I figure they’re probably just jealous of my future movie-star smile.
That’s the spirit—owning it really does make a difference. I felt awkward at first too, brushing in public or fishing out my little dental kit after lunch. But honestly, the more I did it, the less I cared. One thing I noticed: when you act like it’s totally normal, people barely react. And if they do? Like you said, maybe they wish they were taking care of their teeth too. Plus, the payoff at the end is so worth those weird moments.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, “owning it” didn’t really work for me at first. I tried to act casual about the braces and all the cleaning stuff, but sometimes it just felt awkward—especially in work meetings or at restaurants. People did notice, and a couple of times someone even asked if I was “okay” because I was fiddling with my mouth so much.
What helped me was having a little routine. I’d excuse myself after lunch, find a private spot, and do my brushing and flossing there. Less attention, less stress. Maybe I’m just not as confident, but forcing myself to act like it was normal didn’t take away the self-consciousness right away.
That said, you’re totally right about the payoff. My teeth look way better now, and I’m glad I stuck with it. But I think it’s okay if you don’t always feel like you can just brush it off (pun intended). Sometimes it’s just weird, and that’s fine too.
Totally get what you mean—“just own it” sounds good in theory, but in real life? Not always that easy. I remember my first week with braces at work, I tried to play it cool and smile a lot... then caught a piece of spinach right in the brackets during a meeting. Mortifying. Having a routine for cleaning helped me too, honestly. Eventually, I stopped caring so much if someone noticed, but it did take time. You’re right, sometimes it’s just awkward—and that’s completely normal. The payoff is worth it, but yeah, the weirdness is real.
