Totally get that. Humor can be tricky, especially when someone's already feeling sensitive or self-conscious. When I first got braces, my friends kept teasing me about being a "metal mouth." They thought it was harmless fun, but honestly, it just made me more aware of how noticeable they were. Quiet reassurance or just someone acknowledging how tough it can be would've helped more. Did your daughter eventually feel better about the scar, or did it take a while for her to adjust?
"Quiet reassurance or just someone acknowledging how tough it can be would've helped more."
Yeah, I totally feel you on that. When I got my hair dyed for the first time (trying to save money by going to a beauty school—big mistake, lol), it turned out this weird shade of orange instead of the subtle highlights I wanted. My friends thought it was hilarious and kept calling me "carrot top" for weeks. I laughed along at first, but honestly, it just made me feel worse every time I looked in the mirror. Humor can definitely backfire when you're already feeling self-conscious.
Eventually, I just embraced it and joked about it myself, which oddly enough helped me move past it. But it took a while to get there. Hope your daughter found her own way to feel comfortable with the scar—sometimes it just takes a bit of time and perspective.
I get what you're saying about humor backfiring, but sometimes laughing it off really is the best medicine. When I first got braces, my brother called me "metal mouth" for weeks...annoying at first, but weirdly it helped me stop obsessing over how awkward I felt. Maybe depends on the person?
"annoying at first, but weirdly it helped me stop obsessing over how awkward I felt."
Totally get this. When I first started working in dentistry, I had a patient who came in after a DIY teeth whitening disaster—her teeth were literally patchy white and yellow. She was mortified, but her friend jokingly called her "zebra teeth," and after the initial shock wore off, she actually laughed about it. It seemed harsh at first, but it broke the tension and made her feel less embarrassed. Humor can definitely help put things into perspective sometimes...though you're right, it really depends on the person and situation.
She was mortified, but her friend jokingly called her "zebra teeth," and after the initial shock wore off, she actually laughed about it. It seemed harsh at first, but it broke the tension and made...
I see your point about humor breaking the tension, but honestly, I think it really depends on how sensitive someone is feeling at that moment. Like for me, when I had my first dental procedure recently, I was already super anxious and self-conscious. If someone had joked about my teeth—even gently—I probably would've felt even worse. Humor can definitely help some people cope, but sometimes just quiet reassurance or empathy works better... everyone's different, you know?
