Got my metal braces put on last week and honestly, I feel like everyone's staring at my mouth when I talk. Like today at lunch, I caught myself covering my mouth when I laughed...never did that before. It's weirdly making me quieter than usual, you know? Anyone else felt kinda awkward or shy after getting braces? How long did it take you to get used to them?
Totally get where you're coming from. I felt super self-conscious too when I first got my braces. Honestly, it took me a good month or two before I stopped feeling like everyone was staring at my mouth. Even now, sometimes I'll catch myself covering my teeth when I'm laughing or smiling big—old habits die hard, I guess.
One thing that helped me was realizing most people aren't actually paying as much attention as we think they are. They're probably more worried about their own stuff than noticing our braces. Still, it's easier said than done to just "stop worrying," right? For me, it got better once the soreness wore off and I could eat normally again—that boosted my confidence a bit.
Hang in there, though...after a while you'll probably start forgetting they're even there (until the next tightening appointment rolls around, lol).
