Braces in '70s and '80s Commercials

When I was young kid, braces were much less common, and being told you needed braces was something that was dreaded by kids and teens who had to undergo orthodontic treatment.  This toothpaste commercial from the mid '70s shows the awkwardness of showing up at school for the first time with braces.

When I was a teen in the '80s, braces were still stigmatized. This early '80s cheese commercial shows again the tendency to hide newly acquired braces by keeping one's mouth closed and smiling without showing one's teeth.

Of course, as shown by this mid '80s commercial, some kids and teens had no problem grinning through their metal mouths. Perhaps it took having a strong sense of individuality to bear one's tin grin without embarrassment. 

Survey Results: LIKED Wearing Braces/DISLIKED Wearing Braces

My most recent set of surveys investigated the extent people liked or disliked wearing braces, and why they felt that way.  I did two surveys, one which was titled LIKED WEARING BRACES, and another titled DISLIKED WEARING BRACES.  Both surveys had essentially the same questions, with some minor word changes to deal with the differences of each survey's orientation (i.e. liking vs. disliking).

One of the interesting things about this two-survey format is that we can compare, side by side, how people who LIKED wearing braces compared with those who DISLIKED.  In fact, variety seems to be case in both of these surveys.

There were 4 people who took the LIKED WEARING BRACES survey, and 6 who took the DISLIKED WEARING BRACES survey. There were males and females who took both surveys, with more males than females in both cases.

(LIKED) Male or female?

	75% (3)	Male.
	25% (1)	Female.

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) Male or female?

	66% (4)	Male.
	33% (2)	Female.

6 voters have answered this question.

There was a good amount of variation as to how long each survey taker had worn braces, from a year to over three years.

(LIKED) How long did you have to wear fixed braces? (i.e. brackets or bands, not removable appliances.) Give the closest answer.

	0% (0)	Less than a year
	50% (2)	A year
	25% (1)	A year and a half
	25% (1)	Two years
	0% (0)	Two and a half years.
	0% (0)	Three years.
	0% (0)	Over three years (How long?)

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) How long did you have to wear fixed braces? (i.e. brackets or bands, not removable appliances.) Give the closest answer.

	0% (0)	Less than a year
	0% (0)	A year
	33% (2)	A year and a half
	0% (0)	Two years
	16% (1)	Two and a half years
	33% (2)	Three years
	16% (1)	Over three years (how long?)

6 voters have answered this question.

All of the survey takers had fixed braces, and most had them on both upper and lower fixed braces. Most also had retainers. Other than that, there were a variety of other appliances worn, with a little more appliances seeming to be present on the DISLIKE side.

(LIKED) Which of the following ortho appliances did you have? (Pick as many of the following as you had. You can make more than one choice.)

	100% (4)	Fixed Braces (Upper teeth)
	75% (3)	Fixed Braces (Lower teeth)
	50% (2)	Elastics
	0% (0)	Headgear
	0% (0)	Facemask
	25% (1)	Bite plate
	0% (0)	Sagittal Appliance
	0% (0)	Lip Bumper
	0% (0)	Tongue crib or rake
	0% (0)	Expander
	0% (0)	Herbst Appliance
	0% (0)	Frankel Appliance
	0% (0)	Bionator
	0% (0)	Nightguard
	0% (0)	Coil springs
	50% (2)	Retainer
	25% (1)	Anything else?

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) Which of the following ortho appliances did you have? (Pick as many of the following as you had. You can make more than one choice.)

	100% (6)	Fixed Braces (Upper teeth)
	100% (6)	Fixed Braces (Lower teeth)
	83% (5)	Elastics
	0% (0)	Headgear
	0% (0)	Facemask
	0% (0)	Bite plate
	0% (0)	Sagittal Appliance
	0% (0)	Lip Bumper
	16% (1)	Tongue crib or rake
	33% (2)	Expander
	16% (1)	Herbst Appliance
	0% (0)	Frankel Appliance
	0% (0)	Bionator
	0% (0)	Nightguard
	16% (1)	Coil springs
	66% (4)	Retainer
	0% (0)	Anything else?

6 voters have answered this question.

And now, the point of the survey: LIKING or DISLIKING wearing braces. Here the surveys show some variation, but also some strong feelings especially among those who really love or really hated wearing braces. There seem to be some strong feelings, both positive or negative, about the experiences people had in braces.

(LIKED) You picked a survey about how you liked wearing braces. How much did you like wearing braces? Answer on a scale from 1 to 5.

	0% (0)	1 (I liked wearing braces a little.)
	25% (1)	2
	0% (0)	3
	0% (0)	4
	75% (3)	5 (I loved wearing braces very much.)

4 voters have answered this question. 

(DISLIKED) You picked a survey about how you disliked wearing braces. How much did you dislike wearing braces? Answer on a scale from 1 to 5.

	16% (1)	1 (I disliked wearing braces a little.)
	0% (0)	2
	16% (1)	3
	33% (2)	4
	33% (2)	5 (I totally hated wearing braces.)

6 voters have answered this question.

The people taking the LIKED WEARING BRACES survey were asked the questions: "Why did you like wearing braces as much as you did?" and "What did you like most about wearing braces?" Those taking the DISLIKED WEARING BRACES survey were asked the similar questions: "Why did you dislike wearing braces as much as you did?" and "What did you dislike most about wearing braces?" So both sides got to tell why they felt the way they did.


One survey taker who DISLIKED WEARING BRACES noted the pain of braces.
She said that "They were painful and a hassle-the brackets would break and then I would have to schedule an appointment and spend a long time at the orthodontist office..."  As to the thing she disliked most about braces this reviewer specified that she wore a "Herbst appliance. Ouch."

The self-consiousness and stigma of braces was mentioned by other survey takers who DISLIKED braces. One responded that he disliked braces because they "Made me feel self-conscious at times, but more than anything they were just an annoyance."

Another DISLIKE survey taker wrote that "while I knew I needed them I was one of a few kids that had them. Braces wearers were routinely made fun of. I was mad that my big sister only had to wear removables and I needed both fixed upper & lower braces." This same reviewer said that what he disliked most about braces was "Looking different. Getting made fun of. Pain."

One reviewer on the DISLIKE side admitted that "I actually liked how they looked - didn't make me feel any less self-conscious though!

On the LIKED side, one survey taker said that "I loved the look and feel of braces on my teeth. Also the psychology of being made to get braces. Before I had braces, I envied others who had them. I wish I was made to get them earlier."  About the thing he liked most about braces, this same reviewer responded that he liked "The feel of having them in my mouth, and the brace-mouthed look I got."

Another who LIKED braces said that he liked braces because "It was something I always wanted to do for myself and my orthodontist and staff made it a great experience," and that his the thing he liked most about wearing braces was "Seeing how fast my teeth straightened."

Survey takers of both LIKED and DISLIKED surveys were asked about how they felt about being seen with braces, and here, again, the responses were varied, although the differences between surveys takers who "always tried to hide" their braces, and those who smiled and showed them off was notably different for both surveys.

(LIKED) How did you feel about people seeing your braces?

	0% (0)	I always tried to hide my braces.
	0% (0)	Although I disliked people seeing my braces, I "grinned and bared" them.
	50% (2)	It was no bother to me whether people saw my braces or not.
	25% (1)	I smiled my tingrin, but tried not to be too obvious.
	25% (1)	I loved to show off my braces whenever I could.

4 voters have answered this question.  

(DISLIKED) How did you feel about people seeing your braces?

	50% (3)	I always tried to hide my braces.
	0% (0)	Although I disliked people seeing my braces, I "grinned and bared" them.
	33% (2)	It was no bother to me whether people saw my braces or not.
	16% (1)	I smiled my tingrin, but tried not to be too obvious.
	0% (0)	I loved to show off my braces whenever I could.

6 voters have answered this question.

One thing that survey takers who LIKED WEARING BRACES and who DISLIKED WEARING BRACES had in common was that most said they would get braces again, regardless of whether they liked it or not, because of the benefits that orthodontic treatment provided.

(LIKED) Regardless of whether you liked or disliked wearing braces, if you had to do it again, would you have chosen to have braces anyway? (For example, to fix a dental problem?)

	100% (4)	Yes. (Mention why.)
	0% (0)	No. (Mention why.)

4 voters have answered this question.
(DISLIKED) Regardless of whether you liked or disliked wearing braces, if you had to do it again, would you have chosen to have braces anyway? (For example, to fix a dental problem?)

	83% (5)	Yes. (Mention why.)
	16% (1)	No. (Mention why.)

6 voters have answered this question.

I recommend checking out the actual survey results for the LIKED WEARING BRACES SURVEY and the DISLIKED WEARING BRACES SURVEY, by clicking on the links. Interesting variety, and some contrasts.

Cool Coke Commercial

Check out this cool commercial featuring a tin-grinned cola drinker.

A Professional in Braces (2003)

One thing I haven't mentioned is that when I had my braces as an adult, back around 2003-2004, I actually kept a blog about my experiences.  Since I also had glasses (and still do), I called my blog Foureyedmetalmouth.  It wasn't as broadly oriented as this blog, but rather just dealt with my day to day experiences wearing braces as an adult. Since getting my braces off, I stopped posting, and with time, the blog was deleted (and the web company that hosted it went out of business). However, thanks to an internet archive I found, I was able to recently salvage parts of my old blog, and I plan to post some of my old posts from that blog. 

Here is one of my more interesting old posts. It was from a time right after I went to a professional conference for the first time with my braces. Braces are indeed an interesting experience when you are an adult in a fairly conservative profession, trying to look "proper" while having a mouthful of ortho gadgetry.  Enjoy.

A PROFESSIONAL IN BRACES/SOCIAL IN BRACES 

Monday, 13 October 2003

I just finished attending a professional conference/convention. This is my first in braces, and I believe of all the fairly large group of people attending, I was the only one in mouthmetal. After the convention, I had to go to another social gathering. I must admit that I am still a bit reticent to appear with my braces in front of people, especially those who havent yet seen me in braces. At the conference, there were several friends (or maybe acquaintances is more like it) of mine who had not yet seen me in braces, and I must admit that after several months in braces, I still feel uncomfortable confronting people in them the first time. I was trying to be discreet about my mouthmetal, yet still try to look natural. Theres this silly balance one has to pull of whereby you have to try to not bare your braces too obviously, yet still not try to obscure them too much... if you bare your braces too intensely you appear a bit too happy to have braces, and you may appear a bit odd... but if you try too hard to obscure your braces (which is probably my tendency moreso than baring them too much, at least with people I try to be "professional" with and those who havent seen my braces before) you will just draw even more attention to them, and look even dumber. So, anyway, the moral of the story is that as an adult, and after several months, you still may feel a bit awkward for having a tin grin. I guess I should consider that this makes it all just that much more "authentic" since a typical teenager would probably, in most circumstances, feel quite awkward in braces, and if I had gotten them in my teens, even though I think braces are cool, I would still probably have the feeling of awkwardness nonetheless....especially in a school full of people who are all too willing to tease you for other reasons and who would like nothing better than to find a new reason to get onto you.  

Kilians Braces Story

     Here is another contribution from one of my readers, Kilian, who provided his account of growing up with braces, and photos from his time undergoing braces treatment. Thank you to Kilian for his contribution.

        Kilian's Braces Story

by Kilian 

This is my Braces Story, it took place in West Germany from 1984 until 1995.

I was nine Years,when I got my first Braces, 17 when I got fixed Braces and 19 Year, when I got them finally off.

My first braces period was from 1984 till 1988 with removable Braces. I was the first in my Class in Braces. The Dentist told my Parents, that I needed them. I tried to convince my parents, that my teeth are OK and we better go to another dentist, but they did not take me seriously. Then I thought why me? I was not the coolest in Class and was terribly afraid, that with braces it would get even worse. When I got my braces I was irritated and specially in the beginning used to move them around in the Mouth a lot. It took me some time to get used to them.

This must have been when the braces were quite new.
At first it was kind of exciting, but soon I hated it, because the limitations were annoying.


 

I remember one very embarassing Moment: I was in school and I was not paying attention, but instead moving my Braces out and in and out and in again. Then at one Moment I realized, that it was so quiet, I turned and saw the whole Class, including the Teacher staring at me.

One year later they were a normal part of me. I did not think anymore about them. 

My Orthodontist had a small office like a dentists Office. There were always three or four waiting.It was in the nearest Town. Usually my Father would pick me up from school and then we would go there. Later I had to walk from school to the Office and then to take the Bus home. The Ortho asked me to take the Braces in, then out and in again. Sometimes, he changed something at the wire. I got about three or four times new Braces. One Model got broken, when I put them in my Jacket without the Box and had a fight with my biggest enemy (at that time). You can imagine that a lot of trouble followed. It is strange, that this kind of trouble in Childhood seemed to be life threatening. I was so afraid of going home, when I wanted to put the Braces back in my mouth and discovered, what had happened.

At that time we where three Kids with Braces in my Class. A Girl had also removable Braces and another Girl fixed ones. Sometimes we used to talk about the Orthodontist and how we hated wearing Braces. I remember one of them telling how she puked, when getting the Impression. She was a very sensible Girl and often Ill.

Wearing them was never a problem after the first year , but always having to take care of them, to take them out, to put them in a box, or leave them somewhere was still annoying. (Sometimes more for my Mother, then for me ;-)) 

I had to wear removables until I was 13. At that time it was a normal part of me, that I was having them, nobody talked about it anymore. Also one of the neighbors was in Braces too then.




My Sister got Braces some Years after me . For her it was much more normal from the beginning, I think she liked them, or was kind of proud of them. She never complained about having to wear them. After three years without Braces (only the retainer for the night, which I forgot more than I had them in), we moved to another Part of Germany. The new Dentist was not sure about the results of the treatment and asked me to visit an Ortho. So with 17 I needed braces again and got a full set of fixed Braces. At that time I really hated it.





But I have to admit, that my first big love did not care about my braces. (She took this picture) With 19 I got them finally of and this time I was disciplined enough to wear the Retainer as prescribed.

Questions by a reader, and my answers

One of my readers, Geo, has been reading my account of having adult braces, and has asked me some questions about my braces experience. Here are the questions:

How was your romantic life effected? What were elastics like for you? Any run ins with people you used to know who saw your new braces? How'd you introduce them to friends? Any moments you wish you could rip them off?

And here are my rsponses:

How was your romantic life effected?

My romantic life:  I was always a bit of a loner, and at the time I got by braces, I was working in a job that involved little social contact other than some of the other employees and my boss.  It was a new job in a new location, and I was not really dating at the time. I was told a year or two before about the need for braces from my dentist, but did not yet follow through on it. I did not intend to stay in that job forever, but it occurred to me that it was a good time to go ahead with the braces treatment, due to my minimal social contact or social life.  So, I went for it. Ironically, it was shortly after I got my braces that someone set me up on a date with someone. We contacted each other by email first and then set up a date.

I decided on our first date I would just be causal about it, and try to not make any deal at all about my braces. I did not actually tell my date about the braces beforehand.  It was a odd circumstance for me, I guess.  The date went well, and I had no comment about my braces. She did ask whether I had been a nerd in high school, which may have been about my braces, or maybe just about my overall demeanor. (I guess I am a little on the shy, semi-nerdy side.)  I do not recall my answer.

During the rest of my dating, she did comment here and there about my braces. Just routine stuff, nothing too odd or weird. During one incident of lovemaking, I noticed that she seemed to intentionally be trying to lick my braces with her teeth.  This happened one time, and I think her tougue got a little stuck on it, which explains why she never did it again. LOL. I dated her for two years with braces, and shortly after I got my braces off, we got married.

What were elastics like for you?

Elastics: I seem to recall that in the initial months of my treatment, I did not have elastics. Then, after some time, I was prescribed two elastics, one on each side of my mouth, connecting my upper braces to my lower. They were to be worn 24/7. That stayed that way for a time. Then further along, for a few months, I was prescribed longer elastics which were to be worn in a triangle pattern between the top and bottom teeth.  These elastics were more heavy duty, and I was given a pliers-like appliance to apply them to my braces.  Then finally, to the very end of my treatment, I was prescribed wearing a whole bunch of elastics . . .the same type of elastics that I had originally on opposite sides of my mouth, except this time I had several on both sides of my mouth.  I think like three on each side, making it quite difficult to talk. and that was it.

Any run ins with people you used to know who saw your new braces?  

A few. I did have friends from before that I visited, or they visited me at my new location. One did ask me, "so you have braces now?" and I told him yes, and mentioned that I was told I needed them. Another friend also visited me, and made no mention whatsoever of my braces, although he had to have seen them. This second friend was at my apartment, and made a vague comment about the waterpik device I had (which he saw out) . . . which was an odd reference which I think was meant to get me to talk about my braces. But I didn't really say anything further.

How'd you introduce them to friends? 

I usually didn't. I just tried to be casual about them, making no comments myself, and just responded to any comments by my friends.

Any moments you wish you could rip them off?

No, not really. But I was in the habit of asking my ortho about how we were in the process, and how much longer it would be.