So February 14 is approaching—you know who you’re going to ask to be your Valentine and how you’re going to do it (a personal, quiet approach instead of your original flash mob idea), you’ve considered all possible culinary disasters and picked out a romantic, but safe, dinner (hold the onions and anchovies, please!), and you’ve pored through all the movie reviews to make sure your date goes perfectly. Then, if everything goes as planned, you hope that special someone might let you smooch them.
But wait! you think, I have braces now! How can I make my move without risking dental disaster?
We’ve all heard the horror stories of teenaged lovebirds caught in literal lip-locks with stuck-together braces or of puckering up only to showcase the popcorn lodged beneath your wires. But don’t worry, Romeos and Juliets, because having braces doesn’t mean you’re doomed to chase Cupid away. Even if you do encounter a moment of orthodontic awkwardness, all is not lost!
Here’s an example: I hadn’t had braces for long when my crush asked me out. My subtle flirtatious gestures (definitely not outright staring at him or anything…) had finally worked. Everything was going great, and when he drove me home, I just knew The Big Kiss was going to happen. All the clichés came true—you know, sparks flying, angels singing… until he yelped, “OW!”
I looked up with dread as a red spot appeared on his lip. “I think your braces cut me,” he said.
I was embarrassed—I mean, beyond mortified. But instead of casting me from his presence, wounded, never to speak to me again, he started laughing. Even through my flurry of apologies he just kept cracking up, and before long I was howling too. Before I left, he even said my braces were cute. And, yes, we had a second date.
The good folks at Birmingham Orthodontics got the offending bracket back in tip-top shape straight away, and my orthodontist told me that what happened was actually rare—most people have no kissing problems at all. Plus, braces have improved tremendously, so your chances of having a snogging snafu are slimmer than ever before. So get out there and turn up the charm—your date will surely be impressed that you’re improving your teeth, and who knows… maybe they’ll even be there to celebrate with you when you reveal your brand new smile!
At Birmingham Orthodontics, our mission is simple: we create smiles. Not only do we straighten the crooked grin, fix the bite, and adjust the jaw, we also brighten yearbooks, help young people come to like their looks, and give adults the confidence they have wanted for a long, long time. We also believe in our staff. Our culture of continuous learning has allowed us to host monthly training sessions for each team and bring in leading industry consultants to help keep us ahead of the curve. Contact us for a free consultation, or any questions you might have.
