May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month: Braces Can Boost Self-Esteem

May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month: Braces Can Boost Self-Esteem

The teenage years can be tough. It may be cliche to say, but it’s true. Teens are going through hormonal changes that make their emotions volatile, and they become acutely aware of their physical appearance. Teens can also be cruel to each other. Building up a teenager’s self esteem is crucial to helping them deal with the difficulties of this time. May is National Teen Self-Esteem Month, making it a good time to encourage teens to have a healthy perspective about themselves.

While physical appearance should never be the basis upon which people judge their self-worth, braces can be helpful to teens who are struggling with self-esteem. Your teeth and mouth are some of the most used, most visible parts of your body. If a teen is afraid to speak or smile, they are less likely to hear praise from teachers for answering a question correctly, and they are less likely to smile at people, receive a smile in return, and make new friends. Additionally, science has shown that the simple act of smiling can boost a person’s mood overall.

With more subtle braces now available in different materials, teens don’t necessarily have to go through the years of metal braces that were once the norm. If a teen does get metal braces, they can rest assured many of their peers will have them as well, and they won’t be the odd person out. Orthodontists now offer options like colored elastics to help make braces less scary and more personalized. With the continued promise of a brighter smile, braces might be the way to boost your teen’s overall self-esteem this May.

Sources:

http://www.nationalteenselfesteemmonth.com/

https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/is-it-true-smiling-improves-your-mood.html#.WQiOZ1MrLq1