You'll be OK with braces for the next few years. Simply believe in yourself! Next up: a stunning smile- Close your eyes and see a regular-sized bite, perfectly straight teeth, and a picture-perfect grin. Well, not exactly, but you get the idea. Your dentist will explain everything about braces to you before starting so there are no surprises. And the best part is that kids can have braces too! The earlier the start, the less time you'll be wearing them. Braces actually improve your dental health by forcing you to brush and floss more thoroughly. This will help remove any irritants between your teeth that might otherwise cause problems later on. In addition, they give your mouth a chance to heal after experiencing large changes like those caused by tooth decay or injuries. Finally, they will hold your teeth in place while they heal which prevents any further damage from occurring. Having braces doesn't mean you won't be able to eat whatever you want. In fact, you'll probably want to indulge a little more because it's important to stay hydrated while your teeth are healing. But you should also try not to eat too much because this could lead to discomfort or infection if your jaw isn't ready for more stress yet. Finally, having braces makes you look older or younger depending on how you feel about them.