This post was brought to you by Invisalign, however, all opinions are my own.
In the movies, there is always this super perfect girl in high school. She is pretty, smart, and is friends with everyone. That was totally me! I was involved in every club you could think of: Newspaper Club, PAL’s, Christian Athletes, National Honor Society, even the Future Educators club! (Nope, I never wanted to be a teacher, I was just obsessed with extracurricular activities.) I was the epitome of a well-rounded student…who else do you know that was a cheerleader and a mathlete? Yes, I made good grades and had a social life too. Guys liked me, even though I didn’t date. I had it going on!
There was just one issue…I HAD BRACES!!
The girls in the movies never have braces. They were perfect. And they came with even more perfect smiles. Me not so much. I had gotten braces right before 9th grade in 2006 and I was devastated! I was always smiling and I did not want to start a new chapter of my life with a mouth full of metal. I’m a millennial, so of course I scoured the internet for alternatives to braces. I came across Invisalign and begged my parents for it. They quickly said no when they saw the difference in how much the insurance covered. They also though I’d be irresponsible and lose the aligners. (You know parents make up excuses sometimes so they don’t seem like the bad guy.) Therefore, I went through the majority of my high school career smiling away with a mouth full of metal, missing cheer practice to get my wires tightened, and planning my outfits for the month to match my hot pink rubber bands.
Braces were seriously a pain. A pain in the butt because I couldn’t eat good stuff, like BBQ ribs or Laffy Taffy, but also a real pain in the mouth. Getting your wires tightened or remounting a bracket left my teeth sore and made me irritable for atleast a week. Oh, and lets not even mention the time my team was practicing cheer stunts and my flyer kicked me in the mouth. Yep, that was the worst.
I can’t believe it’s only been a few years since I last had braces. So much has changed since then. Invisalign is much cheaper, generally costing around the same prices as braces, anddddd they have the Invisalign Teen Program. This program is designed for students who were like me: busyyy! It’s intended to straighten teeth faster, without all the appointments, and you even get up to 6 free replacement aligners in case one gets lost.
Long story short. I’m jealous. It seems as if Invisalign Teen was meant for me, but it wasn’t available back then (ahem 2006). What was available wasn’t affordable for my family, but now it is. I had a nearly perfect high school experience and I hate that in 84 percent of my pictures are imperfect due to the fact that I had on these big metal braces. I ended up getting braces off early…because I didn’t want them on for senior pictures or prom. I don’t even remember getting a retainer. Even though I’ve been told I have a beautiful smile, I kind of want to fix some little problems that I see. But, I’ll have to wait until I get my own insurance to get Invisalign…
So what were your memories with braces? Were you a band geek or choir nerd? Were you an athlete, cheerleader, or dancer? How did braces interfere with those activities?
Disclosure: I attended the Mini Bloggy Boot Camp hosted by SITS and sponsored by Invisalign.
23 thoughts on “Sponsored Post: Braces Then, Invisalign Now #INVStraightTalk”
Love the pictures. Wondering if Invisalign will be the answer for my daughter who, I’m pretty sure, will need the braces!
Twitter: taylorbrione
Yeah! It probably is the answer! Especially if she is super busy like I was! I wish that they had Invisalign teen when I got braces!! Lol
I got my braces when I was 37 years old. I am now 43. Looking back, the amount of time I had to take off from work whether it was to get them tightened, wires and rubber bands breaking. It is too painful to even write about the insides of my lips being cut. I also never really wanted to smile since I wore braces during adulthood. Hindsight is 20/20 and if I could do it over, I would certainly try Invisalign. I have heard that the results are amazing.
Twitter: irishred02
I was lucky enough not to have them but I know I would’ve loved something like Invisalign if I did!
I didn’t have braces but I had a retainer when I was in my 30’s. It was the most uncomfortable thing I can think of ……. http://www.myjourneywithcandida.com/
Twitter: taylorbrione
Ugh! I refused to get a retainer…which is why I want Invisalign now.
I had braces late (at least for today’s standards) as I was a Junior in High School. I hated them! LOL! I even wore my headgear at night on a higher setting to get them off early!
I had my braces when I was in my 40s and it was not nice, besides painful! I wish I had the option of Invisilgn! They look nicer and work quicker!
Twitter: taylorbrione
Yeah, for adults I definitely recommend Invisalign!
That’s interesting because I thought Invisalign was more expensive than braces!
Twitter: taylorbrione
At one point it was. When I initially wanted Invisalign in 2006, there was a big price difference, however with new technology they have been able to get the price almost the same as braces.
Cute story!! I never wore braces but as an adult, i wish I had. My teeth are crowded in the bottom and i get cavities there regularly.
Twitter: taylorbrione
It’s never too late! Invisalign is perfect for you! You could be straightening and no one would know!
Love all the pictures. You were a hottie 🙂
I need Invisiline but can’t afford them. Should of had braces when I was younger but my folks couldn’t afford them.
Twitter: taylorbrione
I know what you mean. Orthodontic work is expensive. I’m trying to stay on my parents insurance for as long as I’m allowed, but they paid for my braces already, but they aren’t going to pay for me to get Invisalign now.
Oh girl, you should of seen my mouth in high school, lol. I had braces and a palette expander which gave me about a one inch gap in between my 2 front teeth. ..but I was a cool nerd too – we played it off well =P
My daughter is going to need braces within the next year and half, so I will definitely have to look into Invisalign. Thanks for sharing!
Twitter: taylorbrione
Omg! Palette Expander! That’s intense! But shoutout to us for being the cool nerds! lol I defintely think you should look into Invisalign for your daughter, it’ll be much better for her school experience!
You were adorable in high school! I’m pretty sure that you are going to get every little thing your heart desires! Especially that insurance to cover your Invisalign. 🙂
Twitter: taylorbrione
Lol! Thanks Pamela!
Awwwl Taylor you were absolutely adorable in high school!! If I needed braces, I would definitely check out Invisalign.
Twitter: taylorbrione
Lol! Thanks Paige!
you were a really cute nerd!
Twitter: taylorbrione
THanks!
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