Braces Today vs. Yesterday

I came across a great article the other day: It’s not wins, but braces helping athletes smile. This was pretty interesting, well written, and filled with some inspiring true life experiences. The author recounts his childhood with braces, explaining the pain and longevity he endured just to get that perfect straight smile. Now, years later, he coaches a basketball team where every member has braces. The comparison of his experience to theirs is something worth noting:

What past and present braces-wearing youngsters are told is they can continue to eat anything they like minus popcorn, hard candy; anything gooey and definitely off-limits is the chewing of ice. OK, that essentially wipes out movie-going during the years one wears braces. As for pizzas, orthodontists certainly can’t expect preteens to stay away from a hot cheese pizza, smothered in whatever. If mine did, I disobeyed his order.

While he viewed his time as nothing short of horrible, his students love their braces and can't help but show them off! This is testament to all of the recent innovations in orthodontics and another reason to smile!!