My son has been coming home upset because some kids are teasing him. They call him “metal mouth” and make jokes about how his smile could “pick up radio stations.” It breaks my heart to see him so down.
I try to remind him that this is temporary, that he will thank himself one day for going through this, but I can tell he is having a hard time seeing past the pain. He’s normally a very confident kid, but lately, he doesn’t even want to smile. He’s also started avoiding social situations, like lunch with his friends, where he would have to take off his rubber bands.
I’m worried this could affect his self-esteem long-term. I don’t know if I should talk to his teacher, the school counselor, or try to handle this at home. I want to teach him to stand up for himself, but I’m also afraid of making things worse by drawing more attention to the problem. I feel trapped. I just want him to feel safe and confident again
this brought me back. I went through the same thing when my kiddo got braces last year. The teasing was tough at first, and they didn’t want to smile or talk much either. I ended up talking to their teacher, and she was really great about setting up a convo with the class about kindness without singling anyone out. Also, we started hyping up the braces at home, like, pointing out celebs with braces, making a game out of picking band colors. It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it helped a lot. Hang in there; it will get better!
That is just so hard to hear. Kids can be so mean sometimes without even realizing the impact they have. You’re doing all the right things by being there for him. I’m so sorry he’s feeling this way, it’s heartbreaking
I went through this with both my kids, they’re older now, but I totally get it. What worked for us was giving them tools to respond to teasing in a confident way. We practiced a few “comebacks” at home like, “Yeah, I’ve got braces now, but wait until you see my smile in a year!” It gave them something to say that wasn’t mean but also didn’t make them feel powerless.
Also, definitely reach out to his teacher. Sometimes just a little extra awareness can make a big difference. For social stuff, we encouraged smaller hangouts with friends who made them feel safe, playdates at home or outings where braces weren’t the focus. You’ve got this!
Oh man, my son told me his braces made him look like a robot, and he wanted to start beeping every time he walked into class to scare the “mean kids.” 
It’s tough, but their sense of humor can surprise you
When my kid went through this, I got them a book about confidence, building aimed at kids their age. It had little exercises they could do to remind themselves of their strengths and value beyond appearances. We also talked about finding their “people”, the ones who make them feel good about themselves. Over time, that really made a difference.
I’d also suggest encouraging your son to get creative with his braces! My kid loved choosing wild band colors every time. It became something they looked forward to instead of dreading
Thank you so much for all these responses. It’s really comforting to know we’re not alone in this. I love the idea of practicing comebacks with him and letting him pick fun band colors, it sounds like a great way to empower him. I’m also going to reach out to his teacher and see if we can approach this in a subtle way. It’s just so hard watching him go through this, but your stories and advice are giving me hope. 
Wow, this really hit home. My daughter hasn’t gotten braces yet, but I’m already worried about how she’ll handle them when the time comes. Do you think talking to the school counselor helped, or was it better to focus on handling it at home? I feel like it’s so tricky to balance!
This is just a phase, promise. I was so worried about my daughter’s self-esteem when she got her braces, but fast-forward a few months, and she was showing them off! Once they adjust and see their friends move on to other things, it really does get easier. Hang in there!