Most people get braces in their early teen years and are certainly done with orthodontic treatments by the time they are in their twenties. Not everyone is so lucky, though. Some get overlooked and others forget to wear a retainer once they’re done with braces, so the whole process ends up a waste.
While there are countless celebs who wore brackets as teenagers – Angelina Jolie, Dakota Fanning, and Prince Harry, to name a few – some confronted their dental imperfections later on in life. They are living proof that braces are nothing to be ashamed of. Quite on the contrary: they are a symbol of success.
10 Cristiano Ronaldo
The famous soccer player had an unfortunate smile before he rose to fame. Not only were his teeth misaligned, apparently one tooth was missing altogether. Additionally, he also had a gummy smile.
With the fortune he accumulated, the sports star finally started the long journey to a perfect smile. He wore braces and had several other dental procedures. Today, his smile looks nothing like the one he grew up with. Luckily, you don’t need your teeth to play soccer and work out.
9 Nicolas Cage
When he first started out in Hollywood, Nicolas Cage sported a barely noticeable overbite that hid his crooked bottom teeth. As the years passed, his dental imperfections started bothering him, so he eventually got braces.
He only had them installed on the bottom, though. He was well into his thirties when he started his dental makeover. He could’ve fixed the overbite too, but since it’s part of his unique look that gets him roles, he decided to keep it.
8 Faye Dunaway
This woman is living proof that it’s never too late to invest in yourself. Braces don’t only make people more beautiful; more importantly, they are important because they can prevent future dental troubles and gum diseases.
The “Bonnie And Clyde” star started wearing braces when she was 61 years old. She got them around the same time as the next star on this list, Tom Cruise. Faye joked that since he has them, it’s only fashionable she gets them too.
7 Tom Cruise
There are many things that we keep forgetting about Tom Cruise’s childhood. He struggled with dyslexia and was bullied a lot. On top of it all, he also had very little luck with his teeth.
He is one of the most stars who opted for adult braces. Even though he was almost 40 years old when he got them, he wore them with pride. Most of the time, he wore invisible braces with ceramic brackets, so they were barely noticeable.
6 Zac Efron
Those who remember the early days of Zac Efron’s fame on “Summerland” back in 2004 will know that he used to have a big gap between his front two teeth. Even though it looked adorable, the actor decided to fix it and close it up.
For several months, he wore Invisalign clear aligners. It doesn’t work the same way as the traditional braces and it can’t be used for all dental problems, but it worked for Zac.
5 Faith Hill
The famous country singer got braces when she was about 45 years old. On the 2013 Grammy Awards, she posed with a wide smile, revealing her ceramic braces. They were barely visible.
Faith Hill actually already had braces as a child, but she made a mistake that many teenagers make: upon finishing her orthodontic treatment, she was sloppy with wearing retainers. Unfortunately, her teeth gradually moved back to where they started out.
4 Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani is not only known for her powerful voice but also her beauty. At the age of 50, she looks as if she were 30 years old. Having perfectly straight teeth probably helps her look younger. She was smart: when she was 30 years old, she decided to fix her smile with braces.
Even though she didn’t have an overbite like Nicolas Cage or noticeable gaps between her teeth like Zac Efron, the star wanted to shift her teeth into the most ideal position possible. Why not? It’s money well spent.
3 Sean Paul
Even though many adults squirm at the idea of having braces and having them installed typically comes with a fair share of anxiety, they are often delighted to find out that they look even cuter with braces. That’s exactly what braces did for Sean Paul.
The Jamaican reggae giant never seemed too bothered about it. No wonder: unlike many celebrities, he doesn’t rely on his good looks to make money.
2 Estelle
Estelle wore braces from 2008 to 2009, when she was approximately 28 years old. She claimed she wanted them ever since she was 20 years old because she felt very self-conscious about her smile.
The difference that a year can make is astounding: she looks like a completely different person and she definitely looks more comfortable in her own skin.
1 Fantasia Barrino
American Idol’s Fantasia had a promising career lining up in 2004. Four years later, she decided to get ceramic braces. Even though brackets are often associated with being unpopular, awkward, and shy, Fantasia is yet another living proof that braces can be a fashion statement, a proud symbol of self-love.
She still sometimes smiles with her mouth closed, the way she probably learned while she still had her old smile.