Hi everyone!
For this weeks post, I thought I would go through my "journey" (?) of my braces and what I had to go through to get where they are now and how I felt when I went through these different stages. I thought I would write this as a guide for people who are getting braces and don't know what to expect and if it really is all that bad! WARNING: there will be multiple images of my teeth - so if you're squeamish or don't like pictures in that context, then skip this post and I will see you on Friday ;). But lets get into it!!
For this weeks post, I thought I would go through my "journey" (?) of my braces and what I had to go through to get where they are now and how I felt when I went through these different stages. I thought I would write this as a guide for people who are getting braces and don't know what to expect and if it really is all that bad! WARNING: there will be multiple images of my teeth - so if you're squeamish or don't like pictures in that context, then skip this post and I will see you on Friday ;). But lets get into it!!
Okay, so the whole problem started due to me sucking my thumb since I was a baby! Honestly, I would much rather suck my thumb than have a dummy/pacifier to keep me from crying and getting me to sleep. I think that's why my thumbs are fairly long - must've pulled them further along than they should be... Anyways I'm getting off track (ha get it - like train tracks, braces... no?) so because of my obsession with sucking my thumb, the dentsit told me that I needed to stop. This was heartbreaking for me! I went 12 years (yes I was 12..) knowing nothing different! So I got a tip from my friends mum to use this nail varnish that stops you biting your nails (the grossest thing ever by the way) and have a plaster on the thumbs as well. Within a week I was done sucking my thumb, and even now its not the same as it used to be!
So at this point in my life, my teeth looked horrible - I had overcrowding on the top row and the bottom row of my teeth were sort of straight but could be improved. Due to the overcrowding on the top row (where two of my teeth deciding to start growing through my gums and wanted a way in! So, I thought after the first step I would just need braces...Nope. My dentist decided to drop the bombshell that I needed to have some teeth removed. It was only meant to be two, so I said I would be able to do it. It wasn't until I went to go have the procedure that they decided to tell me there and then that they would take out FOUR teeth! So four of my molars were taken out (two from each side.) Then I was finally able to start getting braces and get to the end of my treatment quicker!
| | The first orthodontist appointment I went to was by far the scariest. My nerves were flying through the rough on the car trip to it, but honestly after about 3 visits of the hundreds I went to, the nerves soon wear off! My first brace that I had was this horrible bracket thing that was stuck to the roof of my mouth. I thought it was like the normal brace that everyone started off with - the one which you could remove and you only had to wear it for a few hours a day. Nope, I had to be awkward and have this horrible thing that wasn't removable, made me sound like I had a constant cold and the worst thing - the first 3 weeks my mum had to tighten it up with a little screwdriver type thing every day... It was not fun! So I had this brace for around a year and a half and all it really did was pull back the teeth to make room for the new ones to come through. (Btw, the image is not my mouth - its just a mould from the internet...) |
I was relieved to get this horrible brace off - but the results from it weren't that noticeable really! Throughout this time - I was incredibly self conscious of my smile and my teeth, hence why all my old pictures I'm either pouting or pulling my awkward no teeth smile. It wasn't a fun time, and I did used to get names or feel like I wasn't pretty, it seemed like it went on forever! And if things couldn't get any worse, my train tracks got fitted...
| I was 13 just about to turn 14 when I got the full train track look and went for the most dashing colour - purple brackets. They didn't hurt when they got put on, but a day later - they hurt like crazy. It was hard to eat anything and especially when you have to clean them extremely thoroughly with loads of different brushes (ugh that was the longest thing ever, trust me you don't have to do it every time you brush your teeth!) The pain lasts for a few days then you're fine...until you get them tightened then you have to go through all the same pain again and again. Its not so much agonising pain more like your teeth are super sensitive and the slightest movement will cause you agony! Basically, paracetamol will be your best friend through this time! | |
I had these train tracks on for over a year maybe two I can't remember how long and then I finally got them off! They were taken off in November 2013 and I've been braceless for over a year! So after having your braces off you have to have a retainer to wear regularly! I recently have just been told that I don't need to ever visit the orthodontist ever again!! It was a long 4 years of treatment but it was definitely worth it. If you're going through a similar story - it will be over before you know it - heres an example of the change! (Look how young I was!!!)
But now, I've never been happier with my smile and will flash my teeth in every photo oppourtunity;) and I know I'm going to regret sharing these images with you - they'll be back to haunt me I'm sure;) I'd like to thank Inline Orthodontics for helping me recreate my smile and making me feel more confident with myself!!
See you in the next blog post,
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