For the most part this blog has been a secret that only a select few people knew about. Like a domino effect more and more people are finding out about it either through my own telling or it has been passed along. If you had asked me when I started this project I would have wanted to crawl out of my skin and hide knowing that people were reading this - but I’m finding the complete opposite is happening. The more people I’ve told about my blog (and braces) the more I feel as though I am being emancipated from my braces and all the selfconciousness that goes along with them.
It’s kind of a nice feeling. It doesn’t always linger when I’d like it to but it’s there more than it has been in a long time.
Note: I can’t wait to write about the (literal) emancipation of my teeth! only forever more months to go…
You:
approx. 4”, green apple, covered in dripping caramel, you had a bow on your skewer (which only added to your appeal).
I saw you today. Sitting there so coyly near the checkout. I tried to look away but my gaze kept gliding back to you.
You don’t even know how amazing you really are, do you? All at once you were tangy and sweet, beckoning me over with your crisp inside and gooey outside.
A treasure trove of dichotomies you are the ultimate in sating any craving and desire even for the most sophisticated palate while rekindling childhood fancy like no other can.
I thought I missed my chance when the fall came and went, but there you were proving the veracity of your scrumptious flavor any time of year.
I wanted to take you home and devour all that you are but instead I left with a more supple, yet somehow unsatisfying, peach.
Maybe one day we’ll meet again, at a fair or carnival or even the little neighborhood market where we last saw each other.
Until then you will remain in my dreams.
The fear of all things dental. “it has been suggested that the term “dental phobia” is often a misnomer, as many people with this condition do not feel their fears to be excessive or unreasonable and resemble individuals with post traumatic stress syndrome, caused by previous traumatic dental experiences.” (Wikipedia, not the most reliable…but oh well).
[True, I think my fear is completely justified, but i’m a post-crazy type of crazy because while i feel its completely true I know it probably shouldn’t be….make sense? I didn’t think so, when do crazy people ever make sense?!]
I had my yearly physical today and told my doctor all about my anxiety with the dentist and the conversation was as follows:
Dr: “How much longer do you have them on for?”
Me: “Until 2011”
Dr: “Really!? But your teeth look so beautiful!”
Me: “blah, blah, blah, I know they LOOK fine…jaw surgery…..hate life”
ugh. That is my least favorite comment about my braces. Yes, I know that the dentist is making everything worse for seemingly no reason at all. Yes, me teeth are straight. No, not all orthodontics are for teeth straightening, sometimes it is to relocate your jaw in your head. And Yes, 2011 is riddiculously far away from today.
She was very nice, minus this one solecism. She did suggest therapy. So I guess that makes me officially crazy. Although, she did reccomend that I seek “alternate forms of help” in the therapy process, i.e.:
Accupuncture: Don’t know how I feel about this one since it involves needles and I’m a fainter.
or
Hypnosis: intrigued. Never thought about it but could be interesting to try. Seems the most plausible since I would prefer a non-pill taking option if it can be helped.
I will be scheduling something soon (hopefully before April 30th which is promising to be a true test of the helpfullness of it all). Worse comes to worst you, the blog audience, will get an awesome story out of it all.
Recently I have shared my blog with a few more people that I personally know. Not that i’m ashamed of it but I’ve been hesitant to show/tell a lot of people about this blog because…well, I guess it’s a vulnerabilty thing. Anywho, my recent upswing in blog posts and sharing inspired me to take a trip back to the beginning and see where it all started.
The biggest surprise (besides the fact that I seem certifiable sometimes) is my “official” before picture. I took a picture of my teeth/me smiling before any surgeries or tainting of my mouth took place in July. It was absolutely astonishing to me at how much my smile has changed! Now, many people probably wouldn’t notice but it’s my mouth so i do.
These are the changes I saw:
- the top half of my smile has shifted - as if it is more centered inside my mouth
- my two front teeth overlapped!!! 23 years and I never even noticed it, but there is the proof
- the two teeth next to my two front teeth are set further back then the others
So there you have it, I apparently did not have the perfect teeth I thought I did. One of the benefits (and I guess the most obvious benefits) is that my smile is going to be SO AWESOME when this is all over. That’s a bit exciting to think about when things get bad.
Check out this link to see my before pic - but I will try to post a comparitve picture of my current tooth status and that original.
While sitting home on Saturday night watching “RuPaul’s Drag Race” I laughed really big and sort of buried my face in my decorative couch pillow only to realize that I had become attached to said couch pillow. I had to walk to the bathroom, pillow firmly stuck to face to carefully remove the pillow without breaking both teeth and pillow.
So yea…Watching RuPaul, alone on Saturday Night, braces attached to pillow - not my best moment. So glad no one was hear to witness this - although I did just share this with the entire interweb….
No, really. There is something about my new dental hygenist, Mary. I went in this morning for a routine cleaning with my usual apprehension. When she called my name I gave her my usual “i hate the dentist, nothing personal” speech that I generally give as a warning to my impending tears and hysterical fit. I don’t even know what she said or how she said it but she put me at ease right away. She was super nice, efficient, didn’t hurt me, commiserated on braces in a way that didn’t make me feel bad and was generally the nicest lady ever.
Now, this next part sounds stupid….but she let me hold the little spit sucker contraption - and it totally made me feel like I was in control of what was happening. I have used this tactic on children when I was teaching - giving them some “unimortant” task to ease their fear and keep them preoccupied. I know I am almost 24 but, man, did it help. I admit it, it’s stupid, but it worked. Nice one, Mary.
An hour and fifteen minutes later (stupid braces make everything take forever) and I was given a new tooth brush and an appointment for August for a cleaning and went to check out - SANS-TEARS!
Seriously, no crying, no anxiety attack, I left as if I had never been in the dentist office.
So yes, I am in love with Mary and her ability to relieve my anxieties.
p.s. both she and my sister have suggested taking “some pill or something” before going to the dentist. I am not a big drug taker but I may have to look into this as an option…especially if Mary can’t come with me to my appointments
Food Related:
- Eat nachos, crunchy, cheesy nachos.
- Eat a burger/sandwich by biting in from the front (no more cut up sandwiches)
- Eat an apple not sliced up
- Smile without fear of colorful and conspicuos food stuck in my teeth
- Eat meat and other chewy things without having my jaw get tired after 2 bites
- Eat Corn on the cobb
Non-Food Related
- Smile without instilling fear into children
- Go more than 1 day without bleeding in my mouth
- Not have a shredded tongue or cheeks
- Kiss someone sans braces
- Brush my teeth twice a day instead of 7
- Not get asked “So when are they coming off?”
And the biggest one: Wear my retainer for the reccomended period of time because a retainer at night will be better than having to do this all over again (because well, i wouldn’t and you can’t make me).
Note: This list does not take into account the numerous surgeries and junk that will come once my braces are removed but I am trying not to think about that - there will have to be at least a week of no dental issues in between…right!?!?
