Random....Or is it just me!

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#1 Post by **GiovanntiLawing** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:51 am

Ok, this is sorta RANDOM and out there, but I figured I would ask to see if "its JUST me".

When you just doing your daily duties such as:

Going/Walking to work
Riding the subway (if you live in a city with trains)
Taking a stroll around town or you "city"
People watching
Play in the park with your kids
At a fast-food drive thru window
Ordering food in a restaurant
Meeting new people

Ok, Im sure you get what im saying now....

But do you check to see if a person has braces? or if they have a nice smile?

Only because you do have braces!

It may be just me, but I am a smile-kind of guy! Thats one of the first things I notice in a woman to be quite honest with you (as well as personality), but do you find yourself looking at other peoples teeth just to see how straight they are?

When I'm at random; not even really thinking about it, I examine other people smiles and teeth.

What about you?

I know it seems weird, but I truly think someone's smile says a whole lot about a person.

Just my random though for today. I was taking the subway into Manhattan today and caught myself checking out this ladies teeth. She somehow dropped her newspaper and I reached down to pick it up for her and noticed her gorgeous smile as she said "Thank You" to me.

Ok, I'll shut up now...

#2 Post by **TumbleDryLow** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:19 am

I think I noticed people's teeth more before getting braces because I was so self conscious of my own very crowed and crooked smile. By comparison "everyone" had straight teeth. Even if they weren't model perfect, they were 150% better than mine. As a kid I lived in white suburbia where braces were a rite of teenage passage (for everyone but me it seemed) and a perfect smile was expected. I now live in a affluent city where a perfect smile is also very common because most people can afford one. I kept putting off braces for lots of reasons, so when I saw someone with a less than perfect smile, I noticed, and thought to myself: "Well their smile isn't perfect either..... thank god I'm not the only one." I know it was ridiculous to think I was the only one without straight teeth, but sometimes it really did feel that way.

Now that I have braces and my teeth are a lot straighter I feel like I'm in the "in crowd". I joke with my husband that my teeth were more noticeable when they were crooked and I'm spending 6000 so people won't notice me!

#3 Post by **sparkles** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 1:22 pm

I think I notice other people's teeth much more now that I have braces than I did pre braces (or rather in between races in my cases)

I do go brace-spotting

well I don't specifically go out to brace spot but it happens.

Similarly I was watching a TV programme last night and instead of being concerned about the part of that person's anatomy that was being talked about on the programme, I was thinking , never mind that bit, you need your teeth fixed!

#4 Post by **jennielee81** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:55 pm

I do it all the time!!! Did it before braces, looking for someone who's teeth were like mine to see if they were bad, or for people with teeth worse than mine to make me feel better.

Now that I've got straight teeth, I still look at other's teeth. Not to judge, them but just it's where my eyes go out of habit.

I had lunch with a friend I'd not seen since well before my treatment started and she didn't even know I'd had braces. In the first 5 minutes of our lunch, she said, "Man your teeth look amazing!" I thought that was really nice! She'd never had braces but her teeth aren't bad. We talked about whitening methods (that's all she thought I'd done) and then moved on to another topic.

So even she, who's never had braces, notices teeth.

#5 Post by **jennielee81** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:31 pm

retrognathic lower jaws

You and your $10 words!

#6 Post by **catfish** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:11 pm

I notice 'em! I see people who have crooked teeth and still have a beautiful smile. Or people with crooked teeth who would probably benefit from braces. Or people who have straight teeth and I wonder if they've had braces. I have no critical thoughts of any of them, I just notice. It just seems to become a habit for those of us who are braced.

I've also noticed that when I run into strangers who are braced, one of us will strike up a friendly conversation because of it. Now that's really cool! It's fun to meet people who you wouldn't have conversed with otherwise.

#7 Post by **TheNewEmperor** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:08 am

I can't watch tv now as all I see are people with bad teeth...and then instead of concentrating on the news or storyline etc I think, 'wow, those teeth could be fixed...'. It's so annoying!!! Now, of course, my family notice teeth too - they'll say, 'oh wow, look, they have teeth like you used to' or 'those teeth could be fixed with braces'. It isn't judging (though it may sound like it) coz I know how hard it was for me to take the leap and get them finally put on.

#8 Post by **chef** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:37 am

I see a lot of bad mouths in professional kitchens and from our providers (but not in sales, there you see the perfect smiles.) However, there is one truck driver/delivery guy with braces. I admit now to always having wanted a great smile and being afraid. It's nothing to fear. It's great and I'm gonna have a killer smile!

#9 Post by **purpleteeth** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:57 am

Oh I am very much a "smile watcher"! When I look at magazines, I look for the people smiling and look at their teeth... especially the celebrities - and how many of them have straight teeth or crooked teeth or white teeth.

I know I tend to smile more now that I have braces because my mouth has stretched out a ton, not to mention how much more effort it takes to stretch my lips over my brackets to smile with my teeth (which was natural for me before braces).

I don't hide my teeth or braces and yes, I look at other people's teeth and smiles all the time - doing everyday things. I don't look out of criticism, I look out of curiousity.

#10 Post by **BracedVeryLate** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:15 pm

I am noticing teeth all the time! I mentioned this in my story, and I can't help looking at teeth. Unfortunately, I seem to notice all the crooked ones. What I really notice are all the crooked bottom teeth on older people. My ortho told me this happens with age. My bottom front 6 teeth were completely pressed together and were getting worse with age.

I NEVER looked at teeth before... glad I am not the only one who does this after being braced, I feel kind of odd staring at teeth!!!!!

#11 Post by **GiovanntiLawing** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:22 pm

I'm so glad I made this post, because for a while I thought I was nuts!

Everyday it's like im on the watch out for perfect smiles. Especially since i'm back in braces again. I never look to judge someone, because obviously, my teeth have had issues as well.

Today, I was interviewing someone at work and her teeth were so perfect (not to mention she was extra extra gorgeous), I found myself borderline blushing/crushing on her!! It's weird!!

Sometimes, when I see perfect perfect teeth, it makes me wonder, "did you have braces?" because I want my teeth to look like that!!

Teeth can really make or break a person!! BUT I have noticed, not so perfect teeth (meaning small gaps in teeth) can also make a person look very unique.

Christina Aguilera --has a baby gap in her teeth and I think it makes her look beautiful!!

Ok, Im just rambling now...

But I am glad that it's just "not me" who look at peoples teeth! haha!

My biggest fear is that, I will get my braces off and they will be straight, BUT it will not be as PERFECT as I invision them to be!!

#12 Post by **Kat** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:30 pm

It is something. I do now notice way more than before the way people take care of their teeth. The way of oral hygiene (sp?) You can tell if they've put a bunch of money in their mouth, how white they are, straight and usually you can tell if someone has had braces in the past.

When I see someone with the perfect smile/teeth I'll comment them on how nice they look knowing what they've gone through I'm sure. Always you get a smile back and they are so willing to talk about their experiences in the dental chair.

When seeing a older person in braces, and I'm seeing a lot of people these days-depending on the situation I or they will mention the braces. Kinda like were in the same club.

Kids who wear them are fun to talk to. I Always end up learning something or get a good laugh with them over these things.