Tooth jewelry!

[anarchy45]

Call me crazy, but I rather like having braces... I think of them as fashion accessories I always needed them badly as a kid but my parents couldn't afford them... I was jealous of my classmates who had perfect teeth and got braces, while I was left stuck with these contorted chompers. There was that 'being left out' feeling... but I also found them rather nice-looking.... tooth jewelry! I like the aesthetic of stainless-steel body jewelry so it melds into that look I suppose...

Well, fast forward 15 years - I can finally afford braces, and I rock them suckers =) Definitely taking full advantage of the colored ligs. I only have top braces on at the moment and relatively few people seem to notice - when I speak it is my lower teeth which are primarily visible. I'm eager not only to start on the arduous task of rearranging my lower jaw, but to get the other row of braces so that they match with the top ^_^

I'm six months into an estimated 15-18 months (I think it's going to be quite a bit more than that), so I'll probably be tired of them by then, but in the meantime I'm going to make the most of it.

Anyone else share this sentiment? Or, are you thinking I'm a sadist who supports legalized, self-inflicted dental torture?

[isthistaken]

[kellogg9]

get them diamond crusted and gold plated and you'd be the mac daddy of the suburbs

[djspeece]

OK I'm going to call you crazy.
Just kidding. I think it is great that you have such an upbeat attitude. You'll probably one of the rare ones who will miss them when they are removed

[giraffington]

I've had mine for almost two weeks now and I have to agree - I do like how they look. My front teeth are so crooked, and now that I'm forced to smile with teeth in pictures I see the braces instead of my teeth. I have metal braces and got dark purple ligs and I think they're kind of cute. Maybe I'll change my mind after having them for a while longer (the cleaning is already a pain!) but we'll see... :)

[JillD]

You are crazy. But I envy your attitude.

[Leebie3]

I love mine

[AM21]

You're not alone. For the most part, I love having braces.

I hate them the most after an adjustment but besides that, I know I will miss them once they are removed.

[seeker304]

How do you enjoy braces, please explain this to me? I don't understand how having an inhibition to eating can be anything but an annoyance.

[anarchy45]

They very rarely cause me discomfort - even adjustments don't hurt - and the only things I can't eat are nuts, corn-on-the-cob and chewing gum, none of which I ate frequently anyways. I carefully ate a bagel yesterday for the first time since getting braces, and oh my was it tasty =) My ortho bonded the brackets and bands with some super-strong glue (didn't use the blue light), so I think they can take a bit more abuse.
I've lost about 25 pounds in 6 months because I've cut down on snacking (so I don't have to spend 10 minutes picking it out of my teeth), which is fine by me - and it definitely doesn't stop me from gorging myself during mealtime

I think of braces as just something glittery and colorful that I can decorate while I have them

[NeilH]

Quite agree! I really like having mine as well. Very expensive jewellery though! Having a positive attitude really helps so might as well enjoy the experience.

[isthistaken]

I have waited SO long that I LOVE having braces because they are the visible symbol of my finally getting toward a nice smile that will, I hope, light up my face rather than detract from it as it has for 55 years. I am SO happy that I got braces and I hope I will be happier when they are off but it's hard to imagine being any happier than that first long-awaited day no matter how much they bug me sometimes!!!

[Leebie3]

I can eat anything I used to with the exception of apples etc.. stuff I have to bite into I cut up instead but I had to do that anyway because my two front teeth are veneers. I eat nuts, hard caramels..

[JeniK]

I have waited SO long that I LOVE having braces because they are the visible symbol of my finally getting toward a nice smile that will, I hope, light up my face rather than detract from it as it has for 55 years. I am SO happy that I got braces and I hope I will be happier when they are off but it's hard to imagine being any happier than that first long-awaited day no matter how much they bug me sometimes!!!

I feel the very same way!! I am also 55....I want to be able to smile so much people wonder what I am up to!!

[xanidu2012]

I absolutely LOVE my braces and I rock those colored ligs and I've even got colored elastics. . Even though there is pain associated I know I'm going to miss them when they are removed.