So I had braces as a teenager - more than twenty years ago now - and when they came off my teeth looked great. But by the time I was twenty my front teeth were noticeably crooked. I went back to the orthodontist, who said it was just a vanity thing and unimportant, and also that my wisdom teeth couldn't possibly have caused it. Later, I read that during the 80s there was controversy about whether or not wisdom teeth could shift the position of teeth, and that in the 90s everyone agreed that they could - and then later, some of my students showed me how they still had simply wires (no brackets) on the back of their front teeth to stop "drift" after braces.
Anyway, for ages I decided the crooked teeth weren't a problem. Not really. Although when I lean in to kiss my daughter I keep bumping my teeth against her forehead (sigh) and when she was three or four her friends kept asking, innocently curious, why my teeth were so crooked (I guess they got a great view from below).
I watched an episode of Extreme Makeover where crooked front teeth were fixed by having them removed!!! And fake ones put in intsead!! That didn't seem like a very smart option, so I decided to just live with my crooked teeth.
But then I kept worrying that they were getting MORE crooked. So when I switched dentists, I asked for a referral to an orthodontist. Half a year later - just over a week ago - I visited him for the first time and I really liked him. About my age, radically up-to-date equiptment (at least compared to last time I went to the orthodontist!) and he just seemed really trustworthy. And - the clincher - he promised it will only take six-seven months to fix my crooked teeth! That means I'll have straight teeth for my wedding next June!!
So last Friday I had braces put on, and later that night, when I was wishing I could rip the damned things off (ha!) I found this site. And I realise that so many of you are doing far more courageous things than me! Six-seven months of braces on my top teeth only is nothing!
And look, my smile doesn't even look too bad - though this photo doesn't show how far OUT that crooked tooth goes.
Mind you - my teeth ache, my upper lip is very stiff indeed because pulling it against the braces is uncomfortable, and I absolutely HATE that everyone can see my braces. Oh well. Half a year and children will never again ask me why my teeth are crooked.
I'm glad I found you guys!
WOW, you're lucky!!! 
