Being a 24 year old girl with bracing

[Jesshasbraces24]

I wish I started my blog before I got them on, but I'll catch you all up on where I've been. I'm on day 3 of my braces sentence...and it hasn't been the easiest of days.

So, a little about me. My name is Jess and I've never had very high confidence, I'm extremely shy due to my teeth. My orthodontist asked me when we first met what I don't like about my smile, I quickly replied "Everything." as tears swelled up in my eyes. There are countless times in my life that I felt hideous because of my teeth. There are countless times I hid from cameras instead of standing next to my beautiful friends. o many people that I've met that thought I was stuck up because I don't like drawing attention to myself and my teeth. I'm so sick of not feeling beautiful when I see an "action" photo of me laughing. When I got the chance to put a down payment and go through a university to get it done, I took it. I took a job I didn't want because of their dental insurance, got all my cavities filled (10 of them)and told the orthodontics department that I wanted them on as soon as an opening became available. Here I am. 24 with braces. I am proud of myself for having the courage to do it and also for paying for all of this crazy stuff alone. I know that it will get better, I know that no one really cares that I have braces, I know that it will be worth it in the end. I KNOW ALL OF THE REALITIES of this situation. But can I just say, that doesn't make it suck any less. I'm sure I'll feel better about them when I see progress, but in this moment 2 years of an even uglier smile is really depressing. The fact that I have an overgrown upper jaw/overgrown gums, and thin lips doesn't help. My tiny teeth look even smaller with the bulky braces. I WAS lucky enough to get ceramic on top free of charge. You see, I pretty much broke down in front of a bunch of students and my new orthodontist the appointment before my braces. They had to do a few photos of me smiling and I was so mortified, it was the first time I had purposely smiled for a picture. With each instruction to turn this way and that way while smiling I couldn't hold back the emotional baggage, and there I was, balling my eyes out uncontrollably while she took my pictures.

[resort454]

Congratulations on your decision! I feel ur pain. I am 24 and will be getting my braces next week. I have always felt the same way about my smile and in have felt ugly in pictures with friends. But guess what all that crap is gonna change and we both will have the smiles of our dreams!

This process is probably gonna suck at times but is gonna be so worth it!!! Your story about your consultation with the ortho really touched my heart and I along with everyone else on this board got yo back! We are brace twins now haha

[smilehope]

Aaah your post is so sad. I do know how you feel - I cried the first time I saw the orthodontist. I think I was trying to kid myself that it was all about getting my bite and jaw sorted out, but when he said "well we can make your teeth beautifully straight" the shock of it set me off - I hadn't dared hope it was possible until then.
I also know what you mean about the photos. I didn't cry then but it was a close thing - very wobbly.
Well done for making a start. I hope to post my story soon - but not braced till next week.

[Bec There]

Congratulations on biting the bullet and getting braced

I can relate to you in the sense that I never smiled, and hated photos of myself. I too am paying for them myself also. I get mine on the 6th of March. Tuesday!!! Not long now.

I often feel the same way as you, but I tell myself that the only way from here is up. If you think about it, from the day before they're (braces) on, you're NEVER going to look like that again. It's a great feeling when I think of it like that. Hope that makes you feel better also.

If you're interested in my brace story I'll link it below. I look forward to hearing of your progress. Hang in there
http://www.archwired.com/phpbb2/viewtop ... =3&t=41086

[tigereyez88]

Hey im 23 and getting mine on on the 12th, kind of excited but very nervous aswell. They will be worth it, when you see your beautiful smile and have people comment on your teeth!! im getting clear on top aswell which are costing me a bucket load! but anyway how long do you think you will have them?

[Jesshasbraces24]

Thank you all so much for the support!! I feel a bit better about my braces today. I'm being my typical bubbly self and trying to remember that the more "me" I act, the more I attract people. Nothing worse than a sad, boring girl with braces! I think I've already seen some movement in my crowded bottom teeth! I went out for drinks with my boyfriend last night and our friend said they didn't even look bad. I wore lipstick which I NEVER do and I think it actually made my braces look kind of cute. I took some pictures to show you guys my mouth troubles , but couldn't figure out how to upload them, do I just copy and paste? I'm so thankful to whoever started archwire, it's really encouraging and a great way to connect with others like myself. Now, I'm going to get back to trying to this soup...

[kellyb]

welcome to the club
you're story really touched me, it kind of reminded me of my own experience, not smiling in photos etc. it's amazing how much confidence i have gained from the first day i had my braces put on.

good luck with your journey and look forward to hearing about your progress.

re the pics, blv you have to make a certain number of posts before you are authorised to post pics. can't remember if it is 7 or so.

[Jesshasbraces24]

Can't wait to proudly smile everywhere I go, and be confident in pictures for the first time! I hope these 2 years fly, how much longer do you have them on Kelly?

[kellyb]

i am a newbie as well. i got my lower arch fitted on 07th jan so only just about 8 weeks in. my upper arch will be fitted on 17th march. i am wearing ceramics on bottom and will have the same on top. estimated treatment time is 18 months though i hope it will be far less. the first orthodontist i had visited had told me abt 12-14 months but i was more impressed with the 2nd one even though he predicted a longer treatment time and was more costly.

[BetsyBug]

Jess, I am so glad you are able to have this opportunity to straighten your teeth. I know its hard sometimes, but remember you are not beautiful because of your teeth its all about you babe. You seem to be such a sweet girl, you are just making the outside match the inside now. ))hugs(( I'm so glad that everyone was understanding to your emotions when you had your records taken. Just think about what its going to be like when you can smile big and be the confident person you always were, now for the whole world to see!!

[BBQ Grill]

I can totally understand where Ur coming from with the stuck up thing. I use to have a hard time talking to strangers face to face because of me being self conscious about my jacked up teeth. Well anyways let me tell u there's really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. My teeth was totally jacked up. But after 6 months its pretty straight except for one that needs to line up then ill be all good with the teeth department. After that its fixing my bite....so results gonna come quick.....good luck

[Jesshasbraces24]

Thanks guys! This website is really great, considering no one I know past the age of 13 can relate to me

Well, I'm on day number 6 of these brace things... I miss the crunch of veggies with hummus and chicken Caesar salads. I attempted to finely chop a chicken ceasar salad on my 2nd day... that didn't go very well.

I've been living off of macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, and gin and tonics. Gin & tonics were a solid foundation in my food pyramid this weekend. I was a total lush with braces, and even cracked a few of my own braceface jokes with friends/strangers.

My confidence is starting to go up as I'm noticing subtle changes in my teeth already, and discovering lipstick. I LOVE lipstick with braces.

I'm curious, if anyone has had a "gum lift" My two front teeth are covered in too much gum and I desperately want to expose more tooth to match the ones beside them. I think I'm advised to wait until treatment is over, but my front teeth are straight and it would make a HUGE impact on the appearance of my smile.

Keep commenting so I can put some pictures up!!!

[Jesshasbraces24]

OOOOooo My profile is all fancypants now and I can add images! Pictures soon

[JMSmith]

Jess... I too feel your pain, the only difference is that I didn't get started on this journey until 34. I almost started crying reading your post because I know exactly what you are talking about and I know exactly what emotions you were experiencing. Good luck to you! I'm excited to share this journey with the archwired forum. It really is nice to have folks to talk to. I'm 20 days in... only 23.5 more months to go.

[Jesshasbraces24]

Yikes!! So here they are...in all their glory. That little tooth that doesn't match the others is my baby tooth hanging on for dear life. The adult tooth is VERY impacted and requires gum surgery. The other adult is hanging out behind the baby tooth that I had pulled about 4 years ago. I am SOO ready to never look at this again in the mirror!