I have had a good 15 years of tooth-related woe. School was particularly fun. "Hey Bug Bunny" "Your teeth are weird" "Errr look at your goofy teeth". I might even now be Facebook friends with some of the culprits (don't ask me why). I would put a photo up of my teeth and how they looked from the age of 8 to 14 but I am quite frankly horrified by how crooked and awful they were. So I hardly ever spoke, let alone smiled. This got me labelled as the shy girl it was ok to pick on. So yes. My teeth have always been the bane of my life. So aged 14 I got my first pair of braces. Retainers, train tracks, elastics, seperators… you name it. I had it. After 2 and a half years, aged 16 my braces came off and WOW. I was the proud owner of a perfect smile (sort of).
What happened?
So, like the stubborn git I am, I stopped wearing my retainer. Slowly, but surely, my teeth began to relapse back. As it was only one tooth I didn't think too much of it. Then came the day when I digged out my old retainer and it didn't fit anymore. Oops. The more time went on, the more I panicked but as I was older, cosmetic dental treatment was no longer free. As a student, I didn't have thousands of pounds to hand and the thought of another two years with metal in my mouth horrified me. So 10 years on, my teeth are far from perfect. Pictures will follow when I can post them...
I look kind of like I have a missing tooth. I actually have an upper incisor that lapsed right back and pushed my front teeth out in the process. People who know me, know it is rare to find a photo of me smiling on the right hand side. I also have this constant fear that people notice it before they notice me. I had been planning on getting my teeth fixed for the last couple of years but time and money always stopped me.
Then I had the 'kick in the nuts'… I had made a decision that 2013 would be the year I pursue my professional career as a singer. Starting with my first professional audition, which I had a few weeks ago. Needless to say, I didn't get the job. The reason? Seemingly not my voice (the feedback in that respect was great actually). My teeth were given as the main reason that I didn't get the job. Ouch... but in an industry based on looks as much as talent, I am at an immediate disadvantage having less than perfect teeth. The truth hurts… but who am I to argue. It's the reality of the industry.
So, to give myself the best possible chance of success, I am getting braces. Six Month Smiles specifically. I've been quoted a treatment time of about 8 or 9 months. So I decided, I would start writing about my experiences. Mainly so other people can share my journey and perhaps find out more about the treatment if they want to get something similar. Also, I wanted some way of recording a change that, I hope, will be the catalyst to greater things for me!
So I am pencilled in to have the braces fitted on 12th Feb. I'm also having bite blockers and slenderising. I will, no doubt, be in pain and somewhat miserable but I am so excited to be finally on course to change something that has had such a negative impact on my life. I know that when I see that before and after photo, I will realise that it was all been worth it and that is what will push me through!
Thanks for joining me on the trip!
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