After 23 months, I finally had my braces removed on Monday (Feb. 4) and it is the BEST feeling ever!!
I have the Essix retainers, so I'm really happy that they're almost invisible but my mouth is still adjusting to them. It's been a bit sore the last few days, but I only have to wear them full time for 1 month, then 16 hours/day for 1 month after that and then it will be just at night. Really not that bad at all!!
If anyone is interested in knowing about the process of having them removed, I'd be happy to share that so just comment and let me know if you'd like that!
But now, here's the part that everyone is always most interested in....before and after photos! I haven't posted since November, so I haven't looked at my day 1 pictures since then and oh boy....HUGE difference! I love my teeth so much now, and can definitely say that the whole process was 110% worth it
*Also, just wanted to let people know that I had my retainers on when I took the after pictures, so that's why they look a bit strange. I also took them on my phone, and even though it has a great camera the pictures came out kind of grainy after cropping. Sorry about that!
Day 1
23 Months
Day 1
23 Months
Day 1
23 Months
And just for good measure, here's one of me showing off my gorgeous new smile that I have been loving flashing around!!
I wouldn't call them 100% perfect, but I think that can be difficult to achieve in adults with braces. They look damn good though, in my opinion, so there is NO complaining from me about any slight imperfections that there may be! I was actually fairly happy with the colour of them too, I was really worried that they'd be really yellow. I have been using a whitening toothpaste the last few days, and am going to look into professional whitening. If that's too much $$ then I may spring for some good white strips, but for now I am LOVING being braces free, regardless of the colour of my teeth!!
I want to tell anyone who reads this that is thinking about getting braces, anticipating a brace date, newly braced or feeling discouraged with the braces process that it is SO WORTH IT. I had a lot of anxiety leading up to getting my braces on and I struggled off and on while braced with feeling ugly, having a sore mouth, worrying that people were judging me, etc. Having them off now, I can confidently say that I would absolutely make the same decision if I had to do things over again. I hated my teeth people, HATED. I felt like I was the girl who people would think "She's pretty, but she'd look a lot better if she got her teeth fixed". I'm sure not everyone who met me thought that, but it really ate at my confidence. I feel SO much better about my appearance now, and I know that it would do the same for anyone out there who is debating the decision to get braces as an adult. Yes, it kind of sucked being 25, 26, 27 years old with braces on....but now I have the next 50+ years of my life to look forward to with a beautiful smile! I can show off my teeth in my engagement and wedding photos, I won't be embarrassed of my smile when I take pictures with my future children, I'll have the confidence to smile and feel just as pretty as my friends when we take pictures on girls nights out....make the decision to change your confidence level and love your smile!! Trust me, you won't regret it
That is soo exciting! You have beautiful teeth and your smile looks brilliant. How have the past few months been? Are you loving the way your teeh look right now?
