Whilst reading the Mail online, I flicked through the celeb bit, as you do, not because you really want to know, but it is always fun to see what everyone is doing.
I spotted Faith Hill at the Grammys, with some lovely close ups of her ceramic brace. Now it did take me a while to remember who she was, but I eventually realised she is an American singer, the only song I can recall is 'This Kiss', just for those other people struggling to place her!
I was quite surprised to see her with braces, as I am with any famous person. However it makes sense, when you make your money from singing, focus is on your mouth, and a perfect set of gnashers is quite pleasing on the eye. I read on the Internet that she has had them on for about 8 months and she had to have them because she didn't wear her retainer when younger.
I seem to remember my orthodontist saying that I would have to have a removable brace after this fixed one is taken off, although I'm not entirely sure what that will involve and how long that will be for. So that is on my list of questions for my next visit.
Seeing her with braces has again made me realise that it is quite common, and in general people who want to improve their smile, do so, they don't get any backlash, they just get on with it. I have begun to realise that the benefits will always outweigh any 'bad press' I receive. It also hits a note with me that with all the expensive procedures people can get for straightening teeth, celebs still choose to have fixed braces, that has made me curious why. The only reason I can come up with is that it is the most affective way of straightening teeth.
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Cleaning...an obsession?!
My problem began when I developed an infection round my wisdom tooth on the bottom, nothing at all to do with the brace, I get them periodically, however I am now down to just 2 teeth to eat with again....mmm soup!
Originally I was keeping my mouth clean and tidy with a good brushing, then brushing in between the teeth and under the wire with a toothpaste covered inter dental brush, then a good rinse with an anti plaque mouthwash. I was happy with the results.
Once the infection was out of control I resorted to Corsodyl mouth wash, aniseed tasting and only slightly better than the infection itself. Mouth healing I was happy again.
That was until I saw myself in the mirror. You know the time when the sun is directly on you and you realise that you actually have an awful completion and you can see every flaw multiplied by a million. Well, I noticed that I have a set of horrid yellow teeth. Below the brace is fine, but above have discoloured significantly.
I'm sure that I have blown this out of all proportions, but I am now on a mission to regain control over this yellow invasion. I am now on the hunt for a sensitive, whitening, fluoride toothpaste. In Prague, that is not the easiest thing to track down. I may have to source it in the UK and bring a supply back.
One thing I have noticed is that when I drink tea, coffee or diet coke, they do look worse. Short of carrying round mouthwash (I already have to carry a tooth pick and inter dental brush everywhere, good job I have a big purse!) I have taken to rinsing with water after each drink. It does make me feel a bit daft, but I am just focusing on the long term benefits.
All I can say is that it is hugely important to take time brushing and cleaning, at least twice a day. I have learnt my lesson now and am on an uphill struggle to rectify it.
I don't have another appointment with my orthodontist till March, when I am hoping that he can clean them a bit when he changes the wire and elastics, but until then I am just going to have to keep my mouth shut.
Originally I was keeping my mouth clean and tidy with a good brushing, then brushing in between the teeth and under the wire with a toothpaste covered inter dental brush, then a good rinse with an anti plaque mouthwash. I was happy with the results.
Once the infection was out of control I resorted to Corsodyl mouth wash, aniseed tasting and only slightly better than the infection itself. Mouth healing I was happy again.
That was until I saw myself in the mirror. You know the time when the sun is directly on you and you realise that you actually have an awful completion and you can see every flaw multiplied by a million. Well, I noticed that I have a set of horrid yellow teeth. Below the brace is fine, but above have discoloured significantly.
I'm sure that I have blown this out of all proportions, but I am now on a mission to regain control over this yellow invasion. I am now on the hunt for a sensitive, whitening, fluoride toothpaste. In Prague, that is not the easiest thing to track down. I may have to source it in the UK and bring a supply back.
One thing I have noticed is that when I drink tea, coffee or diet coke, they do look worse. Short of carrying round mouthwash (I already have to carry a tooth pick and inter dental brush everywhere, good job I have a big purse!) I have taken to rinsing with water after each drink. It does make me feel a bit daft, but I am just focusing on the long term benefits.
All I can say is that it is hugely important to take time brushing and cleaning, at least twice a day. I have learnt my lesson now and am on an uphill struggle to rectify it.
I don't have another appointment with my orthodontist till March, when I am hoping that he can clean them a bit when he changes the wire and elastics, but until then I am just going to have to keep my mouth shut.
Sunday, 10 February 2013
Holidays
Here I am, post holiday and it was quite uneventful.
My teeth at still sensitive, I don't mean that hot and cold food hurts them, I mean that any pressure on them is sore. Not so much that it stops me from doing anything and not so much that it means I have to take pain killers. Just that I still cannot bite anything, which does get a bit frustrating, especially when sat in Burger King eating my chicken burger with a knife and fork!
I was slightly worried about going away so soon after the braces had been fitted, but I shouldn't have been at all. The worst of the pain and discomfort is most defiantly behind me (until the lower brackets are fitted anyway). I was concerned that when I fell over skiing it would cause problems, but no, not in the slightest. I managed not to bang them and everything is still intact.
When I had the choice of elastics on the original fitting I chose transparent, later the dentist said white would have been better, but honestly in my opinion, I made the right choice. So far, following goulash, gluwine, red wine and blackcurrant jam, the brace is still looking OK. Not perfectly white, but OK. I have never had the whitest teeth anyway, so it seems to blend reasonably well.
I was bothered about having my photo taken, but looking at anything that was taken from over 3 foot (about a meter) away, you can't tell there is anything on my teeth.
I was also quite happy to meet a Turkish lady, possibly mid 40's who also had braces top and bottom. I was very impressed that she has had hers 4 months and she was tucking into a burger very confidently. This has given me fresh hope that one day I will be able to bit again!
Of course people noticed I had the brace, it isn't bang in your face, but it isn't invisible either. One remark was that a lady thought it was cute I cut my toast into soldiers to go with my egg, until I pointed out that I only did it because I couldn't bite! No one said anything bad about the braces, mainly people were just surprised that an adult had them, which surprised me.
Throughout the whole week the only thing that I couldn't do was eat the spun sugar decoration on top of one of the deserts, and realistically, this was probably a good thing considering the calories that I had already put away that evening!
My teeth at still sensitive, I don't mean that hot and cold food hurts them, I mean that any pressure on them is sore. Not so much that it stops me from doing anything and not so much that it means I have to take pain killers. Just that I still cannot bite anything, which does get a bit frustrating, especially when sat in Burger King eating my chicken burger with a knife and fork!
I was slightly worried about going away so soon after the braces had been fitted, but I shouldn't have been at all. The worst of the pain and discomfort is most defiantly behind me (until the lower brackets are fitted anyway). I was concerned that when I fell over skiing it would cause problems, but no, not in the slightest. I managed not to bang them and everything is still intact.
When I had the choice of elastics on the original fitting I chose transparent, later the dentist said white would have been better, but honestly in my opinion, I made the right choice. So far, following goulash, gluwine, red wine and blackcurrant jam, the brace is still looking OK. Not perfectly white, but OK. I have never had the whitest teeth anyway, so it seems to blend reasonably well.
I was bothered about having my photo taken, but looking at anything that was taken from over 3 foot (about a meter) away, you can't tell there is anything on my teeth.
I was also quite happy to meet a Turkish lady, possibly mid 40's who also had braces top and bottom. I was very impressed that she has had hers 4 months and she was tucking into a burger very confidently. This has given me fresh hope that one day I will be able to bit again!
Of course people noticed I had the brace, it isn't bang in your face, but it isn't invisible either. One remark was that a lady thought it was cute I cut my toast into soldiers to go with my egg, until I pointed out that I only did it because I couldn't bite! No one said anything bad about the braces, mainly people were just surprised that an adult had them, which surprised me.
Throughout the whole week the only thing that I couldn't do was eat the spun sugar decoration on top of one of the deserts, and realistically, this was probably a good thing considering the calories that I had already put away that evening!
Sunday, 3 February 2013
It's the Little Things....
Quite strangely having the braces has opened my eyes to how much I rely on using my mouth for things.
It seems I have been going through life using my mouth as an extra hand. Not sure if this is me being lazy or normal, here are a few examples.....
Mouth as hand issue 1: Putting my hair in a bobble.
I use one hand to hold my hair, my hair tie is round my wrist, so I drag it onto my hand with my teeth. Nope, that isn't going to happen now. Rethink required. Solution, do hair near a table!
Mouth as hand issue 2: Straightening my hair.
Using two hands to section my hair, I would normally use my mouth to hold the grips till I needed them, no, not a chance. Solution, clip to my clothes, pretend you are a hairdresser!
Mouth as hand issue 3: Finding the house key
One hand holds handbag and/or shopping, the other holds bunch of keys. Pick the right one with my mouth and retake into hand to open door. No, no keys in mouth. Solution, put shopping down!
And there are so many other things that you just don't realise.
- Washing and moisturising my face, touching the outside of my mouth is tender, so you can't rub hard.
- Itching my nose, similar to above, you can't scratch properly as it is too sore.
- Drinking from a sports bottle, can't use my teeth to open and keep it steady whilst running any more.
- Licking your lips, hard to reach the top of your top lip without rubbing or putting pressure on the brace, I am going through lip balm at a rate of knots!
- Putting the lip balm on is uncomfortable, as is lip gloss and lipstick
- Kissing, full on snogging, not a problem, but those lovely little pecks, have to be exceedingly gentle little pecks.
I'm sure that this list is just scratching the surface, but for anyone who is under the impression that the brace just affects what and how you eat, don't be fooled, I believe this is going to affect general everyday life in hundreds of ways.
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