"A Wink and a Smile"

Talking about my teeth and my jaw are nothing new, but I sure wish it were because I'm growing quite weary of all the experiences that my mouth has had to endure. Forget that I have ever talked about my experience with cavities despite my good brushing and flossing. I must not have had enough flouride as a child. Forget that I had an extreme underbite and crossbite that took until the age of 36 for me to address the problem. Forget that I had my top and bottom jaw BROKEN and REALIGNED to make the whole bite thing look normal. Forget that my small mouth went through more than 2.5 years of braces ... ones that ripped apart my inside lips. I was sure that I would have permanent "tooth/bracket imprints" forever. Forget that I brush my teeth several times a day and that I hardly take in sweets. YET, still my mouth thinks I inhale gallons of soda and candy a day. Forget all that ... 'cause I sure wish I could. If I didn't have to deal with so much dental drama the...

As long as this girl has had TEETH, there has always been a gap between those two front teeth. When she was little it didn't really bother her much, but sometime around the age of 5, she started to tell people she lost a tooth up front. Even when she lost those baby teeth, the GAP was still there, but I'm pretty sure that was NEVER the first thing you noticed about this girl! When she reached the 11 year old mark, we were pretty sure that GAP would not close on its own ((((SIGH))))). So it was off to the orthodontist . She was given a retainer that would help to move the front teeth together, but the skin between the teeth would have to be snipped (OUCH). So, it was off to the oral surgeon to have that done ... Some snipping. Some stitching. The GAP is now fully closed and all has been HEALED! The SMILE ... even more beautiful! *Just had to throw this picture of my homeschoolers ...

Since I haven't shared my orthodontia update (I know you've been curious ... lol) in a while ... I'm ALMOST DONE. Yesterday I visited the orthodontist ... removal of wires, x-rays, moving of some brackets, and new wires put on. In 4 more weeks I will head back and hopefully at that time I will get some REMOVAL NEWS. I've been promised that I will not be wearing braces by Thanksgiving. That's a good thing because I will be going to my HS reunion back home and I do not want braces for that. It's a good thing we will be driving to that reunion because with all that metal and screws in my head, alarms might sound if I were flying ... I can't wait to smile in photos with TEETH SHOWING. I know that I am physically capable of showing *the cheese*, but I'm vain and choose to look all serious. OTHER GREAT NEWS for daughter #3. She got her braces off! The gums look a little swollen in these pics, but they will go down soon. They even sent her home with ba...

SNAP ON SMILE  Interesting.  Maybe this is how so many celebrities have gone from crooked, yellowed teeth to GLOW IN THE DARK WHITE STRAIGHT TEETH. Of course I chose the road that was harder ... 2 years (and still going) of braces double jaw surgery dental visits which will probably include a little bonding How come I always find out about the easier route AFTER? Oh well, at least I won't have to take my teeth out.  The ones I have will be my own ;)

Again it is the TEETH Jaw surgery is coming up ... It could be one or two jaws ... I'll know Monday. I will be eating next to nothing unless I can get it through a syringe or a straw.  Even a straw may be off limits ... no sucking. I'm looking rather fit for me ... even sort of thin. I may be a waif by the end of February. A bikini this summer may be something I may just consider. Jaw surgery may not be so bad. Maybe ...

Have I been asked "How are you today?" ... 5x in 12 minutes (while shopping at the grocery store). "Good, and you?" BIG FAT LIE each and every time.  A record 5 lies in a short amount of time. I AM NOT FINE I JUST SPENT my morning ... in the dentist office ... drilling away at a cavity (one that apparently showed up on x-ray 4 months ago, but nobody seemed to inform me of that at the dentist ... cracked tooth resulted) at the orthodontist putting on a new bracket and wire after I needed to have them taken off yesterday (after my cracked tooth discovery) I am NOT happy ... I AM GRUMPY . (((SIGH)))) Today I have had a bad attitude and I lied to 5 different people.  It's like someone put those friendly happy people in my pathway on purpose.  Although I must admit that with each little lie I felt less annoyed by the question being asked.  Even though my morning was quite "stinky", it may have been nothing compared to some.  Any one of those friendly worke...

I have had these braces for a year and a half now and I have officially begun my countdown to get these awful things off. Every 6 weeks I go to have my existing wires clipped off of my self ligating brackets .  This procedure is not pain free as my wires are thick and the pressure put on my teeth is GREAT.  So great that I often feel like I will loose the teeth that they are trying to straighten. Today I sat back in my chair, alternating between gripping the arm rests and putting my hands together in a prayer clasp wishing with all of me that I would feel very little pain.  My heart races, I sweat, and today ... I CRY Yep, I actually CRIED . Not the sobbing kind, just the endless silent tears that flow when you really don't want them to. The old wires came out, some brackets were re-positioned, and new wires were put back in.  Just as I thought I was nearly done, the last bracket (on top) would not take the wire because it was thick and my tooth position was off.  Remedy for this...