Growing up, I had this idea of a perfect smile much like the perfect body. It’s completely straight, perfectly shaped & sized, and pearly white. I recognized my teeth as having none of these qualities. Of course, being my own worst critic, I’m sure my teeth weren’t as bad as I perceived them to be. I’ve always wanted braces, holding on to the belief that after wearing them everything would be corrected. I got braces in my 30’s and wore them for 2 years as my orthodontist advised. I was miserable throughout the entire time having difficulty flossing and eating. I also found the frequent dental visits, monthly payments, and extra brushing to avoid tooth discoloration or decay quite an annoying task. I could not wait for the day they would be removed.
The day finally arrived, they came off, and I was handed a mirror. My teeth were repositioned to appear straight but the shape, color, and size were the same. Not to mention the chipped tooth that became more apparent to me after the braces. I went home questioning my reason for getting them. Once I took a second look at my smile after gurgling hydrogen peroxide & water followed with brushing, I realized that my teeth are perfectly me. Through braces I was provided improvements.
Some lessons I’ve learned throughout the experience:
Self-assurance has increased.
Ignore people. Ignore there looks and what you think are the thoughts behind them. Ignore their comments. People are opinionated and the ones with their own apparent flaws are the most critical of others.
Hydrogen peroxide is your best friend when it comes to fighting the discoloration of teeth from coffee and tea.
Braces, in the end, became a wise investment having provided lesson number four.
Perfection is imperfect.
Smiling bright,
Alisia
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