New Year, New Teeth! 7 days to go!

Hello guys,

First of, happy 2018! I hope this year brings you love, happiness and prosperity. So, I had an orthodontist appointment today at 9:50am. Prior to this appointment, I had one just before christmas and the new year, which was just a check up, I got new power bands, and the opportunity to have my bottom braces off, which I declined as I would prefer for them to both come off together. Fast forward to the new year and the next appointment which was todays appointment.

She checked my teeth, and all is well, I had a major chip in my teeth, which was so horrible (If you go back through some older blogs from 2013-2014, I am sure there are some photos that you can see the chip on. It was huge, but they filed that down for me today so I no longer have a chip in my front teeth. In 7 days time, on the 30th January, at 2:45pm, I will be braceless for the first time in 3 years and 3 months. I then also have an appointment next Thursday at 12:15pm to get retainers, which I am excited about also, I dont want my teeth moving anywhere!

I cannot believe the day is finally here, the day I have been waiting for when I first begun treatment all them years ago. My full time with braces and my removable appliances has been 4 years, 4 months, which in days equates to 1,590 days. With just my braces alone its been 3 years, 3 months, which equates to 1,191 days. Way too long if you ask me!

If you are out there and you have started treatment similar to mine where you have removable appliances or braces, trust me it gets better. They will come off and when they do or when you get that appointment to have them removed its the best feeling ever. I've cried about 3 times today all because I am getting them off. I cannot wait to show you all before and after pictures next week of my teeth THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK INSANE!

Keep your eyes peeled everyone. Its been a long ride but we are finally there.

Bye guys

Where did I go?!

Hello,

I have been so busy and feel like I’ve completely neglected this blog. I got a new job, I’ve worked so many shifts, I’ve been on holiday, I’ve been the busiest I’ve ever been. I went to Tenerife last month in September for a week with my boyfriend and had the bestest time. I did so much and then I got back and have worked almost everyday. I was meant to have an orthodontist appointment in August but because of how busy I have been I had to cancel the appointment and rebook. The earliest appointment that was available was today so I made sure I booked it off to go.

I did have elastics from my top to bottom teeth and then all the way to the back of my teeth, in a triangle but I don’t have to wear them anymore (thank the lord) but I have been given a new top wire and clear power bands. Now this is my first experience with them and I hate them, they are so painful and sore, I can’t even feel myself touching my face. But all good news! My bottom teeth are ready to come off, they are waiting for two of my teeth at the front to stop flaring out (hence the power bands and new wire)..

My next appointment is on the 28th November (which I’ve also booked off work) and if the two teeth have stopped flaring out and have come back down to earth, then they will take them off! Honestly from the bottom of my heart, I cannot tell you how amazing it was to hear them words. I’ve waited such a long time for this moment and after 4-5 years of treatment, I am very ready for this moment. So fingers crossed they should be off end of this year, start of next year *crosses fingers and toes tightly*

Nearly there guys! So nearly there!

Bye!

Close to the end now!

Hello guys,

Wow we are in June where did that go? I am so sorry for not updating this blog just nothing major has been happening really with my teeth. I had an appointment today and it's all such good news but feel like I need to start at my last appointment which was in April. In that appointment I got the strongest wires on both the top and the bottom so thats exciting and my wires have hooks on them by my 4 canines. These are for elastic bands. So in April I got Ferret bands. These are to go from my top left canine to my bottom right canine and move my bottom jaw left more. I only wear them at night.

Today, they examined my teeth and didn't change the wires as there was no point and they are in good enough condition to leave for another 6 weeks. The only thing they have done is give me more elastic bands as the teeth on my left side meet but my right side doesn't so I now have Eagle bands which I wear on the top and bottom hooks on my right canines and then it connects to my back bottom molar. I hope this all makes sense but I will try to get some photos uploaded for you to see.

So my next appointment is in August and if the elastics have done their job then there will be no more elastics. I will get my wires replaced with a fresh pair of strong wires and they want to sort out my "snuggle" teeth as they are flaring outwards instead of straight down. My orthodontist is just doing aesthetics so if there is anything I'm not happy with I need to let her know so it can be sorted. If I'm honest I'm happy as they are but I understand that my bite needs to be corrected and my snaggle teeth need to not flare out. I really can see the finishing line so fingers crossed (and toes) this year I will get my braces off.

See you soon!

Up to Date Photos

Hello!

Finally managed to get around to taking up to date photos of my teeth for you all to see! It has been a long time but I have finally managed to get some free time and post these photos for you before my orthodontist appointment again tomorrow. So, without further ado, here are some photos.

 Here is a picture of my teeth when I smile, which I really don't do often. As you may be able to see, my teeth still do not align in the middle however this does not bother me. My teeth are the straightest they have ever been and I honestly just want them off now. I am so happy with how they look and feel and I am ready to have them off more than ever.

 These two photos show you an all around perspective of the whole mouth, front and back. You can really see how straight they are. I got this mouthguard thing from a board game that went viral over the Christmas period, commonly known as Say it, Don't Spray it. You can see my gums are slightly red and bloody but my gums have always been sensitive. I also like to do a deep clean the night before the orthodontist therefore my teeth and gums especially are sore. These photos really allow you to see the full extent of my teeth and how straight they really are. I don't know if you can remember, but my teeth before were awful, overbite, overjets, crossbites. I feel like my teeth have come a long way from the start. The second photo also allows you to see a lot clearer about my front teeth not meeting in the middle, This again, does not bother me at all, I am just happy with how straigh they are and feel.

 This is a photo of my top jaw. I know my teeth are not the cleanest but that is due to many complications that I had when I was little aside absyss and infections but thats for another day. You can really see how straight my teeth are and how straight the wires are. The grey tooth is a filling that I had just before my 18th birthday but we can just ignore that.


This final photo shows my bottom jaw. Again my teeth are not the cleanest but we can ignore that. You can also see how straight the wire is on the bottom jaw which is incredible seeing as I've had my bottom braces on for less time than my top braces.

So yes, here are some photos of my teeth. These *crosses fingers, toes and legs* should hopefully be the last photos of me with braces but I am not going to get my hopes up because I've done that before with many different appointments and come away disappointed everytime. See you soon!

Bye guys

What happened to me!

Hello,

Wow, the last time I posted was October last year. Since I last posted, a lot has happened. Donald Trump became president of the United States, we had Christmas, we had a New Year and we also had my half birthday (which was yesterday). I don't even have any major reason as to why I haven't posted aside working almost 7-8 days a week in a very low paid job. My whole life is consumed by my new job that I got in August and the temptation to go back to my old job is real. I believe I had an orthodontist appointment but I can not remember if I filled you in.

My orthodontist is waiting for my teeth to settle and then they can come off. They should be off sometime this year, but we shall see, I will try and keep you updated if I can. I'm currently going into my 6th day in a row at work tomorrow, so as you can imagine I am beyond tired. My next appointment is on the 8th February.

Another thing that happened this year that I haven't filled you into. I had a little accident with my car turning to early out of the car park at work (can you feel/see a recurring theme with work? yeah I am there almost everyday) and I caught it on a bollard and chipped some of the paint off my car under the back door on the left hand side of my car. It is going to take 4 days to repair and cost me £350. Thats half of my wages that I earm now. It's not ideal at all.

Anyway, I am going to go now, as I have 7 days until my mums birthday and to find her a birthday present. I also need a nap and a lot of coffee to keep me alive.

Bye guys
 

Brace Face Tag: Then and Now

Hi guys,

On the 1st August 2015, I posted the brace face tag. I thought it would be a fun idea to do it again and compare my answers from then to now. Here we go!!

1. When did you get your braces on?

Then: I got my top braces on the 20th October and my bottom braces on the 23rd June. 

Now: I got my top braces on in October 2014 and my bottom braces in June 2015. 

2. How soon after could you feel pressure/aching?

Then: Around a day after getting them on, I began to feel pressure. 

Now: Around a day. I only ever get tenderness now with every wire change but that last's a few hours, if that. 

3. On a pain scale of 1-10 (1 being nothing and 10 being painful) how bad was the pain for you?

Then: I would say a 5-6.

Now: Getting them on a 1. After a day, around a 5. Now with every wire change, its a 3.

4. What food did you eat when you first got braces?

Then: Pasta, mash potato, anything that would melt in my mouth.  

Now: It was foods that I could easily swallow without having to do too much chewing, so pasta, chocolate.

5. How often do you get adjustments?

Then: I visit my orthodontist every 3-4 months but I don't have adjustments everytime I go.  

Now: I visit my orthodontist every 1-3 months for wire changes.

6. Do you wear rubber bands?

Then: I don't. 

Now: I did, but not anymore. I had Gorilla and Butterfly fish bands. 

7. How many times do you brush your teeth? Any tips to prevent the little white squares?

Then: I brush my teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. To prevent the squares I would recommend not whitening your teeth while you have your braces on as when you get them off, the squares will be more prominent. I would also recommend just keeping care of your teeth and making sure that your oral hygiene is the best it can be and sticking to the same toothpaste you were using before your braces as different brands have different properties. 

Now: Not very often if I'm completely honest, but I do brush my teeth to make sure that squares are prevented. 

8. How often do you get them tightened?

Then: Every 3-4 months I get my braces tightened and new wires fitted. 

Now: Every 1-3 months, I get wires fitted. 

9. Did you get to pick colours?

Then: I don't because my braces are Damon so they are not traditional and do not come with coloured ties. 

Now: I don't get to choose colours. 

10. Did you need jaw surgery?

Then: No however I did need retainer style braces which you can see in previous blog posts. 

Now: Nope. I was meant to have teeth removed, but they never did. 

11. Do you use wax?

Then: When my wires are poking my gums I do but that's usually just after I get them tightened. 

Now: Not any more, however I still have it just in case I need it. 

12. How long did it take to put your braces on?

Then: It took around 15-20 minutes for top and about 20 minutes for my bottom. 

Now:  Around 20 minutes for both. 

13. Do you ever get that metal taste in your mouth?

Then: No it's really weird because you think you would but you don't. 

Now: Nope. 

14. How long do you have your braces on?

Then: I have to have mine on I think for a year? But I'm not 100% because they've not told me a lot, if I'm thinking correct I should get them off around December 2015 or the start of 2016. But don't count me on that!

Now: Clearly I was feeling optimistic last year! I thought I would've got them off last December, but I think that was wishful thinking. I've had my top braces on for 2 years, and my bottom braces on for a year and 3 months. I'm hoping sometime next year. If they aren't off before 2018, I will rip them off myself. I hate them now.  

Orthodontist Appointment Update

Hello,

I recently had my orthodonist appointment on Tuesday 25th October. I went to have wires put on. They were going to put new wires on both the bottom and top. My orthodontist started with the top wire and couldnt even get it off my teeth, it was stuck, so she just left it. She then tried to get the wire off the bottom and also struggled to get that off. After a lot of pushing and shoving and pain, the wire was off and replaced, from copper to stainless steel. I left the orthodontist in a lot of pain and went straight to work. The next day, while brushing my teeth, I realised that in the midst of pulling and pushing, she had popped one of my brackets off. This is the second time a bracket has come loose. Right now, I don't have the money to travel back to my orthodontist, therefore I am going to have to wait until payday to get it put back on. This is the 31st October.

Aside that, my teeth are okay, and I am so fed up of braces.... I want them off more than anything now. I am so beyond done with them and I would do anything to have them off. My next appointment is on the 7th December which seems so far away but it isn't. I will try and post more often but I work 6 days a week now so its difficult.

Bye guys.