My Birthday - And I Got Braces!

I woke up as a 34 year old man today. I'm thankful. I mean, I woke up. There are a lot of us that don't...

So yeah, it's my birthday today. A bit of a calm affair really, as Sam is elsewhere and, well, it is a weekday too. But I did invest in a present for myself. Braces! Fast Braces, to be specific.

I have been self-conscious about my smile for years. A phobia of dentists meant I made excuses and procrastinated taking action. Having finally had enough of being a big wuss, I finally forged ahead and had it all organised.

Here is a video of me, just before visiting the dentist today.


And here is a video of me after getting home from my dental visit.


The procedure wasn't what I would call fun, but it was okay. It probably wasn't quite as bad as I thought it might be. My dentist, and all the staff at my practice, are actually lovely. That in itself makes things easier. They are also very understanding of a big, hairy mid-thirties man who is a bit of a scaredy-cat.

Instead of having teeth removed, as people traditionally might have had done, I opted for having my teeth shaved. This provides space for my teeth to shift into place. Having them shaved down was my least favourite part of today. Some of my teeth are sensitive and I had quite a few zaps of pain. But in the scheme of things, it was relatively quick.

The braces went on fairly quickly too. Initially when they were being applied and tightened, it felt like my teeth would snap. Once they were in place, though, it felt fine.

The biggest thing I think I will have to get accustomed to is the movement of my lips up and over the braces. It feels awkward. Apparently ulcers and cuts can occur, and someone suggested I get dental / orthodontic wax, to coat my braces. I tried 4 different pharmacies and nowhere seems to sell it.

I hope I might not even need it.

My jaw is a little achey, but that is because my mouth was open for 2 hours. I get the odd twinge from a few teeth where the braces are a little tighter. But, again, it isn't that bad. I'll make sure to take regular paracetamol and ibuprofen, just in case the pain begins to rise.

After the first few days of having these braces on, I know I will be used to them.

So I will give birthday cake a miss this year, as I need to be extra careful over what I eat, especially for the next few days. Such small sacrifices are worth the pay-off of being a step closer to that Hollywood smile I desire oh so deeply.

Have you had braces? Was it all worth it?