Hello momokies!!!
I have been without my braces for a good 2 months already. I love my new teeth.
I am going to write about my journey for braces and how do I feel about having braces done.
So in case some of you is considering wanting to had one maybe you can come here and read my Braces Journey.
I had my braces in the year 2009 Jan if I am not wrong. I always wanted to have braces but couldn't afford them during my school days and so I didn't think too much into until I joined Miss Singapore International in 2008 (getting a little confused here) someone told me, If you have beautiful straight teeth you could have won a tittle! You have such sweet face. SO!!
I decided to have my braces on but not because I could win a tittle out of it but if I can it would be a BONUS too lol.
I wanted to have braces mainly because of my gums issue. One of my tooth was protruding out on the upper right side of my gum which is very famous among the Japanese and the Chinese call it the 老虎牙, tiger tooth(sounds cute but is giving me lots of trouble). It was harder to brush at that corner which results in me always having gums bleeding on the upper set of my gum. :( I thought maybe braces could solve my problem and ohhh BOY!! It does really solve my problem.
This was my before. The tooth mark with red circle is the tiger tooth I am talking about.
Also look at my swollen gums. (I am so glad it's all gone!)
My bottom set was also crooked! LoL
Be prepare to visit your dentist very very often for the first few months/weeks it depends on individual.
My 1st visit was for X-RAY and consultation. A quick one.
2nd visit I have my 4 tooth extraction (both upper and lower) of course not at once, I went twice for tooth extraction which means this is my 3rd visit to the dentist plus molar band insert, which helps separate the tooth before putting on the metal bracket. Which HURT like mad when I bite on it. I feel like something is force stuck in between the tooth.
4th visit was the "gluing" of the metal bracket on my tooth without the metal wire yet. I was told this is to stable the metal bracket. I also remembered after the "gluing" I went for steamboat and was not able to take gassy drinks and hot soup and I was chewing really slowly because I am so afraid the bracket might fall off!! LoL
5th visit was the cleaning the teeth and fitting the bigger metal band for your big molar teeth at the back of your mouth.
and then every month visit was the tightening of the elastic band. These visits are fast and quick, just 15 mins or even lesser and you are done! :)
At first wasn't easy, I had a hard timing chewing on hard food like, meat and apples (I have to tear them or dice them into smaller pieces) but other then that it's just fine. It's only the tighten that is a torture because it not only hurts but ache LoL, like having a sensitive tooth when biting but lesser pain more on the aching side.
I was a pre school teacher at that time when I had my braces on and because of so much talking during work I have super a lot of cuts and ulcer in my mouth!!!!! When I laugh a lot I too have many cuts and painful ulcer. (T^T)
Not to worry so much about the ulcer, your dentist will give you this small little box of wax for you to wax your braces if you happened to have ulcer problem.
Which look like this. The wax can be swallow of course! LoL
This was me with Braces during my teaching days. (Can't really see the braces)
My tooth was being really obedient and nice to me, it shifted a lot every month when I went for tightening. It could be faster if I won't have gone to Japan and USA for a good 6 months in total. :P
This was a few months later !! Maybe 3 to 5 months later? You can see it have shifted a lot and look more straight on the outer.
I had a hard time smiling too. Like I have got layers of stuff stuck in front of my front tooth.
In some of my photos I look like I have swollen lips or bucks tooth LoL
Then I bring my braces along to JAPAN and USA for a good 1.5 months !! LoL which was 11 months later. I switched to a different rubber band which the dentist call them the "CHAINED RUBBER BAND"
That look like this (on the upper tooth as shown in the picture) . It was "chained" hook on the metal bracket. So 1 snapped the rest will slowly snapped but it is strong enough because mine snapped just 2 weeks before I return to Singapore.
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| pictures from google. |
and then to USA...
SEE!!! I look so BUCKED TOOTH when I am not~ and there are still a little small gaps here and there. X3
This was after 1 year and 9months. Cannot really see but did you see the shape of my face? It become smaller and sharper. My cheeks are showing even more.
This was almost the last stage of braces where no rubber band needed anymore!!! YAHOO can eat curry (LOL curry sauce stain the rubber so badly!!)
The dentist switched it into a much thicker and strong wire to stabilize and hold the teeth.
and finally finally I remove my braces on the 18th of October 2011 !!!!
This picture was the day before I remove my 2years and 10months of braces.
This was my before and after cast.
SEE!! NO MORE TIGER TOOTH!!!
and now !!!!!!!! I CAN HAVE BEAUTIFUL SMILE~ So can you!!! :)
Thank You Eric for accompanying/tolerate me through my Braces daysssss because he have to kiss a 铁牙。LoL !!!
Having braces brushing wasn't easy too. Because of the wire that block the brushes to brush in between your gums hence more food will be stuck in your gums! *ewwwww* and flossing is difficult in fact cannot floss at all (-_____-lll)
so I discover this cheap and cute mini brush from Diaso especially for brushing in between the small gaps of your gums and tooth.
If you buy it in Watsons it cost a lot and they only comes in a pair but Diaso ones is cheap comes in 4s and sometimes with a mini box for you to bring out. It is as good as the brand ones~
If you are consider to have braces done. Maybe you can visit my dentist?
STRAITS DENTAL GROUP
They have 2 outlets currently.
360 Orchard Road
#04-01 International Building (beside Shaw house)
Contact no: 6235 4686
1 Changi Busniess Park Crescent
#01-13 Plaza 8
Contact no: 6781 9118
You can call and booked appointment. My Dentist is Jeremy Cheah.
Maybe if you go down for consultation you can mention MIYO HAN he might give you discount? :x
Hope you have at least a little info of braces and there is nothing to be scare of!!! :)
