“You want character in your teeth. Looking like an Osmond is boring.” No words have rang through my head more often over the past 12 years than those blase ones from my childhood dentist. I was a self-conscious 16 year old girl watching all her friends hop aboard the Perfect Pearlies Express and I was well and truly getting left at the platform.
You see, I didn’t want character in my teeth. The only character I saw when I looked in the mirror, and did so for the next 12 years, was greeted with a grimace from the girl staring back. My teeth have always been a peeve of mine. I’ve analysed them and scrutinised them more times than I care to admit, because I’m someone who’s very much for the self-love movement and loving every bit of yourself. But a couple of years ago, the historical hamster name-calling (yes, kids are cruel), daily “ew my teeth” thoughts and longing for different ones finally came to a head.
I was asked to film a little bio for the job I had at the time. It was the usual “I’m Melissa and I feel dead awkward right now” spiel but all I could concentrate on when watching the video back was my teeth. Sounds dramatic, I know, but enough was enough. This hang-up wasn’t going anywhere and I decided that 28 wasn’t too old to finally get braces. So, I nipped my pity-party in the bud and took some action. I was getting braces.
I looked at my finances, whether it was doable or not and started to save. I spoke to friends in the dental industry, read up on different braces, watched YouTube videos about people’s experiences and eventually visited three different orthodontic practices before making my final decision. I settled on Invisalign with a wonderful orthodontist who made me feel very at ease and was told it would take 12-18 months to complete my treatment. I immediately felt excited at the prospect of having the teeth I’d wanted for 12 years. 12 goddamn years of almost always putting my hand in front of my mouth when I laughed (where’s my tiny violin?) were about to be outshone by the years ahead with a set of gnashers I was proud of. And I couldn’t bloody wait.
Braces are a big commitment to make both financially and personally, so I didn’t make the decision overnight. But if you’re reading this, are unhappy with your teeth and are thinking braces could be the antidote, I’d recommend to do your research and have a good think. Along the way, you might fall out of love with the thought of getting braces and changing something that at the end of the day, is unique to you. Or, you could end up finding the treatment for you. There are a lot of wonderful orthodontists out there who will hold consultations for free, so you don’t have to part with any money for a little inquisitiveness.
“It was about taking the reins on something I’d been unhappy with for years.”
Whether you’ve noticed or not, I purposefully haven’t mentioned what my teeth look like in this post, because it’s irrelevant. My teeth could be an absolute car-crash or close to perfect. But either way, it’s insignificant. I got braces to boost my confidence and finally have a smile I was proud to flash for years to come. It wasn’t about the Osmond look or having something aesthetically perfect. It was about taking the reins on something I’d been unhappy with for years and making a change I thought was beneficial. And I think that classes as self-love too, right? Taking control and doing something for yourself. And I’d wholeheartedly recommend for other people to consider the same.
So, don’t worry Donny, I’m not coming for your teeth. But constant tooth-brushing, yanking a retainer out my mouth and lisping occasionally, I’m coming for you.
Melissa McPhillips 