I am writing all my posts on my tablet today since my room is unbearably hot and I don’t want to lug my computer back and forth. So I’ve moved myself downstairs to the kitchen. Anyway, today’s story is about getting braces. Be warn that after hearing this story, there’s a chance you may NEVER EVER want to get braces or go near an orthodontist ever again.

It was early July 2010, I have just gotten the approval from my insurance to get braces. I was ecstatic, duh since I wanted to get braces like forever ago.I went in and signed all the forms before the procedure begins on August 23. That was the first day of school for my second year in college and the day I got my braces. I remember that day so well. I got up early, and shoved enough food down my stomach for the whole day in case I cannot eat afterward. After a long train ride followed by another train, I arrived at the orthodontist’s office right at 8:15.

They put me in a chair and pulled my mouth open, literally. My eyes were in tears and not the joy kind. Then metal bands, one after another of various sizes were shoved onto my molar and gum (ugh, gives me chills now). Not only did I had to endure the bitter after-taste of the bond glue but my lip is now extremely numb, it felt like it’s been doubled in size. It went on and on until almost 1 in the afternoon.

I went to the remainder of my classes, feeling quite pain-free and uncomfortable. Maybe this won’t too bad, I think because mom’s always putting horrible scenarios in my head. That night, I went through dinner that night rather fine. In fact, it was the next morning at breakfast that I encountered the big problem. I can’t use any of my teeth. It hurts even when I’m eating oatmeal! What’s the big idea?

That day, I was as close to starving as I have ever gotten. The only thing I could wolf down was water and that went on for the remainder of the week, eating nothing but Chinese porridge (rice and lots of water) like today. Even 4 years later, I’m still suffering from the pain of wearing braces from time to time. Two days ago, I went to get my braces retied and yesterday, I woke up with a killer pain on my lower teeth. Basically, my lower teeth are useless at the moment. So I’m stuck with the liquid diet once again. 😦

My advice, unless you really really need braces, don’t get it. It’s expensive and waste of time, not to mention the pain you’ll go through. You can be doing a lot of thing during that 1-2 hours of spending waiting outside the orthodontist office. I did it for function since my dentist say I’m missing too many teeth for my mouth to function correctly. I should’ve never gotten it. Now, I’m left with two obviously large gaps in my upper teeth. My orthodontist promised to take it off at the end of this summer, who knows if he’ll keep his promise.