A series of wonderful comments from Shontell in my inbox reminded me that maybe an update would be a good idea.
So, hi! I'm still alive, just really busy getting ready to start my senior year (!!) of high school. Looking at colleges, doing some summer reading, essay writing. Orthodontically, (that's not a word, btw. Spell check doesn't like it. I do.) I am bottom braced and not suffering as much as I thought I would be. More adjustments next week, so I will try to update then.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
This is Me...
...being brave, so please be kind. I have no doubt that you will, because yall have been nothing but kind.
This is my senior portrait, taken at the end of my junior year. The irony, of course, is that the year between when this picture was taken and when it will be published will probably include a greater change in my face's appearance than any other year in my life.
This picture was taken on my vacation this July, post braces installment. My sister was also in the picture, but I've cropped her out for her privacy. Click and you'll get a (MUCH!) bigger picture if you're interested in a closer look at my bite.
(pictures removed on 11/06/2007)
This is my senior portrait, taken at the end of my junior year. The irony, of course, is that the year between when this picture was taken and when it will be published will probably include a greater change in my face's appearance than any other year in my life.
This picture was taken on my vacation this July, post braces installment. My sister was also in the picture, but I've cropped her out for her privacy. Click and you'll get a (MUCH!) bigger picture if you're interested in a closer look at my bite.
(pictures removed on 11/06/2007)
Friday, August 10, 2007
The Waterpik Changed My Life?
Okay, maybe not yet. But it was pretty good! I couldn't find the instruction manual, but ended up finding it online. In the end, I found the best way for me to use it through experimentation, as I'm sure all of you Pik users have. For non-Pik users, this is what worked for me:
At first, I made a huge mess. Water everywhere. Put down towels! Put away appliances!
Even though the instructions suggested that I lean over the sink, I found it perfectly okay to stand upright so long as I held the "pause" button until I had the tip in my closed mouth. Then I let the water flow, and adjusted the stream until it was comfortable. I ran it through my mouth until my cheeks were full of water, and then I held the pause button while I spat. Rinse, repeat. It was definitly a little frustrating that I couldn't see where I was going, but I think I'll get a better feeling for it after a few more tries.
I still felt the need to floss after I Pik-ed. Maybe next time I will floss first, and then Pik (which would make the Waterpik a replacement for my mouthwash step instead of for my flossing step). I just didn't feel like the water was really getting between my teeth, etc.
At first, I made a huge mess. Water everywhere. Put down towels! Put away appliances!
Even though the instructions suggested that I lean over the sink, I found it perfectly okay to stand upright so long as I held the "pause" button until I had the tip in my closed mouth. Then I let the water flow, and adjusted the stream until it was comfortable. I ran it through my mouth until my cheeks were full of water, and then I held the pause button while I spat. Rinse, repeat. It was definitly a little frustrating that I couldn't see where I was going, but I think I'll get a better feeling for it after a few more tries.
I still felt the need to floss after I Pik-ed. Maybe next time I will floss first, and then Pik (which would make the Waterpik a replacement for my mouthwash step instead of for my flossing step). I just didn't feel like the water was really getting between my teeth, etc.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
This Post Isn't About Anything and Neither is its Title (I hate making titles anyway)
1. Product recommendation!
I'm ashamed to admit -- I only started flossing my teeth in the last few months. I have bridges that had
always been very hard for me to floss around, even with the threaders that I got from the dentist. The threaders were very thick, and they hurt my gums, which are quite sensitive around the bridges. The last time I went to the dentist, he gave me a sample of individually packed pieces of floss with a very thin threader at the end of each one. I loved them, but when I looked them up, I found them to be quite expensive. Then I found Oral-B Superfloss, which is the same idea, but comes in a box of 50 for only 2 or 3 dollars. They are incredibly convenient, and work very well around braces. I know a lot of you braces-wearers use Waterpics. I actually own one, and should give it a try.
2. Things I Can't Do
Lately, I've been noticing a lot of things I can't do with my current bite. I can't bite my nails, eat an artichoke, open a package, or hold anything in my teeth. I'm lucky I guess that most of these things are actually bad for your teeth. My dentist actually told me that my 4-year-old temporary bridges would have had to have been replaced by now if not for the fact that I never use them to bite!
3. A Question
Whenever I have to bite down completely (for example, if the orthodontist asks me to), it takes me a few moments. I have to rearrange my jaw around (?) to make it so I can close my mouth. I guess that's because my teeth don't really fit together properly? Does anyone else experience this?
I'm ashamed to admit -- I only started flossing my teeth in the last few months. I have bridges that had
always been very hard for me to floss around, even with the threaders that I got from the dentist. The threaders were very thick, and they hurt my gums, which are quite sensitive around the bridges. The last time I went to the dentist, he gave me a sample of individually packed pieces of floss with a very thin threader at the end of each one. I loved them, but when I looked them up, I found them to be quite expensive. Then I found Oral-B Superfloss, which is the same idea, but comes in a box of 50 for only 2 or 3 dollars. They are incredibly convenient, and work very well around braces. I know a lot of you braces-wearers use Waterpics. I actually own one, and should give it a try.2. Things I Can't Do
Lately, I've been noticing a lot of things I can't do with my current bite. I can't bite my nails, eat an artichoke, open a package, or hold anything in my teeth. I'm lucky I guess that most of these things are actually bad for your teeth. My dentist actually told me that my 4-year-old temporary bridges would have had to have been replaced by now if not for the fact that I never use them to bite!
3. A Question
Whenever I have to bite down completely (for example, if the orthodontist asks me to), it takes me a few moments. I have to rearrange my jaw around (?) to make it so I can close my mouth. I guess that's because my teeth don't really fit together properly? Does anyone else experience this?
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