A Different Smile

 Oh what a sweet smile...

My beautiful daughter's smile is going to be even more beautiful..

Yes..but the time has come! BRACES! Looks like all kids go through this uncomfortable stage..

Her mouth felt so swollen and fat that she said she couldn't smile right.

Apparently at the age of 8, the dentist (at least ours) sends his patients to see the orthodontist to see how their teeth are growing in and if they need braces. My nephew, Zachary (who's the same age as Hannah), got his braces when he was 8. Supposedly it was just Phase One (you get them more than once ?!?!) and he had an underbite and crossbite.

Emily did not have any significant bite problem so she just had to visit Dr. Dianne Chun (our ortho who was highly recommended by many friends) once a year until her 12-year molars came in and they did this year. So we decided that the right time to get them was in the summer after our big Europe trip.

I thought it was only cosmetic but after a thorough examination and checking out a pretty cool looking mold of her teeth it was determined that some of her teeth were turned and her bite was a little off. Other than that, no biggy. She got full sets of braces on top and bottom teeth and she'll wear them for 22 months right up to her 8th grade graduation. No braces for high school! She'll  have to wear a retainer for top and bottom teeth for quite awhile though.

I really felt for her when she went in for the 3-1/2 hr long session. You see... my mom always wanted me to get braces. I sucked my thumb for years and have a huge overbite. Totally like Bugs Bunny. But my dentist said it wasn't necessary and I trusted his advise! So I never got them. I didn't care about looking good.. I cared about not being in pain! My pain tolerance is very low.. just like my No. 1 daughter. Whenever she got a shot in the arm or leg, she would limp or arm be sensitive for weeks.

So after she got her braces I was prepared for the worst. Everyone I talked to said that it would be 'uncomfortable' for 4-7 days. I prepared for 7+ days. She literally ate jook (porridge) for all her meals for 7 days straight along with yogurt and applesauce! Couldn't talk well. And couldn't even use  a straw. Cold foods hurt her so Jamba Juice was out of the question. Slowly... very very slowly she introduced other soft items like overcooked noodles for the following week. Basically she was on a non-veggie vegetarian diet. Eating no meats (didn't want to chew) and no veggies (doesn't like them).

I was very proud of my daughter. I thought she would freak out about getting them but since almost all her friends at school have them it was like the 'thing to do'. A VERY expensive thing to do!