Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,
but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.―Thich Nhat Hanh
Lookit me! I gots nice teef!
This is me when I was 15 or 16. I had buck teeth, a severe overbite, and my two front formed Vs, top and bottom.
I also have on black lipstick, but let’s let that go for now.
Over time I learned to smile with my mouth closed. Literally, the only pictures I have of me smiling with teeth from age 16 on are when I was pretty drunk.
I won’t lie. I love this photo.
I eventually developed TMJ. I experienced a dull pain… all the time. 24/7. No relief. I clenched my jaw compulsively and ground my teeth at night.
When I went to the orthodontist and he said that straightening my teeth *might* dispel that ongoing pain… I cried. In his office.
The TMJ got better before I was even a year in, and seeing this pic (with The Bangles!) I realized that even with the braces still on, my teeth looked better than they had since I was 7.
Me with the Bangles. Love this pic because I forgot to hide my braces & they don't look too terrible!
I was already hiding my teeth for school pics when I was 7, by the way.
A lifetime of hiding and feeling bad about myself. A decade of ever-present face pain.
I had to smile for pics at the orthodontist today, and it felt weird. I’m not used to it. When I stop to think about that, it makes me sad.
I may never be beautiful, but I’ll never stop myself from smiling again.
Adult braces. I felt crappy and selfish getting them, as they were a huge expense for reasons that were largely cosmetic.
They were the best thing I ever did for me.
Big time shoutouts to the folks at Dr. Honig‘s office. You guys are the best.
Robin – You look BEAUTIFUL! You always have been but there is something even more beautiful about the confidence that shows in a beautiful smile.
I have always been self conscious about my crooked front teeth and I am secretly hoping one day to save up the cash to get mine fixed as well. Thanks for sharing this and happy smiles to you!!
First of all you ARE beautiful. PERIOD. Secondly I am so so happy that you have confidence in that just a little bit more now. I LOVE your smile, and I’m so happy to see it now.
Smile on GIRL.
You my love ARE beautiful. Always have been. Now we are just lucky we get to see the full smile instead of the hidden one.
Robin, this is an amazing post and such a great story. I hid my smile for years because of a space between my teeth (which I did eventually get fixed but that’s a lot cheaper than braces). You are gorgeous braces or not but I’m so happy for you that your pain is gone and you feel so confident now. YAY!
You’re gorgeous but above all, I am so glad that you feel confident enough to smile again!!! Cheers! Here’s to taking back that pretty smile 🙂
Robin, I hope you realize that most of us at some point weren’t too thrilled with our smile. Likewise most of us at some point have gone thru our selfish cosmetic thingy….mine was braces as well and i STILL dont smile! hahaha Glad your happy with the outcome. You’re beautiful and so is your smile!
Sounds like you are having so much fun and you did a lot of things in fun. You look actually good and keep on keeping up!
Great pics! I felt the same way (is this selfish? is this unnecessary?) before getting my eyes lasered more than 10 years ago, but 10 minutes after walking out of the dr’s office and still to this day, I know it is one of the best things I have ever done and money well spent. So glad you got to do this for yourself. the results are fantastic!
Sarah (from USAlovelist)
Yay for you! There is no shame in looking and feeling your best. Now you can have all the Pop Rocks with beer you want.
You were beautiful at 7, you were beautiful even when you couldn’t smile. But yo! The smile is beautiful too!
Thank you for posting this… I’ve been embarrassed by my teeth for a long time as well (I have a small mouth and big teeth, and some of them are pretty crooked). For a while I didn’t even dare speak in front of new people for fear they’d notice my teeth and judge. I hate them still but my new dentist has told me I can get braces or invisalign (on a payment plan, no less!) and I’m really hopeful that my smile will turn out as great as yours – it’s beautiful!
Found your blog via a search for more local homesteaders (not a lot of Pittsburghers are blogging!), hope you don’t mind another follower!
Now you look pretty already. I have problem on my teeth as well when I was young. Fortunately my mom brought me on the dentists and they fix my teeth. So, now we look pretty already.
I have also problem on my teeth when I was young. When I grew up and I feel already ashamed on my teeth I as my parents to fix my teeth. Fortunately, they brought me on our family dentist so now I can smile wherever I am.