Adult Braces | Whitney Beth Photography | Utah Family Photographer
This past May (the 4th to be exact) I got my braces off! Let me tell you, biting into an apple without having to cut it up first was glorious. I had braces put on in September of 2020. (If there’s ever a time to have adult braces, in the middle of a pandemic where everyone has to wear masks is not a bad way to do it.) I didn’t get them for cosmetic purposes – although straighter teeth is a nice bonus. Rather, for my TMJ. Most people don’t know that I have/had it. Essentially what it was in regards to my body is I was clenching my jaw so tight at night that I was getting massive headaches. Ibuprofen and Tylenol didn’t touch it. I had night guards, but I was literally biting through them. My dentist is also a TMJ specialist and brought it up one visit that I would be an excellent candidate for braces to help my TMJ. So the appointment was booked and the tentative date of 18 months was given.
Right before I had my braces put on, I also had some headshots taken. Not only to mark the “before” but to tide me over and give me some content to post until I had full embraced the “brace face.”
I also took pictures after (nearly) every appointment. It was fascinating to see my teeth move. Seeing the progress also softened the blow of having to contemplate if what I was about to eat really worth picking out of my brackets for the rest of the day.
Shortly after I had my braces put on, Danny and I got pregnant. Let me tell you, if I didn’t already feel “sexy” with braces on, being pregnant with braces on is a whole other ball game. I liked to think I looked like a knocked up teenager. Very classy.
Just because I had braces on and in my opinion, had never looked worse in my life, didn’t stop me from taking pictures. I still went to headshot swaps, still posed for outings, still showed up on Instagram. It was a lot of pep talking to myself. But it worked. I didn’t let that stop me from getting maternity pictures taken, or hiring a birth photographer. (Although I reallllly wish I didn’t have braces for either of those.) But that’s the way life worked out. I wasn’t going to stop documenting just because I didn’t like how I looked.
Finally after almost 20 months (should’ve been 19 but they didn’t have my final wire in stock – it’s fine, I’m not bitter lol) I was a free woman and instantly aged 5 years. ha. But in a good way! I felt like people took me more seriously and that I wasn’t the nanny for my kids anymore. (Although I will miss being able to use that to my advantage. One time a solicitor came to my door and asked if my mom was home. I said, “nope!” he said, “thanks, have a great day!” and I didn’t have to listen to his sales pitch.)
But for all that having braces gave me, I’m so happy I did it! I haven’t had a headache since, my jaw is where it should be, my teeth are straight, and all that confidence I faked over the last year has manifested itself into real confidence and I feel like I’m on top of the world.
And for your viewing pleasure a little progress collage.
