Since I turned 30 my body has slowly been falling part. I have talked about this before, but I am not joking. I now wear glasses and I had to have a cavity filled. I haven't had a cavity since I got my braces off-which leads me to my next problem.
I have been playing soccer on and off since I moved to Oregon. I really love playing and I was proud of myself for trying something new. I never played as a kid. My family didn't believe in organized sports, despite what my mother may tell you. It's fun to play, but can be dangerous.
One night I was playing keeper and I got hit HARD in my face with the ball. I have never been hit so hard in my life. I am certain there were cartoon birds floating around my head. I tried to shake it off, but I was sore. I didn't think very much of it, except for the fact that I did stop the ball, even though I got clocked in the face doing so. I am so glad that I stopped the ball. What if I had been hit hard and then the ball went in? So disappointing.
Anyway.
A few days later my tooth started to hurt. Really hurt. I had never before had a toothache. I can say that the pain ranks close to labor. Not quite as bad, but a slow, throbbing, deep pain that does not go away. It makes me want to pull my tooth out! I went to my neighborhood dentist, whom I really enjoy. (I had to take Agnes with me and he walked around the office with her and got her a treasure from the box while I had my X-rays. Talk about full-service dentistry!) Basically I had bruised a nerve and the pain would slowly subside. And it did.
But it came back. It came back after I did a bad header at a soccer game, it came back when I must have been grinding my teeth at night (too much stress), and it came back again when one of the kids knocked into me accidentally. So over the last year I have had this tooth checked out a few times. The pain comes and goes, but it is really annoying.
All through this I had a deep suspicion of what was causing this to keep coming back. I knew,and I kept hoping that it wasn't so. After my last dentist appointment, Dr. X confirmed my great fear. I need braces again! My teeth have shifted since I don't wear my retainers anymore and now my top tooth and bottom tooth hit each other often enough to irritate it. It's a relatively quick fix, but I will still have to get it done at some point.
I said to the dentist, "What about after I get braces off the second time? Will it just happen again."
His very wise reply, "My guess is that you will wear your retainers this time, since you're the one paying for it".
So I guess I know what I'm saving up for now.
15 comments:
oh my gosh. this scares me. i wore my retainer faithfully every night until we got married, not because i was self conscious about it but because in my sleep i took out my bottom retained and put it in my sweatshirt pocket. usually when i took them out i had the sense to put it on my nightstand. but anyway, i couldn't find it forever. and then a few days later i realized it was in my pocket and it was CRACKED. AUUUGH. and i can feel my bottom teeth shifting ever so slightly.
augh augh augh.
i love dr. x. i can totally hear him saying those words. ha! will you get a ti dye retainer? i always wanted braces...and a retainer. i'd get a ti dye one for sure. or one with bubbles. maybe one with my picture on it? so many options!
oh dear. Dental problems at our age are a total bummer. I need an implant. Sucks. So sorry!
i wear my retainer/splint every night. I also got a permanent bottom retainer. Which the doc told me would help keep the teeth in line even if I didn't wear my top one religiously. (And I didn't wear it at all for 2 months after I had surgery. and my teeth are still in line.
But he's right, I don't want to do it again, so I'll wear that thing until I die.
i feel for you.
We didn't not believe in organized sports. If you recall, I asked you if you wanted to participate and you said no!! Everyone denies that, but it's true.
I'm not a huge fan of organized sports, but you did do swim team and took other classes and lessons you enjoyed.
In actual fact, since I had no experience with sports of any kind, I bowed to your dad's opinion. And his opinion was that if a kid wanted to do something badly enough, they'd figure out a way to do it!! (That's how he'd done sports.)
So, he's right. You wanted to do soccer enough that you went out and did it, didn't you??
And I'm sorry about your teeth - teeth problems are legendary in my life, so I can empathize - even though I never had braces.
But I like your dentist!!
I am a loyalist to the permanent bottom retainer...I haven't worn my top one since college and so far so good. I haven't been using my head on any soccer balls either though. I do feel for you - I had a few cavities after each pregnancy (how did you avoid that? Please tell!) after not having any for years and it just stinks. Here's to healthy teeth!
I have been telling this to all of my children ever since they got their braces off. It is a sore point with me. All that money and they just don't wear their retainers. I know because my teeth have shifted back and it was because I didn't wear my retainer. Will they learn from their mother? NO. I can't have braces again since all of my teeth are capped. I am sorry to hear of your teeth but I am sure that you will wear your retainer because you will be the one paying. I hope that some of my younger children will read your post.
It's always hard when you have to learn a lesson the hard way (as I have done many times.) What makes it worse is the expensive way too.
I had braces three times. The last time I was pregnant with Melissa. I then had a permanant bottom retainer that came loose after a couple of years. My dentist said no big deal, you are old enough (25) to not have retainers. Not so. I need to do the braces again. My bite is bugging me. Maybe I will just keep them on forever.
I guess I am saying I feel your pain.
Yeah, that sucks. I have no story to go along with the others. So sorry.
BTW, just went and put my retainer in.
i am sure i need braces again as well - but that's ok - i'm waiting for my kids to get them, then we can all match.
and organized sports - ahhhh - well - another post for another time.
The dentist confirmed that I have a dead tooth, its been changing to a wonderful dead grey color for the last few years. I want to have it pulled and put in a silver tooth. Dawn said no. I asked him what could have caused it and he said maybe the braces when your teeth were moved too far, or it could have been one of the many times I was hit in the face. So maybe you too have a dead tooth in your future! We can both maybe get silver or gold grills.
You guys are all making me feel so much better! It looks like I am not alone in my "braces during adulthood" dilemma.
Harry- I will support you in your quest for a silver tooth. If you get silver, I'll get gold. I am sure Mom and Dad will be so proud:)
I have a lot of gold teeth - but they are crowns in the back, out of sight!! I would not want a silver or gold tooth in front! Sorry.
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