What's in a Smile?

(post) braces: month 7

wakowa — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:09:58 +0000

Hard to believe that it’s been 7 months since my braces came off. Time flies without braces!

I had a check-up today, and got a “bite adjustment”.

I Googled and found that this can mean a range of procedures, including getting braces. Which makes sense, because the reason I got the braces was for my bite.

But in today’s case, the bite adjustment was a minor but very effective grinding down of teeth.

My doctor had me bite down on a piece of carbon paper so he could see where my teeth were hitting. Then he ground down points on the backs of a few teeth. I could smell and taste the grinding, so was a little disturbed about how much he was shaving off. But he said they were very slight; like a hair’s breadth. And you know what? My bite feels better; my teeth are hitting more evenly. Will take a while to get used to this, I think. Will report back in a month.

imperfect teeth for a perfect smile

wakowa — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:58:57 +0000

A New York Times article, Avoiding Dental Perfection With a Slight Twist, on how people are getting “imperfect” veneers for perfect looking smiles.

So this is a plug for dental braces results where teeth look nice, with a health bite, but healthily natural.

video on brushing with braces

wakowa — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:27:36 +0000

Click here to see a video on how to brush with braces, from an orthodontist.

I think he does a good job of going over the important points.

Gold Medalist with braces!

wakowa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:54:49 +0000

Shelly-Ann Fraser won the Gold in the 100m women’s final. CONGRATULATIONS!

And she flashed a huge smile complete with a full set of braces!

Elephant Pharmacy birthday sale!

wakowa — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:58:33 +0000

It’s Elephant Pharmacy’s birthday!!! They’re having a fabulous sale this weekend at all their stores: Berkeley, Los Altos (Mountain View), San Rafael and Walnut Creek.

Click on the image below for an easy-to-print coupon. It’s for 20% off almost everything, August 16 & 17.

green deals

wakowa — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:37:12 +0000

This doesn’t have anything to do with braces, but hopefully this place where you can see all kinds of green deals and giveaways will bring some smiles! (It’s a company my friend started, so I’m a big supporter.) Ecobunga!

smile wisdom: Thich Nhat Hanh

wakowa — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:18:11 +0000

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,

but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Joshua the dancer: no braces

wakowa — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:31:58 +0000

Joshua, my favorite dancer on So You Think You Can Dance, got his braces off!!!

Congratulations, Joshua!

(This is uncharacteristically teeny-bopper of me, but I can’t help it.)

(post) braces: month 5

wakowa — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:52:11 +0000

Well, not much change on the retainer front.

I have probably become lax in the cleaning of them. I’ve been using the cotton swab (Q-Tip) trick, and that’s been very useful.
I have been wearing the retainers more, which is definitely helping with the tightness.

I still notice people wearing braces, and feel a kinship with them, even though they have no reason to know why I am smiling at them like a maniac.

guide to flosses

wakowa — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:24:56 +0000

Found this floss resource, Focus on Floss, a desciption of all kinds of floss, as part of my research for a post I did on my other blog, about Everyday Sustainable floss.

The brief take on it.

ROUTINE makes it happen everyday, which makes it everyday sustainable.
As much as I advocate for healthy materials, whatever solution increases the chances that you’ll floss everyday, is the best everyday sustainable solution for you.