Do the Brace Hokey Cokey...

...and turn around haha! I'm joking!

Well it's pretty close to Christmas and I have a new aligner that I will be wearing until the second week in January (better keep it fresh). Next lot of impressions are to be taken by Mrs. P on the 7th Jan.

So I was sitting in the office absorbing my surroundings yesterday, all everybody seems to be doing is eating. I was trying my best not to get involved until people started bringing in home baked christmas goodies and wafting them in my face.  That's when I started the scoffing and that's when the brace hokey cokey began....in out in out, slava all about! (Honestly how do I think of these things haha!)

I had my work Christmas do last Thursday and for the first time people began to notice my straight teeth. Lauren who I hadn't seen since the start of my treatment took this photo and was pretty impressed at how better they looked :D

It was the Newcastle Business Christmas Carol Service on Tuesday lunch time. I thoroughly enjoyed it after I realised the impossibility of reaching any key with my braces in. I took them out mid 'Oh little town of Bethlehem' and managed to get involved with the rest of the singing. Not sure those around me were too happy about it. 

Thanks again to Sunderland Smile for my Christmas Card & best wishes to you all.

Something funny is bound to happen over Christmas and I'll let you know!
Keep smiling

Jo xx

Half way there...I think.

Had my treatment week 10 appointment and I think I'm just last half way through my treatment.

Mrs. P looked at my teeth last night and was amazed at how much has changed already. It was pretty funny though. She said she should be able to check them each time and say 'oh that's good, exactly as expected' however she still goes 'wow how good is that technology!! They are looking amazing!' Respect to www.quickstraightteeth.co.uk

I'm getting new aligners next week to last me over Christmas and then I'll have an appointment in 2013. I have attached a pic stitch of my first photo and one taken today. You can definitely see a difference in the front two and bottom row are slowly getting there.

Keep smiling
Jo xxx

A little set back

Hello all,

My appointment was cancelled this week as Mrs. P is poorly. Hope she gets well soon and is snuggled up at home out of this snow.

I am keeping these aligners for another week. Remember last time I had a three week aligner stint there was the garlic incident? So far so good this time.

Well if you exclude last Friday!
Last Friday I was so excited about leaving work early I got home at 4pm and realised I didn't have my braces in. They were in the box on my desk. Such a pointless early finish as I had to ring around hoping somebody was still in, then jump in the car to go and collect them. I got home usual time in the end, dopey.

My appointment for the next set of impressions is Monday again. Hope it's as funny as a few weeks ago. Mrs. P gave me the mirror to look into and there was pink goo all over the place. Pink goo lipstick, bits hanging off my chin, we had a right laugh. Imagine if she let me leave, the reception girls would have been thinking what on earth is that?

The next months could be a laugh if this weather stays wintery. For my appointments I have to get from Newcastle using public transport, pick up my car and then drive on to Oliver's. Hearing the stories from last nights snow drives I could be needing to leave work at lunch time to make it.

We shall see how things go. Aligners are still working well and feeling comfy.

Keep smiling.. Jo xxxx

Falling off the Wagon

I have a confession....

Past 3 weeks I've been ridiculously busy, I've been forgetting about being a braceface and my blog. 

So it started when I had a video shoot with Athletes in Paris. I couldn't exactly dance and act like a diva with a braceface. Well I could, but I felt more comfortable for the bands sake to take them out. Less risk of a slaver during a spin haha! That day I had my braces out from 12:30 - 20:00. Pretty long stint.

After that my life got crazy busy. Balancing my full time job with my university degree caught me out big time. 3 pieces of coursework due in. Late nights and library days on weekends commenced.

Twice in the past 2 weeks I've conked out after brushing my teeth ready to put braces in before bed, UH OH!

I also started stress snacking more, meaning less time with them in at work and taking them out in the library isn't the best treat for those passing by.

Anyway this week I decided it's time to get back on the brace bandwagon, commit to wearing them properly and cut out the snacking (if I carry on, I'll never get into that dress for Christmas!)

I've had a naughty few weeks but I'm back! My friend sent me this photo yesterday and my teeth play a LARGE part in the photo

Remember: If you want to change you have to:
1) Do something about it...i.e. visit www.quickstraightteeth.co.uk or if from Tyne and Wear get in touch with www.oliverdental.com

2) Stick with it.

Jo xxx

The Perfect Wedding Smile

I'm super excited it's wedding time in April.....Not my wedding!

I received my first wedding invitation this week to join two close friends on their happy day.

Not only will that mean a new outfit, pair of shoes and handbag (my boyfriend is definitely going to be pleased about that shopping trip), but I'm going to have straight teeth to go with it, Eeeeek!

As if I'm not annoying enough snapping photos of everything. On the happy day I'll be so pleased with my new smile I can imagine I'll start photo bombing haha! Joking!

I have heard a few people are looking for 'The Perfect Wedding Smile' and I urge them to get in contact with Quick Straight Teeth UK and if you're local to Tyne and Wear, Oliver's Dental is fab!

www.quickstraightteeth.co.uk
www.oliverdental.com

I'm well on my way to being more of a smiler. Get that perfect smile to perfect your wedding album!

A blog regarding Treatment Week 8 is coming soon!

Jo xxx

Treatment Week 7- Good Fit

Hi all,

Week 7 of being a brace face and appointments at Oliver's are averaging 3 minutes now.

I've had a crazy week and didn't manage to blog at the beginning of the week.

Monday night I got rid of my comfy brace that I've had for 3 weeks and got a new fresh one to put some more pressure on that ugly front tooth.

It's my third set of aligners and you can definitely see a difference now :D This set was also the most comfy I've had yet, no rubbing the inside of my bottom lip and clicked straight into place, perfect!

Tuesday morning was the usual torture of a teeth clean but I think I'm starting to enjoy the pain haha!

Not long to go :) Jo xxx

A Good Wash

After my post yesterday about the garlic incident I couldn't wait to get home from work and freshen up my aligners. Another garlic breath day was not very clever!

 I have been wearing these aligners for three weeks rather than the usual two due to Mrs. P's holiday and the fact I was walking around for a week being silly so they didn't fit properly. Cleaning them with your toothbrush and toothpaste is usually good enough but this time they just felt dirty.

Anyway last night I took out my dirty aligners and filled up a pint glass full of water. I ran around the house forgetting where I had placed my QST box. You know in that safe place so you would be able to find the Nitradine tablets.

After finding the box and thus the tablets, I cut a nitradine fizzler out of its packaging and plopped it into the glass of water. Like most dissolvable tablets I sat and watched it fizz away until it disappeared completely. That's when I dropped in my aligners and said "Clean you dirty monsters!"

Really I'm joking I didn't say that, but I did look forward to them tasting as if they had been cleaned and I did laugh at the fact I looked like an old person with my teeth in a pint glass by the side of my bed. The tablets make them minty fresh/dental mouthwash flavour. Much better than garlic!

Check out my aligners chilling out in a glass of Nitradine. QST prefer these tablets as they are more cost effective than other alternatives.

Hope you have a great weekend, new aligners on Monday. I'll enjoy my comfy fresh ones for now.

Jo xx

Eww Garlic!

So for lunch yesterday I had a lovely tomato and basil soup and a bread roll. Both of which turned out to be a garlicfest.

I didn't have time to clean my teeth straight after as I had a meeting so chucked in my braces and pretended to pay attention in the afternoon.

Got home, answered the front door to let my Mam in.....Her first line was: "What on earth have you been eating with garlic in?"

Immediately I thought woah I've sat all afternoon at work and nobody mentioned I stunk, I felt sorry for the person squashed up against me on the Metro and I've cleaned my teeth since, what's going on?

I scrubbed everything again, teeth and braces!


This morning, I've got up and cleaned my teeth, scrubbed my braces and popped them in. Now I'm at work I have decided my braces have managed to soak up the garlic....I can taste it again and definitely know I'm a stinker. Tonight I will be drowning my braces in the tablet provided by QST to freshen them up!

Lesson learnt: DO NOT eat garlic and insert braces immediately!

Photo source: http://i.chzbgr.com/completestore/2010/7/5/092b319c-d9d3-434a-91a2-7e2e43a63ba9.jpg

Treatment Week 6- Friendly faces

Well back to see Mrs P this week for more impressions ready for a new brace next week.

I'm really impressed with the change of my front teeth already, the top row is doing really well. I think the bottom row is going to take a fair bit longer though, we shall see!

I've added a photo of my front nashers 6 weeks into treatment!

Surprise Surprise! On my way into my appointment I bumped into a family friend waiting for his appointment after mine.
I was pretty impressed he remembered my recommendation. Especially as it was at a party and we were all merry.
Hopefully Liam will benefit as much as I am from the treatment.

I know there are a few others on social media waiting to see how my treatment goes to consider QST too, fingers crossed they will realise how good it is!

Keep Smiling!

Xxxx

Halloween - Wonky Teeth are Perfect

So tonight has will be my last Halloween with crossed teeth. The last time I will have teeth fit for a dead character.

I haven't been out or had any sort of Halloween celebrations, so to make myself feel better I applied my Halloween make up and ran into the front room in the dark to scare my parents (wouldn't think I was 24)

Anyway here's my face done up with my braces in!!!

Happy Halloween!!!
Jo xxx

Quickest Orthodontist Trip EVER

So yesterday I had my appointment with Oliver because I had an issue with the fit of my bottom aligner.

I walked in told him that I didn't think it fit as well as it should. He took the aligner out of my mouth, gave it a quick clean and placed it back to where it was.

This time the aligner was given a hard push against my bottom row and actually clicked down over the tooth I have tried a week to make fit. It felt much better (as in sensitivity was instant and I knew it was working much better!)

So basically I was in the treatment room for less than 5 minutes haha!

Much happier that my aligner fits though, well worth the short visit at Oliver's

Jo xx

One Problematic Tooth

So it's been 4 days of my new aligner, I expected the aligner to settle after it has been stretched a little and teeth move.

Top one is fabulous, but the bottom one has one problematic tooth that doesn't want to fit. (see right side of picture)

Had a little struggle to find a suitable appointment (my usual Mrs P is on hols) but I'll be back to see a different orthodontist on Monday.

Other areas of the bottom aligner are sore so I'm assuming those areas are working, this one twisted tooth just doesn't fancy moving.

Hopefully I'll get sorted soon!
Jo xxxx

Treatment Week 4 - Chewy Time

Last night I was given my second aligner, can't believe it has been 2 weeks of Quick Straight Teeth already.

I needed further filing between my bottom teeth as they are still struggling to get past eachother.

After filing my second aligners were fitted and WOW they were so tight the bottom one nearly popped back off.

I got home, took them out to eat my dinner, to be honest this time I was scared to put them back in and start chewing on my piece of plastic.

I plucked up the courage eventualy, aligners went in and I started munching on my chewy. OUCH!

After a nights sleep with the aligners in, I had a wince cleaning my teeth. Felt like I'd been punched in the front tooth, but at least I know that it's on the move.

At work today I sat chewing...

I'm sure my colleagues think it is some kind of fad diet I'm doing... Chewing on plastic!

I do have a few jokers in the office...I advise any other QST users, chewing and then laughing out loud in the office can lead to an unexpected drool! 

Jo xxx

Brace Face Night Out

Went to see Cheryl Cole with my friends last week, one of which is also going through the Quick Straight Teeth treatment.

It actually turned out to be an amazing night..... I had the pressure months ago trying to book tickets at 9am when they went on sale. I managed to get tickets in block E and I thought it was going to be a binoculars job.

We passed through the front door of the arena and fancied some refreshments, so tackled a few queues. We were then deliberating whether to browse the merchandise stall before or after the gig. Our decision changed everything...

Realising we had to walk straight past the merchandise stall anyway we stopped and had a browse. Next thing we knew a long haired guy in a checky shirt tapped my QST friend on the shoulder, turning around we realised he had an American accent, a pair of headphones around his neck and claimed to be able to do a deal on our tickets.

"Hey are you 3 girls together? I have tickets and I'd like to do a deal with you...

"Cheryl doesn't like to see any empty rows when she is performing, I have 3 front row tickets and I'd like to do a swap with you."

I was immediately suspicious. Our reaction was a mix of shock but also confusion. The guy explained himself again...

He was giving us 3 front row tickets!!! He told us to dance the night away, smile for the camera and enjoy the show.

We got to BLOCK A, ROW A and the seats given to us were exactly in the centre of the stage :D

This is one of the photos taken on the night...

Safe to say we all smiled for the rest of the night!

I am at Oliver's to fit my next aligner tonight.....I shall let you know how it goes!
Jo xxx

Treatment Week 3 - Pink Putty & Testimonials.

So it's week 3 of my treatment and I've had my aligners for a week now.

Just been to see the marvelous Mrs. Peverley for my weekly appointment and she's extremely happy with my first weeks progress. The gaps where teeth were filed have begun to close and I feel like that frustrating front tooth has begun to move.

After a scout about my mouth it was time for the pink putty and new impressions. In case you haven't seen this before, mouth size trays are filled with putty (pink putty at Oliver's!). One tray at a time an impression is taken, where the tray is inserted into the mouth and pushed so your teeth squidge into the goo. The putty sets around the teeth and a mould is made like the picture below.

Please note this isn't my impression. 

 

Photo by: dental-braces.org

My impressions will be on their way to the Quick Straight Teeth guys to make my next aligner ready to be fitted next week!

After my appointment I sat down with Joanne and Claire to record my first video testimonial for the Oliver's Dental website. My aligners were in and I really didn't want to whistle or schlurp. I feel like it went and I'm sure it will appear on the website for me to have a cringe at, Joanne also has the clip from SunFM, which will make an appearance too.

I've got a busy week this week, Cheryl Cole tomorrow and a big laugh on Friday night with Kevin Bridges.
Keep you updated - keep smiling!

Joanne xxx

Braces, Bangs and the Boyfriend

Mr. A

So I said I would update on the verdict of the boyfriend, he's pretty impressed at how good they look and has also been added to the list of those laughing at my whistles.

We went out for dinner after work on Wednesday night, I quickly nipped to the bathroom to remove my aligners to eat, as I sat back down at the table Mr. A curiously wanted to inspect the clear plastic appliances that have taken over my mouth. He was pretty astonished they are so lightweight and thin.

I think he's impressed and looking forward to my straight teeth, however he has enjoyed taking the mick the oast few months when I've been going on and on and on about my two front teeth.

Braces & Bangs

With the braces treatment started I decided to get a mop chop bringing back the old full fringe (in America, Bangs), Teeth are going through a change, might as well change the hair do as well!!

The brace is so much more comfortable now, my teeth have moved and it is not as tight :D

Happy Friday people!!! I shall post on Monday to update about my weekend and 1 week consultation at Oliver's

Jo xxxxx



It's Day 2 in the Perfect Smile Adventures...

First night with my aligners they were extremely tight, I have to say I quite enjoyed the discomfort of chewing the 'chewy' I received in my box. For those wondering if I have been eating dog treats.....Basically to force the aligners to move the teeth you are advised to chew on the piece of hard rectangular rubber provided that pushes the aligner where it should be.

First day at work - Met a girl on my way to work that I haven't seen in a few months, she had no idea I had a brace - INVISIBLE. I was feeling a little concious of my speech so pointed it out and she was surprised. We started chatting about a number of other people that we know have been considering, I'm like a guinea pig to old friends!

I've found the aligners have a fair few other advantages actually, I cannot chew my bottom lip anymore, a habit I was very much needing to give up and I also cannot snack all day at work as I'd be spending the day back and forward to clean my teeth.
So as well as straight teeth, I may have stopped a chapped bottom lip and lost some chub from the reduced amount of snacking :)

My aligners are pretty comfortable, there's a slight sharp edge on the bottom one grazing the inside of lip every now and again but besides that you quickly get used to them each time they are back in place.

In terms of speech, I find myself whistling accidently as if I have a gap in my teeth now and again, it is quite funny, my family and people at work are really enjoying it!
The standard 's' and 'sh' are the problematic phonetics but I think I manage to get most of them sounding alright or I have to start the word again because it just comes out like a noisy mess.

Meeting my boyfriend for the first time tonight....I'll post tomorrow what he makes of it!

Treatment Week 1 & 2 - Teeth Filing & 1st Aligners

Treatment Week 1

As room is limited for my teeth to move I had my teeth filed inbetween to create some space for teeth to pass eachother and realign alongside eachother.

I expected this to feel awful, but as a matter of fact there was no uncomfort at all they filed so easily.

Once the filing was complete I had a good set of impressions taken that were sent off to Quick Straight Teeth to do their magic and create my first out of 8 proposed sets of aligners.

New aligners are needed every fortnight so pink impression putty will be a fortnightly treat from now on!


Treatment Week 2

New aligners arrived and are fitted, they are amazing and completely invisible :D

What do you think?

Competition Win :D

Early September I heard of a competition on 103.4 SunFM in partnership with Oliver's Dental Studio and Quick Straight Teeth UK to get treatment for free.

I entered the competition posting a picture and my story as in 'The Imperfect Smile'...

Friday, 5th October came along I was slightly annoyed at the length of time it took me to get to work and I definitely did not have that Friday feeling.

Well until 09:33........An unknown number appeared on my iPhone screen, I answered and it was Sun FM!!

'Joanne, remember that competition you entered with Oliver's Dental? How would you feel if I told you that you are the winner!???'

Immediately that Friday feeling appeared, I couldn't believe it!

I had actually already been to Oliver's as I saw they had a free consultation and was given a quote for treatment. Now I have spare money to treat myself some other way :D

I'd like to say a massive thanks to Sun FM, Oliver's Dental Studio and Quick Straight Teeth UK for my competition win.....I'm soo excited for my perfect smile!

The Imperfect Smile

For the past two years my teeth have been on the move huddling closer together and no where near straight.

Currently my imperfect smile looks like this...

 

As the imperfect smile arrived, I also became the 'out for a meal clown.' I'm always the person sitting around the table with a bit of green food trapped in my teeth. One lucky person dining with me usually has to break the news.

 

My confidence smiling and in photos has decreased and I knew it was time to get adult braces!