All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

I have a couple of teeth in the front that are missing - not many people know this (I don't spread it around!) At 13 the adult teeth that were supposed to come through didn't, and a few other teeth were in the wrong place which resulted in a painful year of braces, plates (and absolutely no boys!) until I got my plate with false teeth on it (sounds really old lady gross but actually its really small, all metal and more kind of terminator-ish than nana-ish). I only take it out to clean it, and it lives in my mouth 24-7 since I was 14.

It seems I have finally out grown it, my mouth has changed over the last 18 years and it no longer fits right.  I had hopes of having permanent dental surgery involving screws put into the gums (finally being free of the plate!) but apparently I don't have enough space between teeth and would need to have braces again to make room.  I was horrified.  The idea of not only having braces at the age of 33 but having braces and big gaps on either side of my two front teeth made me feel ill and looking like that again, even for a short time, filled me with the same fear and feelings I had as an embarrassed 13 year old. I got a little upset, there were tears, I thought it was going to all be easy, in and out in an afternoon like the brochure says. Not to mention the thousands of dollars my insurance doesn't cover that it was going to cost.

To Plan B then, new plate.  I tried it on yesterday and it hurt, (because it fits right apparently) but it looked good,  the teeth are a new shape and it has changed the whole look of my mouth.  It's amazing how little things in your appearance can make you feel so different.  No one will probably notice my teeth, its very subtle, but to me they are totally different, and with a little help from Dr Bleach, a bit whiter too.   The whole experience has awoken me to the fact that I am ageing.  Apparently that happens in your mid 30's.  In the last year I have really noticed it, age slowly creeping up on me little by little.  I'm by no means in the depths of self pity, just a feeling that it is starting.  I think part of ageing too is acceptance of oneself, and doing all you can to make the most of what you've got.

On a side note, my dentist had to crack the old " you'll be getting your two front teeth for Christmas then just like you wanted!"  (boom boom) nice one doc

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.” 

― Audrey Hepburn