I have had an underbite from since I can remember. I never smiled with my teeth, just because there wasn't really a smile there. That, or it looked really awkward and just not right, so it didn't happen.
What I had was a slight underbite which closed behind my bottom teeth when my mouth was shut, making my bottom lip protrude slightly. The furthest I could push my upper teeth above my bottom was just matching.
What I had was a slight underbite which closed behind my bottom teeth when my mouth was shut, making my bottom lip protrude slightly. The furthest I could push my upper teeth above my bottom was just matching.
Did it affect my confidence, no, not really, but it did make school photos pretty hard, especially in my very younger years with the photographers really wanting that teeth-barring cutesy smile of an angelic youth, which they did get, but I wasn't happy about.
I was teased a little about my bottom lip making me looking like a bulldog, though. Luckily, that didn't persist by the particular individual and I can't say it effected me immensely.
My parents didn't exactly see an issue with my teeth as a child, and neither did I. Being very against braces myself, regardless, it didn't cross my mind as an option to even consider. As my mouth grew older, or due to a bad pen sucking habit when I was 11 (which my orthodontist disagrees with as the cause), I developed a crooked upper tooth.
I've also bitten down on a couple of forks in my time, and chipped my bottom right incisor, and another time dented and caused a hairline crack in my left upper and lower incisors.
Times sure did change, and as I got older I became more self-conscious about my insane ability to resist smiling with my teeth, and I always wished I could, and so did my parents and friends. As of recently I also developed a habit of covering my mouth whenever I laughed, which I did not like at all.
I decided to get braces, as an educated and mature individual, because in the end it's really a small sacrifice I'm making for something I've wanted my whole life. With that, I salute to the journey for a perfect smile and hope getting there is something worth it.
A smile is something you should be proud of, showing contentment, joy and laughter, and above all happiness. It is a thing of beauty, not to be shyed away from. I think the window to the soul might actually be found accessed through the mouth, not the eyes. To the beautiful smiles that could be, and will be!
A smile is something you should be proud of, showing contentment, joy and laughter, and above all happiness. It is a thing of beauty, not to be shyed away from. I think the window to the soul might actually be found accessed through the mouth, not the eyes. To the beautiful smiles that could be, and will be!
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I know the feeling... funny how we both meantioned the 'bulldog bite!' I only know it as slang for the bite... Though I was never told I looked like a bulldog, I did get a monkey comparison once in sixth grade, lol. Neither are very flattering, to say the least...
ReplyDeleteI think that if a person is self concious about their smile, it's debilitating in a social way. Looking through alot of my pictures, I seldom gave an open, full-on smile.. I was almost always close-lipped, and I can almost see the tension in my face and the anxiety over what I would look like or how it would turn out. it sounds silly, and I never conciously thought like that when it came time for a picture... I think it's more of a subconcious thought... a constant awareness of it. Even though I wasn't thinking 'don't smile,' I just never did.
Like you, I am in most other regards a confident person... but if one goes through life hiding their smile, it's difficult to show it. Best of luck on the rest of your journey... I've already looked through your pics and you've come a long way! Hopefully soon i'll be able to say the same. thanks for sharing :)
That's exactly it, you've put it really well. It's something that really holds one's self back, just as a restraint on letting the true self to be shown. I used to never smile, it just wasn't the done thing, and I ever so wanted it to be the case.
ReplyDeleteIn that way, it's really frustrating as well as depressing as a smile—and the feeling of happiness associated with it—is not something to be withdrawn about. It is really paramount to confidence and self-consciousness. It's something that should never be censored, rather liberated.
I am really happy about my progress, and even though I still have a long way to come, I am over the moon because I have achieved what I set out. From here, it's only going to get better, and I'm really excited!
Best of luck to you and your smile, of course! It's really nice to have people going through the same things, both experience and feelings-wise. Just think how worth it it'll be in the end!
You certainly have a strong spirit, and I love your optimism! That's it! I also had braces during my entire high school years. It wasn't such a nice experience, but thanks to it, I can smile big and feel carefree about my teeth today. You too, eventually. =)
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