Getting wired - literally

It’s been six days since I got my teeth some wires. At first I thought the whole thing was chicken and proved wrong the accounts of my friends who said putting on braces was an agony. I even surprised my dentist when I said, “that’s it?”

But she was so right when she said, “Wait, you’ll see.”

As sores became of the cuts inside my mouth and my teeth rebel with the wires, sending spasms everywhere, I wanted to back out. Who would live on a steady diet of soft foods, cold water, less sugar, no sour and spicy condiments while chewing like the world will end each time particles hit your sores? Not me… but here I am!

Breakfast, lunchtime, merienda and dinner – I just look with envy as my mealmates indulge in the desires of their palate – chicharon, fishballs, fried chicken, steak , pork, all the chewy and the gooey.

I wanted to cry.

Flashback to the dentist chair – as I sit and wait for the brackets to be attached, I wonder why people invest in their teeth and why dentists go rich. And I knew the answer – smile is so important that people will really spend for it.

Smile brightens up a day, gives a virtual hug, and yes, it gives hope.

And regardless of having crooked teeth, a perfect 10 grin, or a gold or silver-plated tooth, a smile is a smile.

In my case, I needed the braces since my two front teeth want to go in different directions!

So here I am – in pain but still smiling. Share the same story?