In attempts to take better care of myself I am bringing back some healthy habits. Which at one point or another were in place in this life of mine, and have since, for some reason or another faded away.
Habit #1: Wearing my retainer at night. I got my set of braces on picture day of eigth grade. I remember because my science teacher Mrs. Crockwell (who everyone said wore a wig, which I guess from all the rumors and gossip was a big deal in middle school) made me change clothes in the middle of the day. Because it was picture day, I was wearing this very cute orange, red, and yellow flowered print dress. I still remember the exact pattern, and could probably draw it for you. The class was doing an experiment in the middle of the hall, and I couldn't bend over. Lack of material on the bottom portion of the dress? No...not at all...
I got my braces off on my 16th birthday. This was kind of the big deal of my birthday because a few weeks earlier my father had caught me driving around the neighborhood with some friends. I actually hadn't even fully backed out of the driveway before I saw him pull up. With only a permit, this was illegal and rather stupid on my part. My parents felt it fair to extend my license of freedom for another four months. Really though, I had done it tons of times before, my dad just happened to get home early that one particular day.
When they took my braces off the orthodontic (who keep in mind had my entire community by the balls, I think my entire HS has the same smile) they decided to put a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth. Easier I suppose, and really I don't even notice it. Except when it's time to floss, but I'll get to that later. I also recieved a removable top retainer I only have to wear at night. No big deal right? I have a lousy memory. My family had dogs. Things happen. 3 replacement retainers and 8 years later I'm still carrying the damn thing around in it's hot pink case. Both my parents had braces themselves, and although they do have nice smiles (and faces :) ) their teeth have shifted a bit. Well fuck. My parents didn't dish out thousands of dollars for nothing. Im pretty sure I at least owe it to them to keep some part of me straight.
So last night, after about a year, I popped the sucker back in. And now, yes, my teeth hurt.
More habits to come...