The Reality of Jaw Surgery

Hello readers!

I have been posting less and less over the year but I still want to update since the blogging community has been so good to me and has really been my rock when I was going through so much.

I am amazed how much time has passed since my surgery and how great life is not having to worry about my jaws anymore.

I've been so busy with life that i sometimes forget how much has changed and how fortunate I am. I feel truly blessed that everything has gone so well.

First off, something I want to share with all my jaw surgery buddies. As much as we want this surgery to lead to perfection, in reality, it doesn't. Not even for those with great results. It is a journey filled with challenges and we really have to choose our battles wisely and not let the small things take away our joy. I am more than happy with my results but I still don't have perfect results. I have permanent numbness in both my lip and chin. I've learned to accept the fact that this numbness will probably always be there. I also still get pressure and swelling in my upper plates. I wake up and feel sore some days. I'm still battling with tongue thrusting but wearing my retainers religiously in order to keep my teeth where they should be. Be demanding when it comes to having retainers after braces and make sure you're wearing them enough that they don't ever feel overly tight on you.

All of the above are things I've learned to accept. I don't let them take away my peace and I try to focus all my energy on the positive changes I've experienced. I have a bite that closes, I can chew almost anything, I don't have excruciating TMJ pain on a daily basis as I did for years.

This is all more than enough to make me feel forever grateful that I had this surgery and went through this long process.

Looking past jaw surgery, life has changed in so many ways. I feel so much more at peace that I can finally live my life normally and do the things I've wanted to do. I've been finding school so much more manageable not having TMJ issues. I feel like I can actually see the light at this point.

I will try my best to post a video soon. I think it shows much more accurately how much my face has changed.

I hope everyone is well. Also so excited to hear so much good news from the blogging community. I feel like so many of my jaw surgery buddies are experiencing so many positive changes in their lives and I hope we can all continue to update and share this joy.

Love you guys!!

Terra

Optimism

Hey readers,

So I know that everything is still a while away and I'm in a waiting process right now. Still about another month until I find anything out.
the whole thing has been driving me a little crazy though, knowing I'm going to be back in braces, and that I have to have jaw surgery. I'm also nervous about correcting my tongue thrusting habit as it is something I feel I have very little control over. If you have read my previous blogs you would know that the orthodontist thinks that what caused my jaw issues is this habit where I push on my front teeth when I shallow instead of on the roof of my mouth. Its weird I know, but its also just what I have ben doing my whole life.
I'm taking the whole process as a good reason to keep my teeth and gums super healthy, so I am trying to cut down on the sugar and floss like crazy. I've already been good for flossing my teeth, but I'm just going to try to be even better.
I did get the waterpik but I'm still going to use superfloss as my teeth are really close together and very hard to get in between. I bought the whitening attachments for the waterpik and I will give them a try when I am home in a few days. I always find its hardest to keep my teeth super white in between so i'm hoping this helps. I have been a huge fan of whitestrips and I can tell you this much, THEY WORK! Like literally, even my orthodontist pointed out that my teeth are very white, I haven't even used the strips in a while, but the results last! Honestly give them a try before you spend a fortune of professional whitening. I've used whitening trays in the past and the results were nowhere near what I get with whitestrips. Even the classic ones work great!
Well thats my little dental rant for the day, I will let everyone know if the whitening attachments for the waterpik work.