Foureyedmetalmouth Blog Excerpts

(Below, I have reconstructed in part my old blog of my time wearing braces. Since I also had glasses, I called my blog Foureyedmetalmouth. The images and text you see below comes from the original header to my old blog, and the text below it are actual excerpts from the original postings. Unfortunately, much of the material was lost, but I saved what I could.)

 Foureyedmetalmouth

I wear glasses!! And I wear braces!!

Look over my blog and it should tell you more about my experiences wearing glasses and braces!! 8­#

JOHN WATERS AND LIFE
Wednesday, 24 September 2003

I just remembered another bit of trivia. I remember looking through a biography of campy film director John Waters, who created such cult films as "Pink Flamingos," "Hairspray" and "Cry Baby." In the biography, it mentioned that, as a young kid, he couldnt wait to be a teenager, because he thought it looked so cool to be older, and beacuse he liked many aspects of being a teenager. John, at that age, was already realizing that he was a bit odd and had odd interests(which is a good thing in my book), and he liked the idea of freaks, like those in comics and stories, and of the idea of being freakish. He also liked the idea of being "bad" and mischeivous. John wanted to be a teenager so that he could be bigger, and be an adolescent with lots of acne, which he thought was very cool, in keeping with his love of freakishness. (See, I told you he was weird.) And, he loved the idea of being a juvenile delinquent, and getting in trouble, although Im not so sure that how often he actually behaved like that. But he liked the idea. I remember that this book mentioned that John also wanted very badly, as a young kid, to get braces on his teeth, and that he would use wire paperclips to make fake braces for himself. He longed to be a teenager and get braces. But, the dentist and his parents apparently were of the conclusion that John did not need braces, as his teeth were straight enough. Well, as for my life, things are going well, and quite smothely. I cant say that theres been much of a hitch in the whole braces experience. I went in for an ortho appointment recently, but he didnt do much except look over my teeth, and the braces. I also was going to meet some friends this past weekend who had not previously seen my braces, so they would have seen me for the first time with my braces, but I wasnt able to do so. Well, maybe later. I'll have these things on for a long time, so there will be plenty of time for them to see me in my metalmouth. I'll be getting together with some other friends this next weekend, but most of them have already seen me in my braces, but maybe some cool comments will occur nonethless, and maybe some of them havent seen me braced. Who knows.

BRACES BECOME ROUTINE
Tuesday, 30 September 2003 

Braces have become so much a routine part of my life now. They still do give me pleasure. I must admit that Im not sure what about my own experience really merits mentioning. Right now, I just have brackets on both top and bottom teeth, without any extraoral appliance, and no elastics yet. I know I will be getting elastics later, though. My most recent "issue" regarding my braces is that I keep getting my lower lip caught in one of my lower brackets. Theres a sore there now, and the combination of that with the braces scraping the sore can be quite annoying. Ive swished some listerine around there to disinfect it, and because Ive noticed that listerine, after that initial buring feeling of disinfection, actually seems to make the tenderness of a mouth sore go away a bit. My lip has gotten caught in my brackets a few times in that same general area. Another thing that has happened is that the scraping of my brackets with my lower lip in other areas has caused some irritation. But, thats ok. Thats part of the stuff that comes with getting braces. Other than that, Im not sure what else to add. I plan to visit some friends soon, which will be cool, because my braces look particularly noticable and thick lately, because Ive got a cool twisty archwire which is fairly noticable. Im going to visit some friends soon, some who have already ntoiced my braces, and some who have not. I'll just make sure to smile at those who have not, and make sure those that have notice even more my mouthful of metal. 

BARING MY BRACES, CHATTING ABOUT BRACES, AND BRACES WATCHING

Monday, 6 October 2003
I went out with a friend this past weekend, and at one point he asked me about food getting caught in my braces. It was a very short comment, but its the type of thing that I get pleasure from. I've noticed that being in a social situation with others, and in particular where the others are aware of my having braces and I feel comfortable baring them, have a strong effect on my enjoying my braces experience. Im often a loner, and spend a lot of time just being by myself. But part of what makes wearing braces cool is the social context of it, of being a metalmouth and having people know it, and of you being aware that they know it. This past weekend I found myself to be in a particularly social mode, and even before the comment my friend made, I just felt good. I mean, I felt good overall. But, in particular, I felt good about wearing braces, and yes,< glasses too. We were just having fun and went to places where there were a lot of people, and a lot of families, and which gave me ample opportunity to do some braces/glasses watching. I saw quite a few, and it was cool for me to bare my braces when I interacted with others and with my friends. So, I felt good about my tracks and spex even before my friend asked about them. The question just added to it... like the final cherry on the cake.

I sometimes have found myself wondering if it wouldnt have been more cool to get braces as a high school guy, rather than an adult. This has often been a thought ive had, that it would have been so much more cool to be a foureyedmetalmouth back in my teen years, with my mouth full of very visible metal braces, and my glasses perched on my face. But, Ive also had conversations online with others who enjoy being an adult with braces, and Ive had someone say to me that he preferrs having them as an adult because you wont get teased or made fun of as you would as a teenager. Ive thought about that. I must admit that when I was a teen, i was a geeky freak type of kid, a loner and noncomformist who didnt really fit in too weel. I was often made fun of by other kids, and I guess, when it comes down to it, maybe wearing braces at that time wouldnt have been quite as cool as Id think. I mean, I still would have had cool memories about been a braces and glasses wearing teen, and, although I didnt like it at the time, Ive survived being teased on other occasions. And, I keep thinking that i could be hanging out with the other fellow outsiders back in High school, on those rare occasions when I did hang out with others, and it would ahve been cool to be doing that with a great mouthful of braces along with my glasses. But, what has changed is the realization that things arent always the way one thinks they will be. For example, when looking back, and imagining how it would have been to go through orthodontic treatment back then, I will tend to accentuate the stuff I think would have been cool, and imagine things happening just as I would have wanted them to, and minimize the negative stuff, the realization that my braces may have provided yet another target for people to make fun of me. of course, when I got my glasses back at age 15, very few people said anything, and those few just made friendly questions. I didnt get teased about my glasses. But, I still wonder if, even if i wouldnt get teased about my braces, if they wouldnt still make me very uncomfrotable at opening my mouth, or talking, given that I was already a bit uncomfortable at school. Just a lot of stuff to think about. A lot of "what ifs." It could also go the other way too.

Of course, now what I should do is to enjoy being an adult with braces as much as possible, and there is much to enjoy about it. in any case, its something I just have to go through. So, you might as well enjoy it. 

A PROFESSIONAL IN BRACES/SOCIAL IN BRACES
Monday, 13 October 2003

I just finished attending a professional conference/convention. This is my first in braces, and I believe of all the fairly large group of people attending, I was the only one in mouthmetal. After the convention, I had to go to another social gathering. I must admit that I am still a bit reticent to appear with my braces in front of people, especially those who havent yet seen me in braces. At the conference, there were several friends (or maybe acquaintances is more like it) of mine who had not yet seen me in braces, and I must admit that after several months in braces, I still feel uncomfortable confronting people in them the first time. I was trying to be discreet about my mouthmetal, yet still try to look natural. Theres this silly balance one has to pull of whereby you have to try to not bare your braces too obviously, yet still not try to obscure them too much... if you bare your braces too intensely you appear a bit too happy to have braces, and you may appear a bit odd... but if you try too hard to obscure your braces (which is probably my tendency moreso than baring them too much, at least with people I try to be "professional" with and those who havent seen my braces before) you will just draw even more attention to them, and look even dumber. So, anyway, the moral of the story is that as an adult, and after several months, you still< may feel a bit awkward for having a tin grin. I guess I should consider that this makes it all just that much more "authentic" since a typical teenager would probably, in most circumstances, feel quite awkward in braces, and if I had gotten them in my teens, even though I think braces are cool, I would still probably have the feeling of awkwardness nonetheless....especially in a school full of people who are all too willing to tease you for other reasons and who would like nothing better than to find a new reason to get onto you.  

GLAD TO WEAR GLASSES
Thursday, 23 October 2003

There is a British poet by the name of John Hegley, who apparently is a major fan of glasses and glasses wearing, and is a glasses wearer himself. He sometimes writes poetry about glasses and glasses wearing, and one of his books of poetry is called "Glad to Wear Glasses." Hegley's books are hard to get in the United States, Ive noticed, but you can order it by mail through the internet. Below are some excerpts from his book, "Glad to Wear Glasses."

Poem about my glasses
I look after my spectacles
because they look after me;
without my spectacles
where would I be
I'd probably be standing here
but I'd have a job to see
properly

In the arms of my glasses
I go with you across the bridge
foot­sure in your thin embrace
now I am good looking

Poem about losing my glasses
the place is unfamiliar
my face is bare
I've mislaid my glasses
I've looked in my glasses case
but they're not there
and I need my glasses
to find my glasses
but I'll be alright
I've got a spare pair
somewhere

MOVIN' RIGHT ALONG 8­#

Tuesday, 28 October 2003
Well, Ive had another ortho appointment recently, and I got my archwire on my bottom teeth changed. My bottom teeth were quite achy and tender after that. I also just had a conversation with someone about my braces, and how my treatment is going. Its always quite cool to have someone you know, in this case a coworker, talk to me about my braces. Its just cool to have my mouthmetal as the topic of conversation, and being able to comment about it. Soon, Im going to get together with some friends of mine (a male friend Id known for awhile and his girlfriend) that may have some braces­related interest. I only get to see these friends once in awhile, since they live a certain distance from me. The last time I saw them, it was right after I had gotten my top braces on, and it sparked a brief conversation regarding them. Now, this next time I meet them, it will be the first time I have both top and bottom braces on. It will be neat to see if any commentary develops regarding that. The guy had braces growing up, so it may produce some cool conversation. I am doing well with my treatment, and am consistently aware of being braced, and in glasses, and how cool all that is. I'm looking to see if I can find a good time to try out some colors on my braces, at some point, maybe during the upcoming holiday season. 

"OLD SCRAPMOUTH"
Sunday, 9 November 2003

I love movies and TV shows that feature characters with glasses, braces, or both. I have copy of the episode from The Partridge Family, circa 1970 or so, where Laurie (played by Susan Dey) gets braces on her teeth. Its a cool episode for a number of reasons, not leats of which is that its cool to have en entire 30 minute episode of a TV show premised around braces, and hearing the characters talk about braces all through the episode. The word "braces" is mentioned repeatedly throughout the episode by most of the main characters, who talk about them in various contexts, which is cool. Another cool thing about the episode is that, along with the feel of the era that comes with that very 1970s show, you also get a glimpse into the way braces were perceived in the culture of that era. This was clearly a time when braces were seen as something to dread. Its amazing to see the dramatic reaction when laurie is told she needs to get braces, and she reacts like her world just ended and she would ahve to face a terrible experience. There are several scenes in the episode where the mother (played by Shirley Jones) has a heartfelt, sensitive conversation with Laurie, trying to comfort her about her need from braces. It gets all sensitive and dramatic, like a soap opera, where laurie is crying and downcast and sad, and the mother is comforting her. Its interesting to see, in light of how different things are today. The episode was called "Old Scrapmouth." Nowadays, braces are so common. You see kids all over the place with braces, and sometimes adults too. Several of my co­workers have kids who are either about to get braces, or have had them. You hear them talking about them, and going to see the orthodontist, and about all the little details of braces. But, its more of a routine occurrence, than it is anything dramatic. I love to hear about these details, incidentally. The other day, one of my co­workers talked to me about my braces, and asked me several questions about them, because her daughter was about to get braces. It was a pleasant conversation, and I was all too happy to talk about my braces.

While Im mentioning TV shows and movies with braces: I remember also that episode of The Brady Bunch, sometime in the early 1970s, where Marsha gets braces, and its just as dramatic as the one from the Partridge Family.

GEEK WITH BRACES AND GLASSES
Tuesday, 11 November 2003
Wearing braces has been pretty cool recently. At the last appointment, the ortho filed down a bit some of my teeth so that they would fit together better. I got a new archwire on the bottom, and I still got twisty­tie wires on top, in addition to the archwire. Its been pretty neat, and I love seeing myself in braces and glasses together. The combo of the two rock in a nerdy sort of way. I've been feeling geeky (in a good way) with my railroad tracks and four eyes, and I like it. Its been fun that way.

SOME PERSONAL NOTES
Sunday, 23 November 2003

8­# I'm really feeling good about my braces and glasses experience. I feel very good about how smoothely its going. My glasses have been with me for so long, that its just something Ive gotten used to, and which I enjoy wearing. I wouldnt trade these for contacts ever. Its cool to have spex on. As for my braces, Ive gottn to feel quite comfortable in them. Im always aware of my braces on my teeth, but theyev gotten to be a failry comfortable accessory to me. I feel 'em in there, in my mouth, and I love having them. I feel really good about how my braces experience has gone. Its gone very smoothely, and Ive had only pleasant experiences in talking with others about my mouthmetal. This may sound like just a repeat of some previous posts, but thats really just the way it is. Its just me wearing my braces every day, and feeling good about them. I like knowing theyre there. I like feeling them in my mouth, and sometimes I enjoy running my tongue over them. But, its not like its a major performance wearing these. And, as for my glasses, Ive had them since my teens, so Ive had many years of getting used to them. But, I love em too.
(Redacted portion)

UPDATE
Thursday, 22 January 2004 

[I've been reminded] of how exciting, and probably scary also, i always imagined it would be for a kid to have to go to school for the first time wearing braces, and not knowing what to expect when they open up their mouth and their classmates see that metal on their teeth for the first time. It may have been scary for them, in those years when I was growing up, before braces became quite so common and even popular as they are today, but it certainly was exciting for the other kids who always seemed to have a fascination for seeing some classmate of theirs wearing a new set of braces for the first time. Recently, I was at work, and heard a co­worker talk with other co­workers near where I was. She said that he boy, who was just beginning high school, just got his braces on the night before. The ongoing preparation for orthodontic treatment was an occasional topic of conversation among these co­workers that would pop up every once in awhile. Well, the moment finally came and her young teenager son finally got his braces on. They had a dicussion about the ongoing treatment that I just had to listen in on. It'll be cool to listen in on any more commentary about this ongoing treatment. Other co­workers were also commenting about their treatment as they were growing up. Some of them had a similar conversation with me when I first got my own braces, but I stayed out of this one and just listened in with curiousity. As for me, I got taken off the red and green Christmas colors I'd been wearing, and now am in normal metallic. I have a powerchain on top, and regular on bottom. The saga continues. Speaking of my other interest: I really need to get myself some new glasses. The one's I've had are getting worn, and I havent gone out and bought new ones in a while. I should get new ones, and I should really get examined soon too. 

POKING WIRES AND MY POWERCHAIN

Sunday, 20 June 2004
Lately, Ive been having poking wire problems. I've been going in to have it adjusted and been using wax to cover up the parts that are poking at me. Its cool to get to use a braces­related product like braces wax. Its part of the game of having braces isn't it? Lately, my ortho has been alternating between putting a twisty wire thing on my top teeth, and a powerchain. Lately its a powerchain. theyre both cool looking, actually. I seem to be getting more fun out of wearing braces lately than usual. Braces are cool to get, but after a while you get used to them. I've been dating lately. I dont know what else to comment on this. I guess I've been worried about how difficult it would be to date with my mouthful of metal, but it's been less of a big deal than I thought. My braces have only been mentioned a few times, just very briefly. As for kissing, again, very little effect.  I do get the impression that a few dates ago, my girlfirend may have been trying to feel my braces with her tongue and lips.... its hard to explain why I feel this, but her kissing seemed different in some ways. Like her tongue and lips seemed to reach for where my braces are. I havent had that happen since, but when it did, it was actually quite a turn on. I didnt ask if she was actually doing that. But i remember thinking that it was the case, and just being so aroused by it. Braces and glasses are so cool. If I were younger, I would try to accentuate them more: the most metallic braces and the most obvious thick­framed glasses. As a teen, it would be cool. But, as an adult, I feel like being less obvious, and more subtle. 

POWERCHAINS, TWISTY-WIRES, AND POLTERGEIST II
Saturday, 26 June 2004
Hey, I just saw Poltergeist II again. Thats the one where the Freeling's son Robbie gets attacked by his own posssessed braces!! I swear i just cant get tired of seeing that scene. Thats a braces classic! First he's there in front of his mirror looking at his braces and trying to shave, and then his braces get possessed and wires start coming out, and at the end, he's completely covered in braces wire!! (A muffled cry of "mmmmmmmmph, mmmmmph" comes up from behind the wire.)
Anyway, I got my braces "tightened" trecently, and I got the powerchain on my top teeth replaced with a twisty-wire, and a powerchain was placed on the bottom teeth (which before just had single ligatures). So, this is the first time that I got both a twisty-wire and a powerchain together (one on top, the other on the bottom). I do hope I get to have elastics soon. I'd hate to miss out on elastics bfore my braces experience is over.

COOL BRACES MOMENT

Sunday, 25 July 2004
I had recently a cool moment with my braces. A friend of mine asked me about my braces, and I talked to him about them. I smiled at him so he could see my braces, and allowed him to look at them up close. I used my hand to move my lips so he could see my braces more clearly. I pointed out that I have clear top braces and metal lower braces, and pointed out the twisty wire I have on top and the powerchain on the bottom. It was very cool to have so much close attention payed to my mouthmetal, and it was very cool to talk about. In fact, quite frankly, I became quite aroused at the conversation... it was so cool for me to bare my braces and talk about them, and have someone else (other than the ortho and his staff) look right into my mouth at all the wires and brackets and neat stuff. This is the kind of thing I would have imagined doing if I had braces as a kid. Showing my friends and nonchalantly and matter­of­factly talking about my braces and my ortho treatment.

BRACES OFF . . . RETAINERS ON!!!
Thursday, 28 April 2005
Some people make a big deal about getting their braces off, and act like its such a big change. I do still remember the way the wires poked me at times, and the feel of that stuff in my mouth, but on the basis of the way it felt, the change for me wasnt really that much to comment on. Its a bigger difference on the psychological side. Being an adult, there was always a self­consciousness about have braces, and that was there when I spoke and smiled. Now, thats off me, and its actually a relief from that standpoint.
As someone who, admittedly, always thought braces were pretty cool growing up, and who was glad when I was told I needed them as an adult, I'm going to miss the wire and elastics and brackets. But, its cool that I've been able to enjoy a braces journey. And my teeth look great after the treatment. I've been told they look really good now, and I agree.
After getting my braces off, the ortho gave me a temporary reatiner that looked like a teeth whitening tray. Or, I guess its what that Invisalighn stuff must be like. Its a flimsy plastic thing I fit on my teeth. They fitted me for it on the day I got them off. They also fitted me for my regular retainer. After about a week, my regular retainer came in, and I got it, along with a case. I decided to get a retainer with a design of a Roswell-style alien on it.
Pretty cool. I'll see if I can get a pic of it and post it.
The retainers actually look pretty cool.. theyve got the acrylic part that is formed to fit my mouth behin my  teeth, and its got the metal hard wires that look like bent paperclips which got around my teeth to keep them in place. There is also a small piece of plastic over the wire on my bottom teeth. At first the reatiner had a really bad taste to it, but I washed it thoroughly, and it came off. I've heard peopel complain about their reatiners, but I have to admit I havent had a problem with it. I was told to wear it as often as possible, but I've only done it at night... but it seems to be going quite well notwithstanding that.

Actual original pic from my Foureyedmetalmouth blog.

Of course, I still have my glasses. I havent written much about them. I do enjoy having glasses as well as braces, theyre both cool. Maybe I can comment some more on them now.
Thanks to all of you for staying with me. I'll still keep posting. I have some comments about my own interest with braces and glasses. So, keep reading... I think I'll have a bit more to say...'cause braces and glasses are cool.



HELLO
Monday, 15 August 2005
Ive not been blogging lately. I guess Im at a point where Im not too sure how to continue. Ive definitely enjoyed blogging while I had braces, and sharing those experiences with all who would read it. I may soon decide to just call it quits as to blogging. For those who've joined me on my braces and glasses journey... thanks! I'll see what I do, but its been fun sharing what has been a personally enjoyable experience.