Mine Self-ligating Braces

So I had my braces done on October 2012. Cost me 5k for 3M self-ligation metal braces.

I could have choose the normal type where you have to out on those tiny rubberbands around the brackets.
But it's too fussy and troublesome and it cost 4k. So why not opt for a better one? As least i don't need to worry whether I swallow the band or not.

I removed 4 canine teeth... God, I was so scared. Teeth removal has always been my worst nightmare.
It might be due to the traumatic incident during my primary time with our school dental nurse.
Anyway, it's had been 2 years now.
My teeth really changed alot.
Really really alot.

1 day after :
This is how it looks after putting on. Only 1 month passed from the day I started wearing. Notice that one of the bottom front tooth had no bracket? It's too crooked to put on bracket, so have to wait till it shifted. This is the time where I suffered the worst. Those metal kept on scrapping my inner mouth. OUCH!! Never really think my teeth are so ugly until I saw how the wires goes up and down, in and out... More ugly than normal teeth with braces.

1 month after :
Notice that the teeth began to spread backward. The top row was actually looking more and more like a straight line, God, it still looks so ugly...

2 months after :
Ohh... Its getting better. Those crooked one are getting straighter. Out of place one are falling into the right places.

3 months after :
Nice. Becoming straighter now, it almost doesn't look like me. Haha. Actually straightening the teeth doesn't need too long time. It's the alignment of the teeth that took alot of time...

8 months after :
At this time, my "tiger" canine teeth had already shifted into straight line. Basically the top are more better than the bottom.

2 years after :
Sorry for the fast forward. Mostly are just about closing up the gaps and align the teeth into the correct place. Saw how big the differences between the first picture and this?



I really think that braces are a necessary thing to do in life. My smile are nicer, teeth are more easier to maintain and I look different!! LOL!

It is true that this is actually a painful process. Well, beauty is pain in the ass, isn't it?
Especially if you are an adult going for braces. As we grow older, the teeth bones are more stiffer and harder to shift. Most people does remove their wisdom teeth too before getting the braces on which I had already removed before I think of braces.
Some people finds that having the metals around the teeth is ugly but I actually kinda of like the way it looks on my teeth. Haha.
Lucky for me, out of 5 kids, only 2 needs braces attention.
I definitely will bring them for braces when the time comes.

Quit Smoking Day 4

I managed to survive 4 days without touching 1 cigarette. Yeahhh!!!

First 2 days was the worst.

Now I can look at those people smoking and don't have the strong urge to pick one up.

Ya... mayhap I can still feel a little bit of twitching feeling to smoke but it is all under control smoothly.

I came across this article online which I find it quit informative for smokers who are quitting like me. :)

Quit Smoking Side Effect Time line

Stage 1

1. Chronic Physical Craving
Yes. I definitely have this. I believe everyone will have to go through this stage if they are qutting.

2. Irritability and Intense Mood Swings
Hmm... I really don't know I got intense mood swings or not. But I sure feel irritating easily. Although I don't know this is my natural behaviour or what. HAHA!

3. Intense fatigue
Another item I can't be sure. Cause I always feel tired with or without smoking.

4. Headaches
This is something I agreed will happened during quitting time. Before I started quitting,  I already started to feel the headaches for days when I stopped smoking for 12 hrs per day for my work. Taking panadols does not help at all
.

5. Chest Discomfort
Nope.

6. Constipation
Yes.

7. Flu and Cough like symptoms
Oh yes. My throat got those nasty slimy phlegm that won't disappear. Been having these for 1 week.

8. Increased Hunger and Weight Gain
I still in the early stage of quitting so not sure will gain weight or not but I definitely eat much more.

Basically these will be what going to happen during the first week of quitting smoking.

I also download this very helpful app from hpb called iquit.
It keeps track of the days you started quitting and offer advises when you feel your urge are taking over you.
Anyone who havn't use any app, try it. I hope it helps out.

IOS version Hpb IQuit
Android version Hpb IQuit

So gumbateh everyone!!

The Day I Quitted Smoking

I had tried so many times to quit smoking. It really wasn't easy at all!
The longest time i managed to stop smoking was only 3 days...

The first time I tried to quit was 2008. I used nicotine gums. Frankly speaking, it was useless.
I go back smoking cigarette before I even finish my gums. The gums tasted really horrible. Feels like chewing the cigarette sticks.
Next I even tried gradually cut down but after some days I will forget to keep track.

I tried so many ways. I looked up information from websites, books and friends.
I heard from my friend that some one she know actually managed to quit using those clinic prescribed drugs like, bupropion and Varenicline.
I wanted to try out prescription drugs so much!! But I was so afraid I will be only wasting money..

So I'm trying out, again, "cold turkey". I believe most smokers will know this term.
It means you just suddenly cut off from cigarettes completely.
A lot of reports shows that this is the most effective and best way to quit.
More people tend to success in quitting using cold turkey.
Of cos it's not an easy way either.
I tried it a few times. Initially, it was still easy to control.
But as days went by, all the mind think about was,
"light up a cigarette would do much harm to my quit program",
"(Mind blank) just went to pick up cigarette and light up",
"Feel fustrated, really very very fustrated".
The mind just keep on returning to cigarettes.

It is very true that it takes up alots of determination to quit.
This is not joking.
I think it's was I getting control by it. If I think of it, I want to light it.
I don't know whether really get headaches, cough or flu when you are quitting.
Might be some people will feel super uncomfortable while some are just easy.
I was surprised by myself too that I can actually stay smoke-free from 7am to 7pm, my working hours for now.
This have continue for 2 weeks and I actually keep having headaches last week.
I wonder is it bcos i stopped for 12 hrs?
Of cos before I decided to quit, I was still smoking after I reach home..

Anyway, i read on an article that writting down a list of "whys" you quit smoking can actually help in our determination to quit.

This is my list. I am still thinking to add what in.