I was wrong.
Nearly a week ago, Shulamith joined the rising number of adults receiving orthodontic treatment. Her story is somewhat unusual. She actually already had braces as a kid. She had just eight on her top teeth, which at the time was all anyone thought she needed. And by all appearances, they did an excellent job of straightening her teeth and correcting her overbite, leaving her with a lovely smile.
She was faithful in wearing her retainer too, just as directed, and we thought all would be well. What no one told us, however, is that she has a condition known as a "tongue thrust." It is a behavioral pattern in which the tongue protrudes through the teeth during speech and swallowing, and even sometimes while the tongue is at rest. She has apparently always had this, yet nobody ever told us.
This makes me just a bit upset because of course we would have done something about it had we known, but well, we can only go forward. So because of the tongue thrust, her overbite is back to the way it was pre-braces, so severe that she can't even close her bottom and top teeth together.
The solution: braces and speech therapy. Yep, Shulamith now has a mouth full of metal, and in the fall she will begin speech therapy to learn to control her out-of-control tongue.
I'm proud of her decision to move forward and get this taken care of, and I think she looks simply beautiful in her braces, though they do indeed make her look younger, especially with her summer freckles. So if you see the photo above and think "teen mom," rest assured, it is just Shulamith, who is plenty old enough to have children.
I can't wait to see the result in just a couple of very short years. Think of Eli's mission, Shulamith. Think how quickly that flew by. They'll be off in no time!
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