I have exciting news that I’ve been waiting to share: I’m going to be an Invisalign spokesperson! Full disclosure: I’ll be receiving complimentary services, in exchange for sharing the ins and outs of my treatment. I’ll be checking in once a month to give updates on my journey and progress, and want you to know that my opinions are always my own – I’ll share my honest experience of it all. But before I start my treatment, I’d like to share why I decided to straighten my teeth.

With a handful of [post-braces] golden years as an exception, my teeth have always been one of my biggest insecurities. As a toddler, I ran into a wall and killed one of my front teeth, leaving it a dull shade of grey. It wasn’t cute, and I couldn’t wait for it to be replaced by a shiny new adult one. Much to my dismay, my permanent tooth decided it could no longer wait for the other one to leave, and grew in behind it. My bottom teeth soon decided the same plan of action, and thus began my life with crooked, overcrowded teeth. From freshman year of high school through most of college, I experienced those previously mentioned, darling golden years of a perfect smile. But slowly, in a process so gradual that I hardly knew what was happening, my teeth shifted back to their pre-braces state. Ever since, I’ve been eager to get that smile back. Friends (with perfect smiles – they probably wore their retainers) would say to me, “You don’t need braces! Your teeth give you character,” and I would normally be right there with them, cheering on imperfections. But this is not about how the world perceives my smile, it’s about how it makes me feel. To be honest, my teeth are one feature I’ve never been teased about – not even as a child, when they were at their worst. But this one little thing is a pretty big deal to me – and I can feel and see my teeth shifting, becoming more and more crooked with each day. I often go through many portraits on Makeup Monday, choosing the ones where they aren’t as obvious, and I’ve learned how to shift my head to get the best results – but in video, it’s all I can focus on, and I can’t help but let it get to me. I want to smile without any resignation, without diffidence.

After having braces for over three years, I didn’t want to relive the traditional metal brackets and multi-colored rubber bands, which I used to change to match each season. I feared that, like Miranda Hobbes, I would never be able to re-commit to a mouth full of metal. I paid my dues; I have the scars from my frequently too-long wires to prove it. I just didn’t wear my retainers long enough, because I thought there was an expiration date on those things. Several of my friends in similar positions ended up going with Invisalign, and had amazing results. They encouraged me to look into it. That’s when I started asking around about Invisalign and researching it for myself. For those of you who are not familiar with Invisalign, it’s a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners that are used to gradually straighten teeth without brackets or wires (and colorful rubber bands to match the holidays – you win some, you lose some). I love the fact that it’s not only discreet, but also removable! My friends told me they saw a noticeable change in their smiles within just a few months, so I’m beyond excited to get the process started and see for myself.

Though I waxed poetic about my desire to get it, in my typical form of procrastination I kept placing it in my “Future Wants and Needs” folder. That’s when Invisalign stepped in and asked me if I wanted to be a spokesperson, and receive complimentary treatment in exchange for sharing my experience. My “Future Wants and Needs” filing promptly went to “It’s Happening!! Everything Is Happening!”

It’s pretty great to think that last year, I had two big things on my wish list: straighten my teeth, and go to Paris. And just like that, I’m ready to mark both of them off – done and done. Here’s to the journey ahead; I’m so excited to share my experience with you all!

p.s. If you are interested in Invisalign treatment, you can request more info, here.