self-conscious about my smile

[pumpkinyael]

Hi :)

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this. I think I look fine/quite nice. I look in the mirror and I generally like what I see (hair, body, face etc). I'm not perfect but it's me.

The "problem" becomes very obvious when I look at a picture of myself. My jaw is a bit crooked and (even worse) I have a very slanted (?) smile.

A honest/broad smile resembles a nasty grimace instead of a smile. This has obviously affected my confidence.

Has anyone dealt with this? I have though about plastic surgery but Idk. I don't want to change my face, I just want my smile to look like a smile...

I just wanted to empathise. My jaw is very crooked too, infact my face is quite different on each side, with one eyebrow higher than the other and possibly one eye slightly higher too. I hate photos of me because I find it very noticeable. I am not sure what can be done to be honest. I think pictures really accentuate the problem and maybe we don't look quite asymmetrical in real life?

I suspect that the problem is that you're not overly photogenic. I bet your smile looks perfectly normal in real life.

MoltonSilver

I suspect that the problem is that you're not overly photogenic. I bet your smile looks perfectly normal in real life.

I think is probably the case... you have my sympathy OP, I’m exactly the same. Try not to let it spoil everything you do- or, indeed, anything. Life’s too short

I think pictures really accentuate the problem and maybe we don't look quite asymmetrical in real life?

Absolutely. I think it's an issue of movement. People don't see our face frozen in "smile mode"...

I saw a photo today (registry office, when we got married) and I didn't look like a bride. I looked like a witch thinking about eating babies...

I felt pretty that day. And happy. But my genuine expression of happiness just looks awful.

Try not to let it spoil everything you do- or, indeed, anything. Life’s too short

I agree. And I feel like I shouldn't let it bother me (and like I'm too old and that my life is too good to let something like this affect me..) but it really does.

I was thinking of using nude lipstick? That this might make it less obvious?

Nude lipsticks are good. I feel the same- why worry now, I’ve had a lifetime of weird jaw/smile etc, but we’re weak fallible human beings I suppose... never quite grow out of our insecurities.

I understand from friends that very subtle and expertly done Botox can help lift the lower face and correct a slight imbalance

Me too! Wonky jaw, very asymmetrical face and look horrendous in photos. But not too bad in real life! The only other person to actually notice was my husband. He is a dentist so the jaw stood out - it actually made me feel a bit better as he confirmed what I thought only i could see.

But I'm seriously mellowing on it - I'm not a model, I don't have to look perfect and I'll take imperfect and pretty nice! I've been reliably informed that the only alternative is to have my jaw broken and re-set...I'll pass.

I would assume that Botox works in cases of muscular asymmetry.

I think it's clearly the jaw in my case. (I feel the "issue" when I try to close my mouth completely/try to bite evenly...)

why worry now, I’ve had a lifetime of weird jaw/smile etc, but we’re weak fallible human beings I suppose...

I hope to be as relaxed as you one day.

As for breaking my jaw (gulp):

1. I'd be worried that I didn't look better/just different. (Or worse, fake...)
2. The idea of altering my smile surgically... Idk. It seems wrong? I'm not opposed to cosmetic surgery at all but trying to "fix" a smile seems like asking for trouble...

You are probably the only one who ya aware of this. Photos are unreal. We are seen as moving beings. That helps!

is aware

I have a jaw problem too. It juts out and I have a prominent chin. In dentist terms, it’s called a type 3 malocclusion. Unfortunately it’s considered mild so I didn’t qualify for corrective surgery. It’s brutal surgery too, but the results are incredible. I wish I could have had it. So I understand, OP

@Aspenfrost

I wish. That is unfortunately not the case. It's comically bad (well, if it didn't upset me so much) and extremely obvious in some cases... (At least if I look straight at the camera)

I am however not particularly keen on the idea of getting my jaw broken for something that might improve the situation...

Which is why I'll probably give nude lipstick a try. (never found a nude shade that didn't make me look sickly but I suppose I'll just have to find one.)

@Haworthia

Thanks. And I'm sorry you couldn't have it!! In my case it's more of a sideways thing (not a forward one)...

At least we're not the only ones (as this thread showed?)

Have you ever spoken to a dentist about it? You never know, there may be some non-surgical treatments out there that could help. Did you have braces when you were younger?

@Haworthia
No, no braces. They were considered at a time but it apparently fixed itself... (?)

I probably should. But I'm fairly certain it's not bad for it to be covered... If it was that bad... Idk, I feel like our dentist would have said something during a checkup.

*not bad enough for it to be covered.

I bet you’re being far more harsh on yourself than anyone else ever would be
Everyone has their own little quirks.

When I look at people I don't compare them to perfection. I compare them to average.

But when I look at myself I see all of my flaws.

Who was it who said there is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

However, I wore a bite plane for a year which made my jaw close more symetrically. It used to close sideways like a llama's

I think it’s worth asking a dentist - nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I bet you’re being far more harsh on yourself than anyone else ever would be flowers

That is certainly true...

@JungWan
Absolutely. I guess it troubles me so much because that's not what a smile / my smile looks like in my mind? If that makes sense?

@Haworthia
I will. Because the uneven smile bunches up my (admittedly round, hamster-y cheeks) unevenly which makes my eyes look super uneven and my (in a relaxed state straight...) nose gets crooked.

I have however realised this morning that I exclusively chew with the left side of my mouth so maybe that really is a case for an orthodontist...

@Hawthoria - I'm type 3 on one side only!!! I asked dentist husband about braces and he said they wouldn't work - too much to fix. So it would be jaw breaking or nothing.

I genuinely believe no-one else scrutinises my face like I do (or where someone has a professional eye...like a dentist).

But yes - agree that you should ask your dentist. I got the advice for free on about the third date!!

@LadyBundleBrent

I will. And thanks for the advice. I wonder whether the issue was exacerbated by me always sleeping on the same side of my face (smushed into my pillow? Used to be a stomach sleeper before getting pregnant...)

I'll need to make an appointment for my regular checkups anyways. Should probably mention it in advance so they schedule enough time....

I know what you mean. I didn't have the issue all that bad perhaps because a bit plate did stop my jaw closing diagonally (a bit) as well as just coming up / down. I just to get a shock when I saw a photo. My lips didn't sit right! Nobody else would agree with me on this by the way. My own mother looked at me like I was nuts. But............let's face it, we do know, if it's our own mug we know we are right.