Christina Wyman, a 43-year-old author and teacher, shares her experiences with undergoing orthodontic treatment to correct a severe overbite and deformed jaw known as Class II malocclusion. Beginning at the age of 12, she endured three rounds of orthodontia, including metal brackets, Invisalign trays, and orthognathic surgery. Despite spending nearly $15,000 and a significant portion of her life trying to reshape her face, she still felt insecure about her teeth and faced relentless bullying throughout her childhood and adulthood. These experiences deeply impacted her self-esteem and confidence, leading to ongoing struggles in her personal and professional life.
As a child, Christina coped with the bullying by immersing herself in books, but was unable to fully connect with the characters due to her own experiences. The nicknames and hurtful comments from peers and adults haunted her for years, causing recurring dreams and lasting emotional trauma. Even as an adult, she faced criticism from strangers, teachers, and even her dentist based solely on the aesthetics of her teeth. The obsession with perfect teeth in America can be traced back to the 1800s when the country’s first dental college promoted the idea of ideal dental perfection.
Throughout her orthodontic journey, Christina felt pressure to conform to societal standards of beauty and perfection. Seeing images of celebrities with braces at her orthodontist’s office reinforced the message that she needed to fix her appearance. However, she eventually realized that the opinions and criticisms of others were not a reflection of her worth or identity. Through therapy and writing her debut novel, “Jawbreaker,” she began to heal from the trauma of her past experiences. The book follows a seventh-grader with a craniofacial anomaly who faces bullying from peers and her own sister, reflecting Christina’s own struggles and emotions.
Writing “Jawbreaker” allowed Christina to process her trauma and understand that the negative opinions about her appearance were not a reflection of her true self. She no longer feels the need to confront those who have hurt her in the past, as she recognizes that their cruelty was a reflection of their own insecurities. Embracing her flaws and imperfections, she has learned to be comfortable in her own skin and to value her unique smile. As an author and teacher, she now uses her experiences to connect with and inspire children who may be facing similar challenges, spreading a message of self-acceptance and resilience.
Christina’s journey towards self-acceptance and healing has been transformative, allowing her to let go of the shame and self-criticism that once consumed her. She has found strength in embracing her imperfections and sharing her story with others, encouraging them to be kind to themselves and to embrace their uniqueness. Through her writing and interactions with students, she hopes to empower others to love themselves unconditionally and to find beauty in their individuality. Her upcoming novel, “Slouch,” is highly anticipated and will continue to explore themes of self-acceptance and resilience, offering a message of hope and empowerment to readers of all ages.
