Editor�s Note

Fashions are hard to follow unless, like me, you�re advancing in years and waistline and you can just abandon yourself to a life of jeans and T-shirts.

But one thing I did go through at school was the agony of wearing dental braces. My mouth was a crowded mess of molars, canines and emerging wisdom teeth (yes, I have all the latter � how do you think I got this job?). So I had four teeth extracted and then wore a removable brace for a year. Not only was the pain unbearable as my teeth slowly migrated to their new positions, I was also subjected to taunting by those blessed with sensational smiles.

I know that wearing braces has come into fashion in Thailand recently, but it wasn�t until I read a news report that I realised the extent of the problem. Shops are selling potentially lethal braces for less than 100 baht each, and concerns about lead poisoning and rust have been raised. Even more scary is the fact that, apparently, teens are decking out their dentistry with colours and patterns, although the reports don�t explain exactly how (coloured beads? Paint?).

I think this is taking things too far. Your teeth are for life; if you abuse them and lose them, you�re going to have to wear false ones. More serious is the possibility of lead poisoning, which can be fatal later in life. Wise up, people � if your dentist advised you that you need braces, wear them. Otherwise, think long and hard about putting metal in your mouth.

Happy reading.

Matt Leppard, Editor
[email protected]