‘My orthodontist husband suggested I train as a dental nurse’

I had absolutely no interest whatsoever in teeth when I was younger other than during the 30 minutes before leaving the house for my twice-yearly routine check-up when I became obsessed and would vigorously brush my teeth for 10 minutes. ‘The dentist can tell, you know, if you haven’t been brushing them since he last saw you.’ I would hear coming up the stairs. My eyes rolled. My mother insisted on six monthly check-ups – and I am now utterly grateful.

Fast forward 20 years to a pub in London where I met my husband. He told me he was an orthodontist. ‘Oooh, I had a brace when I was younger,’ I said, which I now know would have been the last thing he wanted to hear on a date. Several glasses of wine luckily meant I cannot recall whether I proceeded to then show him the results of my orthodontic work across the table.