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Reality star Brielle Biermann reveals why she had jaw surgery

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Brielle Biermann revealed on Instagram that due to sucking her thumb until she was nine, she recently underwent jaw surgery.

The Bravo reality star shared a set of photos to her more than 1.3 million followers, with a lengthy caption explaining how she got there.

"So, I had double jaw surgery on August 23 to correct my TMJ and 9mm overjet overbite," Biermann wrote.

"This was not for aesthetics, but for quality of life. I sucked my thumb until I was 9-ish which made the roof of my mouth super narrow, and my excessive overbite caused my teeth to have no contact whatsoever," she continued.

The 24-year-old explained that prior to surgery, the roof of her mouth made it impossible for her to eat some of her favourite foods.

"Have you ever thought about what it’s like to not be able to bite into pizza?" she asked followers. "Or — OMG, trying to bite into an onion on a burger? Impossible for me."

Biermann went on to reveal that not only was eating often difficult and dangerous for her, but her speech — that many have criticized — was also affected by the abnormally narrow roof of her mouth.

"I had to use my tongue to help me chew and almost choked every time I ate. That lisp some of y’all complained about? Thank the overbite for that as well," she wrote.

She admitted that she wasn't exactly looking forward to having surgery, however. "I was so scared… I was completely dreading this surgery fearing the worst of the worst. But thankfully, with my positive mindset, strong family and friends support system, @tbtofga IVs, and my incredible doctors (Dr. Kuhmichel & Dr. Maron! Best of the best, I swear. I’m so thankful for them), I got thru the first two weeks — which are supposed to be the hardest —easy breezy! I already feel more aligned and can breathe way better."

The "Don't Be Tardy" alum also shared that she has had braces for the last year, but has "tried my hardest to hide them because honestly, who at 24 years old wants to look like they did in middle school again?"

"I was told in August 2020 that if I did not get braces and this surgery, I would crack my back four teeth and never be able to eat again by the time I was 27," she said. "So I really had no option."

During her recovery, Biermann has been eating through a tube that she admitted hasn't been very pleasant, but is "counting down the days" until she "can eat pasta and soft foods, and three months 'til pizza!"

Biermann's mom, Kim Zolciak-Biermann, also shared a post on Instagram commemorating her daughter's 6-hour long surgery, calling it one of the "hardest days" of her life. "Longest 6 hours of my life. I was on edge all day," she wrote, adding, "My heart was racing."

So, can sucking your thumb for an extended period of time really lead to jaw issues?

“The answer is yes, absolutely,” Dr. John Girotto, section chief for plastic surgery at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, told TODAY Parents. “It’s sucking your thumb for an extended period of time or using a pacifier for an extended period of time that can lead to what we call an anterior open bite."

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