Candice Klein-Mutendi
My smile has always been my best feature. You know the one. The smile that lights up a room, the one people recognize before they even see me coming. Everyone loved it. I loved it too. It was part of who I was: confident, warm, and always ready to make someone’s day a little brighter.
But then life happened.
Three years ago, the SABC let me go. Just like that. No warning that could prepare me for how hard the fall would be. One day I had a stable job, a steady income, and all the benefits that came with it: pension, medical aid, security, a future. The next day, it was all gone.
Losing that job wasn’t just about the money or the status. It was like losing a piece of myself. I fell into a deep depression. I stopped caring about things that used to matter: things like getting out of bed, showing up for friends, and yes, taking care of my teeth. Depression has a sneaky way of making you forget who you are and what you deserve.
Over time, my teeth started to fail me. At first, I ignored the pain. I told myself I’d get around to fixing it “soon.” But “soon” never came. Eventually, the damage was too severe, and when I finally went to a government dentist, there wasn’t much they could do.
They removed what couldn’t be saved and left me with a few shards of molar, just enough so I could chew mos, you know? Except, those shards have become their own kind of torment. They cut into the inside of my cheeks. Talking hurts. Smiling hurts. Eating hurts.
I used to love laughing loudly. Now I find myself covering my mouth or avoiding conversations altogether. Meals have become soft porridge and slap chips because that’s all I can manage without bleeding or pain. Imagine that; being afraid to eat, to talk, to smile.
But here’s the thing: I want my smile back.
Not just for vanity. Not just for photos or appearances. I want it back because my smile was part of my identity, a reflection of my spirit, my resilience, my joy. I want to laugh again without pain. I want to speak with confidence again. I want to walk into a room and feel like myself again.
That’s why I’ve started a BackaBuddy campaign called “Restore My Smile.”
I’m asking you, my friends, my supporters, my mense to please help me rebuild what I’ve lost. Every donation, big or small, brings me one step closer to smiling again without wincing. It’s not easy to ask for help, but sometimes life humbles us enough to realize that asking is an act of courage, not weakness.
You’ve always loved my smile. Now I’m asking you to help me bring it back.
Here’s How You Can Help
BackaBuddy Restore My Smile Campaign
Every contribution goes directly toward dental reconstruction: proper dentures, treatment, and restoration. It’s about restoring dignity, confidence, and a sense of normalcy.
If you’ve ever heard me on the radio, seen me on screen, on stage, or even just across a table sharing a story or a laugh, you know how much that smile means. It’s not just about teeth, it’s about reclaiming the joy I lost along the way.
I’ve come a long way from the darkness of depression. I’ve learned to be grateful for the small victories; waking up, getting dressed, facing the world one day at a time. But I can’t fully step back into the light without restoring the part of me that used to shine the brightest.
So mense, I’m asking, assomblief, kanala, please back a buddy.
Because when you help me restore my smile, you’re helping me restore a piece of hope.
You’re helping me heal.
Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for caring. And thank you for believing that a smile, even one that’s been broken, can be rebuilt with a little kindness and a lot of love.
Bruinou.com Content Contributor Cancice Klein-Mutendi is a professional journalist and a longstanding member of the Bruinou.com online community.
To help Candice, go here—> https://backabuddy.co.za/campaign/restore-my-smile
