The world of the toothless

I have a dilemma. I said I’d go to a coworker’s house warming/ugly sweater party tomorrow night, and I’ve been looking forward to it for a while. However, I had another mouth surgery yesterday and can’t wear my fake teeth for a couple weeks. Do you know how much it sucks to have to, with every introduction I make, be like, “Hi, I usually have front teeth.” Because I’m too self-conscious NOT to acknowledge it.

Then, one of two things happens. The person is like, “Uhhh….okay” and it makes things awkward for both of us. Or–almost worse–they ask what happened. I launch into the brief, as-humorous-as-possible version of the story, but no matter how I present it, they inevitably feel inclined to feel sorry for me, even though I really don’t want sympathy. And suddenly, somehow, I have become that person who tells sob stories at a fucking party.

I’m not entirely sure what to do.