The Awful Tooth
Feb. 27th, 2008 05:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
penfield"Every tooth in a man's head is more valuable than a diamond."
- Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote
My semi-annual dental check-up went well this morning. No cavities, abcesses or other maxillofacial maladies for me. It was even sort of fun when the doctor showed me some sophisticated new Kodak dental software, which allows a literally in-depth look at one's tooth enamel, showing exactly where the relatively soft spots are. (It is a good thing for me that this software has not yet been adapted for full-body scans.) Apparently I have some vulnerabilities on Tooth No. 13 (which makes sense, since that is my "opening stubborn plastic bags" tooth) though the hygenist admitted that she was very impressed by my general level of fluoridation.
I did receive the standard Flossing Lecture, in which she derided my admitted flossing frequency (already grossly exaggerated by me, lest I admit that my only consistent flossing habit is a last-minute late-night dentu-cram session before my semi-annual visit) was woefully inadequate, and that I should be flossing at least every day, three times a day if possible, and before and after meals, and it might just be a good idea to wear a spool on my belt or around my neck so that I can get in the habit of flossing whenever I'm not actually typing.
Because apparently I have what she called "some calculus" around my teeth, combined with minor gum recession, which could contribute to gingivitis down the line. If it were possible to scare me into more conscientious maintenance of my gums, the mention of gingivitis ought to do it. (I distinctly remember seeing a Discovery Channel documentary on gum disease when I was in high school and thinking that "gingivitis" would make for a much more fearsome and intimidating sports mascot than a "Bear" or a "Tiger," for example, to say nothing of a "Marlin," a "Wizard" or any sort of colored hosiery.)
But I don't know if the situation is quite dire enough for me to floss every day. Already I brush twice daily and swish-and-swirl fanatically with both anti-cavity fluoride rinse and anti-plaque mouthwash. What good is having teeth if you're too exhausted to chew?
- Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote
My semi-annual dental check-up went well this morning. No cavities, abcesses or other maxillofacial maladies for me. It was even sort of fun when the doctor showed me some sophisticated new Kodak dental software, which allows a literally in-depth look at one's tooth enamel, showing exactly where the relatively soft spots are. (It is a good thing for me that this software has not yet been adapted for full-body scans.) Apparently I have some vulnerabilities on Tooth No. 13 (which makes sense, since that is my "opening stubborn plastic bags" tooth) though the hygenist admitted that she was very impressed by my general level of fluoridation.
I did receive the standard Flossing Lecture, in which she derided my admitted flossing frequency (already grossly exaggerated by me, lest I admit that my only consistent flossing habit is a last-minute late-night dentu-cram session before my semi-annual visit) was woefully inadequate, and that I should be flossing at least every day, three times a day if possible, and before and after meals, and it might just be a good idea to wear a spool on my belt or around my neck so that I can get in the habit of flossing whenever I'm not actually typing.
Because apparently I have what she called "some calculus" around my teeth, combined with minor gum recession, which could contribute to gingivitis down the line. If it were possible to scare me into more conscientious maintenance of my gums, the mention of gingivitis ought to do it. (I distinctly remember seeing a Discovery Channel documentary on gum disease when I was in high school and thinking that "gingivitis" would make for a much more fearsome and intimidating sports mascot than a "Bear" or a "Tiger," for example, to say nothing of a "Marlin," a "Wizard" or any sort of colored hosiery.)
But I don't know if the situation is quite dire enough for me to floss every day. Already I brush twice daily and swish-and-swirl fanatically with both anti-cavity fluoride rinse and anti-plaque mouthwash. What good is having teeth if you're too exhausted to chew?
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Re: The Flossing Conspiracy
Date: 2008-02-28 08:49 pm (UTC)Re: The Flossing Conspiracy
Date: 2008-02-28 09:13 pm (UTC)Anyway, they shouldn't scare you. Not the alternative is fingertips that feel like they've been the subject of a bondage film.
Re: The Flossing Conspiracy
Date: 2008-02-28 10:31 pm (UTC)B) CVS sucks. The dental hygiene aisle in a CVS is one of the last places I'd ever want to spend any time, along with Beirut and Britney Spears' house.