My teef:
I had a not too pleasant dental experience today. After not having cavities my whole life, my years of drinking red wine, tea, and not flossing, have caught up with me. I had my first baby fillings today.
My dentist is very nice; he never charges me for the extras (though he also reminds me of that) but in his loving father knows best way, he always scolds me on not brushing correctly and not flossing. I have gingivitis L (I believe the medical term is yuck mouth), and it can only get better with proper dental hygiene. I just got a deep cleaning a few months ago, so my dentist is worried, and says he refuses to treat me next time if I come in with the same sad, sorry situation.
I thought this would be a perfect moment to blog about life lessons. I started this blog to improve myself and hopefully inspire others to improve. I have learned three truths in this lesson:
What you do today affects what you have tomorrow:
The dentist flat out asked me “Did I want to have my teeth in my old age?” Of course I do! I remember how my grandpa gnawed on a chicken bone with his gums like a coyote, and only wore his teeth on special occasions, looking like “Grandpa Simpson.” Yes, I would prefer to avoid that fate and maintain my teeth, which can be saved. It just takes me doing lesson #2.
It is never too late to learn good habits:
Bad habits are not hard to break, you have the power to change, and I really do believe that. I think the difficulty is making the decision to start using good habits. They say it takes 21 days to start to develop a habit; I believe over 40 days to make it a routine. I need to make flossing and brushing a daily ritual. I vow now to brush after every meal and floss nightly. This requires planning; I need to have tooth brush and floss at the office. I can do that!
It is no good to simply have it if you never use it:
As soon as the dentist scolded me last time, I bought dental floss. When I got home I noticed I already had bought dental floss before. I don’t know when I bought it, but I do know that I never used it. I got myself in this mess because I had good intentions of doing something about it, but I never did. Do I want to wait until it is too late; when my dentist refuses to treat me or I lose a tooth? I’m already bald; do I want to be toothless???? What woman will want me then? (The kind that would you either have to pay or I wouldn’t want!”).
I know some may read this and think: you have great hygiene; you’re a crest kid and have a Colgate smile. Good for you. You might excel in this area, but I know deep down inside you have something you have been putting off, letting it fester, and now you are realizing it is something you need to deal with ASAP. Start making the changes today that will lead to a better tomorrow. Learn better habits that will help you reach your goals. It is not too late! If you have the tools or can acquire them, get them, but make sure to use them. Otherwise you just have stored up potential that isn’t going to do you any good. Like that floss I already had, it is time to take it out and get to work on saving my teeth, and bettering my health, for the long-term benefit of keeping my teeth for life.
I thought to end today I would show a clip of the Dentist scene from Little Shop of Horrors. Steve Martin is amazing in this role, with Bill Murray adding to the humor. Such a funny movie; with great music by Alan Menken. Enjoy!
I had a not too pleasant dental experience today. After not having cavities my whole life, my years of drinking red wine, tea, and not flossing, have caught up with me. I had my first baby fillings today.
My dentist is very nice; he never charges me for the extras (though he also reminds me of that) but in his loving father knows best way, he always scolds me on not brushing correctly and not flossing. I have gingivitis L (I believe the medical term is yuck mouth), and it can only get better with proper dental hygiene. I just got a deep cleaning a few months ago, so my dentist is worried, and says he refuses to treat me next time if I come in with the same sad, sorry situation.
I thought this would be a perfect moment to blog about life lessons. I started this blog to improve myself and hopefully inspire others to improve. I have learned three truths in this lesson:
What you do today affects what you have tomorrow:
The dentist flat out asked me “Did I want to have my teeth in my old age?” Of course I do! I remember how my grandpa gnawed on a chicken bone with his gums like a coyote, and only wore his teeth on special occasions, looking like “Grandpa Simpson.” Yes, I would prefer to avoid that fate and maintain my teeth, which can be saved. It just takes me doing lesson #2.
It is never too late to learn good habits:
Bad habits are not hard to break, you have the power to change, and I really do believe that. I think the difficulty is making the decision to start using good habits. They say it takes 21 days to start to develop a habit; I believe over 40 days to make it a routine. I need to make flossing and brushing a daily ritual. I vow now to brush after every meal and floss nightly. This requires planning; I need to have tooth brush and floss at the office. I can do that!
It is no good to simply have it if you never use it:
As soon as the dentist scolded me last time, I bought dental floss. When I got home I noticed I already had bought dental floss before. I don’t know when I bought it, but I do know that I never used it. I got myself in this mess because I had good intentions of doing something about it, but I never did. Do I want to wait until it is too late; when my dentist refuses to treat me or I lose a tooth? I’m already bald; do I want to be toothless???? What woman will want me then? (The kind that would you either have to pay or I wouldn’t want!”).
I know some may read this and think: you have great hygiene; you’re a crest kid and have a Colgate smile. Good for you. You might excel in this area, but I know deep down inside you have something you have been putting off, letting it fester, and now you are realizing it is something you need to deal with ASAP. Start making the changes today that will lead to a better tomorrow. Learn better habits that will help you reach your goals. It is not too late! If you have the tools or can acquire them, get them, but make sure to use them. Otherwise you just have stored up potential that isn’t going to do you any good. Like that floss I already had, it is time to take it out and get to work on saving my teeth, and bettering my health, for the long-term benefit of keeping my teeth for life.
I thought to end today I would show a clip of the Dentist scene from Little Shop of Horrors. Steve Martin is amazing in this role, with Bill Murray adding to the humor. Such a funny movie; with great music by Alan Menken. Enjoy!