Living Outside The Lines: “For Your Dental Health”

This amazing discovery had two fabulous residual effects; my husband and children now use flossing sticks for better dental health, plus the results of my next check up six months later were astounding! 

by, Becky j Miller

Raise your hand if your absolute favorite activity is visiting the dentist! Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone? I had a sneaking suspicion there would be no takers. 

According to the Colgate Oral Care Center, 9% – 15% of Americans avoid seeing the dentist because of anxiety and fear, that’s about 30 million people! 

While I do not fit into the anxious or fearful demographic, neither do I enjoy visits to the dentist. 

My earliest memories of professional teeth cleanings involve toothpaste dribbling down my chin, the need to spit with nowhere to turn, gagging on my own salvia and trying to answer questions with a mouthful of dental instruments. Someone bring on the popcorn please, this is great entertainment!

I must do a pretty good job brushing as I only have one cavity, and that didn’t occur until after I was in my 40’s. And honestly, I can’t take all the credit; the military did a poor job putting sealants on my adult molars. The cavity formed below the sealant, that isn’t supposed to happen.

So why do I dislike the dentist so much?  Here’s the truth; I have a small mouth and I despise having it forced open wide for an extended period. My jaw is always sore afterward. 

Well, at least that was the case before I started seeing Dr. Van de Walle after we moved to San Marcos; he and his staff at Van de Walle Family Dentistry do a fabulous job. My family & I were patients there for almost ten years.  I’m not looking forward to finding a new dentist in Beeville.

Obsessive about brushing is how I would describe myself. I carry Colgate Wisps (small disposable toothbrushes) everywhere. I even keep them in my desk at work; they are so much easier than a standard toothbrush and toothpaste. 

The Wisp requires no water, has a toothpaste gel-like dot in the middle of the brush, and can be used virtually anywhere. They came in very handy when I traveled to Haiti and had to share a bathroom with fifteen other women. Wisps should not replace a standard toothbrush & toothpaste but are great for mouth freshening when away from home.

Flossing used to be one of my greatest weaknesses; I avoided it pretty much 359 days out of the year. My teeth are quite close together making flossing akin to torture. Here I go using poetic license again; maybe not torture, but definitely

Here I go using poetic license again; maybe not torture but definitely discomfort. I possess mad skills when it comes to making gums bleed. Or I used to anyway, but those days are long behind me.

Two years ago, at my bi-annual cleaning, during a discussion about my intense dislike of dental floss, the hygienist recommended I try a flossing stick like the Dentek brand.

She said she’d bought them for her husband so he could floss in the car, at his desk, watching TV, or virtually anywhere. 

I decided to give them a try. Best. Decision. Ever. WARNING! Gross Alert! You might be surprised how much food gets stuck in between your teeth, foods you wouldn’t expect to homestead, like oatmeal!! I mean, really? It’s soft!  Who knew something so benign could take up permanent residence if not properly attended?

This amazing discovery had two fabulous residual effects; my husband and children now use flossing sticks for better dental health, plus the results of my next check up six months later were astounding! 

For anyone not a fan of that horrible metal scraper hygienist’s use for picking plaque out of teeth, I highly recommend a regular diet of flossing sticks. My time in the dentist’s chair was probably cut in half; there was no plaque to dislodge, I’d prevented that nasty build up by introducing flossing sticks to my daily regimen.

DISCLAIMER: the subject matter in this column is my opinion. I receive no payments, freebies or discounts from Colgate, Dentak or even Dr. Van de Walle. Believe me or don’t, but avoiding brushing, flossing and annual dental checkups, could lead to a plethora of health issues http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283649.php as well as a complete loss of chompers!

You’ve been warned.

Until Next Time,

Becky J Miller

“Warrior Princess”

Becky J Miller is a contributor and is exclusive to SM Corridor News. You can read more of Becky’s columns in Lifestyle.