Dental Update

On the advice of dentist Gabriella in the comments last week, I bought the Sonicare toothbrush and some Stimudents over the weekend.  I would first like to say, right off the bat, that I loooooove the stimudents.  They are so much better than flossing.  The stimudents take a little longer, but they are so much cooler!  And, by the way, one of the reasons I believe I hate flossing was a sign in the dentist’s office when I was a child “You don’t have to floss all your teeth; just the ones you want to keep.”)  For some reason, every time I floss that phrase comes into my mind and I feel vaguely guilty and inadequate.  Stimudents do not make me feel guilty or inadequate.   

I like the Sonicare, too, but it’s going to take a little bit of getting used to.  First, it tickles.  I mean it really tickles.  Who thought brushing one’s teeth would be akin to tickle torture?  As soon as it starts up, I’m laughing, and just trying to get the back of my teeth with this thing is painful tickle-y. 

Second, it’s over-stimulating my spit!!!  For the first couple of times I used it, I left my mouth open, as I have been used to doing as I brush my teeth.  However, with the Sonicare, my salivary glands started spraying spit out of my mouth.  I am telling you that literally, I have a waterfall of saliva shooting from my mouth.  By the time I have reached my lower teeth, the Sonicare brush is swimming in a pool of spit totally encompassing my bottom teeth. 

I have since been advise to shut my pie hole (not the first time!) which has made the experience much better.  It still tickles, but I’m not laughing out loud as I see water shooting out of my mouth. 

In fact, this week’s stress seems to be focused on the mouth area.  I have a huge honkin’ fever blister on my upper lip.  I only get fever blisters on three occasions:  1) a fever, 2) too much sun, and 3) a great deal of stress.  Guess which one I’m voting for?!  The plus side of this is that one half of my upper lip is swollen.  This is a positive because I have incredibly thin upper lips and now at least half of my upper lip looks normal.  As a whole, though, the mouth is looking weird.

I’m also eating the inside of my lower lip.  I have no idea why, but for the last three days every time I eat, I keep biting my lower lip.  It hurts!  I don’t like it.  And yet, I continue to do it multiple times each meal.

I am feeling very much like a FREAK!  It’s not a very positive experience being me right now.  At least Conor is feeling much better today.  I hope he gets a good night’s worth of sleep.  It would help us all.  

7:17:08 AM