I'm still looking for a host for Fun Monday for June 11th.

I am hosting Fun Monday this week (June 1) and the assignment is: 

What part of your body (or house if you won't do body parts) do you take care of the best?  And if you're willing to answer the second question, why do you think that is?

In the past few months, I've been noticing something interesting in people, at least people I know.

I've noticed that many of them have one particular aspect of themselves that they take care of better than all the rest.  So, I started thinking this would be a good Fun Monday theme.  Is that just something I've noticed in certain people, or is it a predominant trait of humanity?

Then, I realized that I too have a part of myself that I take care of better than all the rest.  And that is my teeth.

I have always had bad teeth.  I've been in the dentist's chair ever since I could walk, it seems.  I remember before my "adult teeth" came in, they had to pull a molar out because it had rotted so bad.  I also remember always going in for cleanings and coming back out with lots of fillings.

It's hard for me to blame anyone about this since I've had some dentists say it's just genetics.  My mom was always harping on me to brush my teeth.  My grandmother too.  My grandmother had eight plus children and back then she didn't know and probably couldn't afford calcium supplements.  By the time I was in the picture, my grandmother wore a full set of dentures as her teeth.

I remember her telling me each night to brush my teeth because I wouldn't find a husband if all my teeth fell out.  That didn't mean anything to me back then.  It just makes me laugh now.  It seems I found one anyway... (ha!)


Several jobs ago, I worked with a woman who used to tell me all about her teeth.  She'd tell me how bad they had been and how she was thankful to have a job so she could fix them all.  She told me she'd had gum disease and lost many of her teeth so now that she was doing well for herself, she took care of her teeth as best she could.  She had many caps and crowns and whatever else.  She was probably 15 years my senior.

For some reason, those daily conversations with her really struck a cord with me.  Since then, I started consciously taking better care of my teeth.

I've had two or three root canals (after one you tend to lose track) so far and my dentist says I am due for possibly two more.  I've also had to have one of my wisdom teeth pulled because it cracked right in half.

I have a tooth that broke after the dentist put a crown on it and it had to be pulled because there was nothing left to work with.  That "hole" will require a very expensive implant and crown, which the insurance does not cover.  That one happened when my mother passed away.  When stressed, I learned that I clench my teeth.  Clenching your teeth is actually much worse than grinding your teeth, my dentist says, because it causes more lasting damage; obviously.

Once when we were discussion my options for one of my teeth, I suggested to my dentist that we should just do dentures now because this was getting ridiculous.  Dental work is not easy on the wallet.  My dentist told me I still have a good many teeth left to work with and we should work with what I have.  I guess he's seen worse.

For the past five or six years, I've started on a new routine to keep my teeth as healthy as possible.  I floss my teeth every single night, no matter what.  If I'm on a trip and forgot the floss, I got out and buy some.  If I am exhausted and can't stay awake any longer, I still floss.  Then I brush my teeth and rinse with an antiseptic rinse.  Then, I brush my teeth again in the morning.  I also try to brush my teeth once again during the day.  I cannot go to bed without brushing my teeth.

My hygienist is very happy with my progress.  She always tell me what a great job I'm doing and where to work on for next time.  I go in for my routine cleanings twice a year, and I also brush both my kids' teeth religiously. 

I don't know if it's really genetic or not, but I am doing everything in my power to keep my kids' teeth healthy.  Candy is only something my kids get somewhere else or for the evil candy holidays.  They drink juice but it is very watered down and I also don't allow my son to go to bed with a sippy cup in his crib unless it's water.  I don't care if this is still their baby teeth.  I want them to develop good dental habits as early as possible.

Finally, if teeth happen to come up in a conversation, I tell people that they need to floss everyday and go in for the cleanings.  Most insurance companies cover two cleanings a year for just the co-pay or at no cost.  Maintenance is the number one thing to do when it comes to teeth.

That is the body part I take care of the best.  Everything else seems to be falling apart at a far slower rate *snicker snicker.*


It's not too late to sign up - just leave your link in the comments and I'll put it up as soon as I can. Mr. Linky is currently out of commission.

Have a great week everyone and thanks for playing along!

This week's participants are:
 

• AJ and the Lurchers
• Sayre
• Mariposa Tales
• MamaLang
• Mothers of Brothers - Jennifer
• Ari_1965
• Jo
• Swampy
• Molly
• ChrisB
• Rayne
• Stephanie, Mama Dramatist & Min
• Erin (late sign-up, please visit!)