Oral Hygiene. It’s a thing. A REAL thing. I remember hating brushing my teeth as a young girl and (much to my dentist, Dr. Dorr’s dismay) hated flossing even more. Despite the lack of effort in properly caring for my teeth I NEVER had a cavity. That is until I became pregnant with my eldest daughter. While the story of that pregnancy is for a different time, I do think it’s important to note that I was VERY much a child at the time….18 years old in America affords you the right to purchase tobacco, vote, go to war and purchase lottery tickets. Despite those rights, I was in NO way , shape nor form prepared for motherhood at that age. I remember going to the dentist shortly after I had my daughter and Dr. Dorr’s son (also a dentist) was examining my teeth and the news that he shared would change my life forever: “ Danielle, you have a cavity. Two actually.” You could have slapped me in the face with an eel and I would not have been more shocked than I was in that moment. You see, my teeth brushing skills had improved significantly since I was a young girl and this had NEVER happened to me before. I learned soon afterward that often times women experience changes in their dental health during pregnancy due to the nutrients that are diverted from the mother to the life growing inside her. Two cavities for a life that had changed mine in immeasurable ways. More than a bargain in my mind. I kept a subsequent appointment for my fillings and continued with life as a mother. And then a wife. And a daughter. And a sister. And a niece. You get the idea. The next dental milestone happened in 2002, when I was 22 years old. I was eating popcorn, watching a movie while my husband was out playing Dungeon’s and Dragon’s (also story for another time). When I started to chew a small handful of popcorn my tooth broke! My very last molar on the bottom left. I was HORRIFIED! How could this happen?! My mind was reeling with scenarios about an underlying illness. Wondering if this would happen to all of my teeth. Would I have to eat pudding forever?! Thankfully, I was able to get into a dentist for an “emergency” visit a few towns away and he was able to repair my tooth with a filling rather than a crown.

Fast forward a few years. Additional pregnancies brought additional cavities. I will preemptively state that yes I took prenatal vitamins, yes I brushed and flossed as I was supposed to and yes I had regular dental visits during my pregnancies. We relocated after our second daughter was born and were tasked with finding a dental practice that felt right for our family. We tried a few before we settled in with Ledoux Family Dental in Keene, NH. Before anyone asks, no, this is NOT a paid advertisement (but hey, Dr. Ledoux, if you are looking for a spokesperson with a positive review, hit me up J ). Our daughters were immediately comfortable with the office staff, even our daughter who had grown to fear the dentist due to past traumatic experiences was able to relax enough to allow the doctor to fill a cavity she had. Our youngest daughter was about 2 ½ the first time she visited this dentist. She couldn’t say his name properly (again, she was a toddler) it came out as “Ducky Doo.” It was adorable. And again, nothing but comfort when visiting for cleanings or other procedures.

I noticed a Sonicare toothbrush on display in my hygienists’ room in 2009. It was out of my price range at the time but I decided I needed to make it happen. A few years later I realized that I could use my flex spending to purchase a regular Sonicare for Grant and I and a smaller, kid friendly version for the girls. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Sonicare toothbrushes….they are amazing. No, really. They are. Sonicare carries a variety of electrically charged toothbrushes that have been proven to get your teeth cleaner, prevent further decay and even whiten your teeth (Again, no paid advertisement here, but Philips Sonicare….you know where to find me!). Once I started using my Sonicare I noticed a major difference in my mouth. It felt cleaner longer (both at night and in the morning) and my hygienist noticed a difference in my oral health during my regularly scheduled cleanings as well. I think it’s important to note here, that a few years after initially using the Sonicare I decided that it was also in my best interest to see the dentist for professional cleanings more often. At the time our insurance covered four cleanings a year. I opted for 6. My current insurance covers 3 per year. I still opt for 6. Some people think I’m nuts! They have zero understanding of why I would want to see my dentist so often. Well, let me explain a couple of things. First, my hygienist is FREAKING AMAZING (she has been voted best local hygienist for several years in a row). I close my eyes and sometimes fall asleep while she is cleaning my teeth. Wait. WHAT?!?! Yup, you read that right. I fall asleep while she is cleaning my teeth. And then, toward the end, when she uses the spinning toothbrush I laugh hysterically because it’s tickles so much! Second, I absolutely LOVE the feeling of a clean mouth. I know, most people do, right? Well, I REALLY, REALLY do. So I choose to go more often. Third, the better I care for my teeth the longer I will have them. My grandmother used to tell me (and still does when warranted) to take care of my feet and my teeth. They’re the only ones I have. There is a lot of truth to that statement.

About a month ago, our most recently purchased Sonicare died (it was about 2.5-3 years old and used by multiple people in our house. Yes, we all have our own toothbrush heads. Sharing those would be gross!). I was forced to use a manual toothbrush ( I know, I know, talk about 1^st world problems) and I knew my teeth were suffering. I had an appointment to get a crown (different tooth than 2002 but similar circumstance. Eating popcorn! Maybe it’s a sign I should stay away from Popcorn?!) and while I was there asked that they look at another tooth that felt as though the filling was breaking. I had my teeth cleaned after my crown appointment where my hygienist looked at my tooth again. The team decided I should come back immediately to have it repaired as some damage was already visible. Two dental visits in two days made for a very sore mouth for this girl. While I was there I purchased a new Sonicare. I was SUPER excited because it’s purple and really pretty. AND my teeth feel incredibly clean afterward.

I know all of this probably seems unimportant to most. But it is to me. I’ll take you back to teenage Danielle who absolutely HATED her teeth. I have a small gap between my two front teeth that created significant insecurity. I hardly ever showed my teeth when I smiled (which in retrospect is so silly, I had a beautiful smile!) and photos prove this with my awkward half closed mouth smirk in most of them. As I got older I learned that oral hygiene has a big impact on our overall health. Watching my Dad’s teeth become affected by his diabetes was hearbreaking. Watching my mother have all of her teeth extracted to be fitted for dentures (or as I saw on Facebook recently “substitooth’s!) was hard. She wasn’t comfortable smiling with her mouth open for a long time. Our teeth are important. It is one of the first things someone notices about us when meeting us for the first time.

I worked with many individuals in my professional role who suffered from dental or oral impairments that directly impacted their ability to work. It is heart rending. A lot of what I saw involved lack of knowledge and education about oral health. Lack of insurance to cover visits. Lack of access. I don’t need to go into all the specific ways that smoking, drinking, drugs, certain foods, soda etcetera are bad for your teeth and gums. Most people know this already. What I would encourage you to do is to learn more about the best way to care for your OWN teeth and gums. Does it mean an electric toothbrush? Or changing your manual one out more often? A different toothpaste or mouthwash? Does it mean flossing more? Whatever it means for YOU to take better care of your teeth, do it. Make it a priority. Like GG said, your teeth are the only set you’ll have. Fixing them is far more expensive than preventing decay and impairments in the first place. Some things I do to keep up with oral hygiene:

1. Keep a manual toothbrush at work along with a small tube of toothpaste. I try to brush during lunch (after I eat of course)
2. Keep flossers in my car. Flossers aren’t AS good as regular floss, but I am in the car so much and find that this is a good time to use my flosser. This really helps prevent build-up of plaque and tartar
3. Drink more water. Sugary drinks, energy drinks, coffee and even tea can have a negative impact on your teeth. Everything from enamel erosion to cavities to discoloration can be traced back to these beverages. Use care when consuming them
4. Use an electric toothbrush (Yes, I prefer Sonicare, but I know there are several other reputable brands on the market for significantly less money)
5. Visit your dentist at LEAST twice per year for cleanings and x-rays. This is the best possible way to stay on top of any potential issues

Oral hygiene and wellness are a crucial component in taking care of ourselves. We all struggle with different aspects of self-care at different times and learn from our mistakes. Happy Brushing and Flossing friends!