by Anura Guruge
on May 19, 2022
Close to 30 years (if not more) I would dutifully visit a dentist at least twice a year to get my teeth cleaned & checked out. It was ALL cosmetic. During all that time I never had a filling or dental procedure — bar having to have a crown glued own when I broke a chip in a back tooth crunching on a hard candy. That was it.
Yes, I have teeth like a horse. And as one dentist, famously & telling said: “I will never make any money from your teeth“. They would take X-rays BUT find no cavities. So, other than the X-rays all I was having done was the teeth cleaning — which in my case involved a LOT of scraping (given the VAST quantities of red wine I consume). I hated having my teeth scraped.
So, about 3.5 years ago I decided I am NOT going to get my teeth cleaned.
I was going NATIVE. If I was back in Ceylon (now (bankrupt) Sri Lanka) I would not be getting my teeth cleaned. So, heck with it.
So, I went over 3 years without getting my teeth cleaned.
But, I will confess that I am somewhat obsessive about oral hygiene. I spend close to 20 minutes a day on my teeth & gums. So, my teeth do get looked after quite.
Well, on Tuesday I finally went back to my (dear (Indian sikh)) dentist BUT with the firm proviso: “no cleaning, just X-rays & a check-up“. And that is what happened. They took a FULL X-ray. No cavities. Nothing. Teeth are fine (as I expected). Yes, there is some plaque build-up, but that was to be expected. My gums were GOOD. I was delighted about that. He did the ‘gum pocket’ test & was impressed. So, was I. So, that is where we stand.
Yes, an hygienist could take out some of that build up around the gum line. But, that requires scraping. I hate scraping.
Per my dentist (who is very good), I am in good shape. Yes, I need to maintain my regimen — which I will, I will. So, we agreed that I will come & see him again in 3 years. SMILE. No cleanings. SMILE.
