Thursday, August 23, 2012

Teeth

Recently, well, not so recently anymore...On July 1st I reached a big milestone.
Since July 1, 2011 I have flossed my teeth EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
Some people who are dedicated oral health nuts will simply scoff, but this was seriously a big deal for me.
One year ago I didn't set out, making a goal, to floss every day. It just kind of happened. I had dentist appointment a week later, and I wanted my gums to be prepared for the torture that they would undoubtedly be put through (I think we all know what that's like. I've told Brad that before he can ever hire a dental hygienist they will first have to floss my teeth and pass my test.). Then as the weeks went by, and I realized I had created a habit I decided I should heed every dentist's advice and really floss every day, and not just the week before a cleaning every 6 months.
There were some days I was almost asleep in bed, there were some days I was sick and the thought of threading a minty-flavored string between my teeth made me gag, there were some days I was just plain lazy, but I always got my butt to the bathroom, strung some floss between my fingers and got to work.
Just the other night Brad and I were laying in bed watching a movie (this is not something we usually do. It was more of a treat. We don't have a TV in our bedroom, and I don't like the idea of ever having one, but that's a different topic for a different day.) He fell asleep, and just as I was nodding off I realized I hadn't flossed my teeth yet. I wanted so badly to stay in my nice warm bed and fall asleep, but I knew if I didn't get up I'd be so disappointed with myself in the morning. I would have felt like I had let a whole 13 1/2 months go to waste, which obviously wouldn't have been the case, but still. I'm proud to say that I got up and continued my streak of good habits.
I know that there will inevitably be a day when for some reason or another my teeth don't get flossed. But for now, I'm making every dentist out there proud.

And speaking of teeth, Brad (and I) started school on Monday. Three days down, four years to go. So far nothing exciting has happened. The first days are always filled with business and logistics and syllabi. And although it seems like forever away right now, I'm sure that in no time at all I'll be laying in a chair making some girl (or guy) floss my teeth as part of their interview for my dentist husband. :)
Obligatory first day of school backpack picture.


Brad and Courtney