A recent
conversation with my dentist:
“Sir Jase, your work doesn’t involve
much talking, does it?”
“Well sometimes it does. But mostly when I’m alone at the office, I’m just quietly working. HECK,
SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN I’M NOT ALONE, I DON’T TALK AT ALL WHEN I AM NOT ADDRESSED.
HAHAHA!!! Why do you ask, Doc?”
“Frequent movement of the jaw (NOT NECESSARILY EATING A LOT) helps in the production of more saliva which then
contributes to your overall oral health. Conversing regularly or chewing bubble gum
replicates this. In chewing bubble gum, some minute leftovers will stick to it, hence lesser bacteria inside your mouth when you spit it out. As long as you rinse with
your prescription mouthwash before and after, your teeth will be fine.”
(I thought,
“SERIOUSLY? It’s my first time to hear something like that from someone of his profession. It's as if he's encouraging me to chew gum. Oh well, he must
know what he’s saying. He’s a dentist, anyway. And he’s always been right for
several years now.”)
“OK doc.”
--This
has nothing to do with my dental appointment, but I realized
that for the past four and a half years, I learned to shut my mouth and just
observe more. Partly thanks to ‘failure’ and humiliation, three times over. I
choose to be silent in certain company because my mere presence makes them
uncomfortable, even if I’m very happy to see them. Less or no talk from me
means less suffering for them. Chapped lips are a positive thing for me, after
all.
But I really have
to say, after months of use, I still find the mouthwash quite expensive Doc. And it still stings. L
