What's Luck Got to Do, Got to Do With It?
Welcome to Autumn. As I have stated in the past I'm not big on Fall, but presently as I type I'm staring out at the Swan Range in full alpenglow at the end of a pleasantly warm late September day. I can get on board with fall days like this. It's just a gift to lay eyes on our beautiful mountains following this summer's long fire season. A sincere & heartfelt thank you to the Fire Crews and everyone else involved.
I very recently had the opportunity to examine a lovely lady that had not seen a Dentist, or a Hygienist for that matter, in over 12 years. This hiatus was due to a moderate level of dental anxiety. In all aspects of life there are the rules, and then there are the exceptions to those rules. Now in this case, the rule would have presented us with a mouth in dire need of maintenance. At minimum, if this mouth was LUCKY, we would anticipate the need for fillings and an advanced cleaning of the gums to address the gum disease caused by over a decade's worth of plaque build-up.
This gal proved to be the exception to the rule. An exam of her X-rays showed healthy enamel between her teeth with no evidence of bone loss. And clinically I was delighted to see bright and clean teeth that deposited absolutely no plaque on my examination instrument. I made an effort not to attribute this oral success to LUCK, instead commending this patient on her close attention to her oral hygiene. You could say her actions proved to me that she indeed had a fear of the dentist, because she took immaculate care of her teeth.
There are so many factors that influence the health of your mouths. There are specific micro-organisms that produce acids that erode your enamel. These bacteria are fed and sustained by the carbohydrates in your diet and are protected by the layers of plaque on your teeth. For information's sake, most. tooth decay is located in between teeth where plaque is not easily removed. Don't rely on LUCK, and make sure you are brushing twice a day for 2 minutes and flossing once a day.
There are specific micro-organisms that produce a destructive inflammatory immune response in the pockets of your gums. This inflammation causes your jaw-bone to recede, in turn causing your gums to recede. Visualize that, saying gum recession" is just sugar coating the actual culprit, "bone recession." The progression of gum disease is dependent on the bodies ability to heal, meaning that as we get older this disease is more and more damaging. Don't rely on LUCK, and know your Hygienist on a first name basis. Also, brush and floss with the intention of not only cleaning your teeth, but also underneath your gums.
Does Good LUCK ever factor in you might ask? Yes, if you had parents that taught you the importance of personal oral hygiene.That took you to dentist regularly so you could be educated on the correct brushing and flossing techniques. That knew the importance of a healthy diet that minimized sugary snacks. Notice I said minimized. Then you got LUCKY.
I know the demographic targeted by this magazine. The wonderful Mothers and Grandmothers of the Flathead. Be the source of those children's good LUCK. Teach them the importance of taking care of their teeth. A healthy mouth and smile provide so many advantages in life.
I started visiting northwest Montana when I was 11 years old. It was the summer between 5th & 6th grades. Why would my family drive 22 hours each way from Arizona to Montana? Well you see, my mother is from Edmonton, Alberta and her brother just younger than her had just built a summer cabin on Echo Lake. I know right, Canadians building cabins on Montana lakes… sounds crazy. Anyway, that summer of '92 set into motion events that would direct the rest of my life...to this point.
As it turned out, my Mother's family decided that first summer to all return every two years to celebrate my Grandparents Lee & Viv Fairbanks. These reunions were amazing, pardon me, are amazing. They continue to this day. In 1996 at the conclusion of the 3rd bi- annual Fairbanks reunion, a group of us cousins in the age range of 15 to 18 took a trip up to Edmonton to attend a week long church camp at the University of Alberta. I was 15 at the time and felt pretty stinkin' cool to be hangin with my older cousins.
It was there I happened upon a young Canadian girl named Juli. Long story short through some crazy coincidences we were married eight years later. Now, some 22 years after our initial chance encounter, we have four precious children and get to live in the last best place. It just so happens that she is on the cover of this edition of 406 Woman. So what do you think? Did I get LUCKY? Hell yes I did!!
Have a wonderful Fall ladies.
Read What's Luck Got to Do, Got to Do With It? by Dr. John F. Miller, DDS in 406 Woman magazine.