So that's not exactly what she said, but my dental hygienist always has some sort of praise for my dental care habits. I don't usually brag. About anything. But if Louise says I have excellent oral hygiene, then it's true. She's a consummate professional and I respect her assessments. I hope to be as enthusiastic and knowledgeable about my profession as she is about hers. If only everyone were half as competent, efficient and up on trends in their fields as she is this world would be in much better shape.
She's quite the dental detective. As she began doing whatever she does with that little metal hook-shaped thing, probing between my two front bottom teeth, I winced. "Ah-ha. Sensitive." When she removed the instrument, I said, "Yeah, it is today. I don't know why." She smiled down at me and responded, "Well I do."
Of course she did. She went back to work on my teeth while proceeding to illuminate me as much with her knowledge as with the little headlight she had strapped to her forehead. "You're clenching or grinding your teeth. Do you do it at night?" "No..." I answered, "I don't think so." "Well, you are at some point. Are you under added stress?" "Not really." I paused to think for a minute and she resumed scraping whatever she scrapes. When she again extracted the tool from my mouth, I said, "I know! I do it when I write papers or presentations!" She proposed a night-guard (perhaps a write-guard in my case) if my current solution stops working. Like someone preparing for a big night on E, I try to have gum handy before I open Word. Unfortunately, the act of writing provokes the side effect of the involuntary teeth clenching, but none of the euphoria that the drug allegedly induces.
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