Pumpernickel, carrot sticks, crunchy fruits and nuts

[austin_dern]

I kind of went a decade or so without my teeth being cared for by anyone. It wasn't on purpose, I just didn't know how to work my health coverage in Singapore and kept finding reasons to put it off, and then when I came back to the United States didn't pick up again partly out of fear for what would be found when I got examined. But earlier this year I decided to get my teeth cleaned, at least, and fixed if need be, before I married bunny_hugger and got on a wholly different medical plan. After some squabbling over my insurance I got my teeth checked, and an alarming report of many small cavities, although not cleaned because ... I didn't really get that straight.

Shortly after our honeymoon I got an appointment with bunny_hugger's dentist, originally planned to be a cleaning, although after he found two cavities worth worrying about (the tiny ones he didn't think needed any particular care) we filled them rather than clean my teeth. So it was another month before I could get my teeth cleaned. In fact, it was long enough that I forgot when my appointment was, exactly, and had to call to check.

But I did finally get my teeth cleaned. In my long neglect I missed the transition from little sinks to spit the water out to small vacuums instead, and it took about half the cleaning before I quite got the hang of it. And the tooth-cleaning polish is still incredibly good-tasting. I also got a bag of dental stuff which we didn't actually need --- toothbrush, mouth rinse, travel-sized toothpaste --- but it's not like they'll spoil either.

Outside the office window was a bird feeder, and there was a squirrel who'd latched himself onto it, upside-down, to snack. He was there every time my head was high enough to see; apparently, he just spends the afternoon like that, despite the stern glares of the local sparrows. I'm delighted by it anyway.

My tradition after dentist visits back in the day had been to go to White Castle afterward --- it was something my father always treated us to --- but the nearest White Castle to here is an hour or so away, so I skipped that part.

Trivia: In 1930 the United States had 151 women who practiced dentistry; less than half that many worked as accountants. Source: Anxious Decades: America in Prosperity and Depression, 1920-1941, Michael E Parrish.

Currently Reading: Inventing Temperature: Measurement and Scientific Progress, Hasok Chang. Also I hadn't realized how supercooled and superheated fluids really do play havoc with the idea of using, say, ``the freezing point of water'' or ``the boiling point of water'' as ways to set a temperature scale's zero or degree size.

Comments

[bunny-hugger.livejournal.com]

My childhood dentist used the vacuum as far back as I can remember; I've never been to a dentist that didn't. I thought spitting in a sink was only something that happened in old movies.

[moxie_man]

The nearest White Castle to Maine is probably in Jersey. :) Provided you don't count the freezer section of your local supermarket.

The squirrel was probably on the payroll of the dentist to help keep patients calm. :)

Every dentist I've been to in Maine uses both the vacuum and the spit sink. The vacuum can only reach so far and there are times they want you to rinse/spit.

[xolo.livejournal.com]

I had no idea there were White Castles in New York. I always thought of those as a very midwestern chain. I took Findra to one once, and I think he was less than impressed.

The local Jersey Mike's came to work today and gave away free subs to drum up business. I had ham with provolone, and was most favourably impressed. I never had gotten around to trying them despite your recommendation. I'll be eating there in future.

[bunny-hugger.livejournal.com]

The Beastie Boys name check White Castle, so that was my clue that they had them in New York. Oh, and come to think of it, the Smithereens, who I assume are from somewhere out that way, have a song called "White Castle Blues."

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

It's possible that my former dentist just was sluggish about adopting new technologies; his was a family practice going back quite a few decades in the same spot.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Not quite New Jersey but just about close enough; there's a bunch in New York City and the downstate counties. Also Long Island but in practical terms that's not closer than New York City. The nearest to Lansing are probably in Ann Arbor, which is one more thing for that town to be all smug about.

The assistant who actually did the cleaning said she was quite happy with the squirrel, who wasn't at all alarmed by things like people walking on the same sidewalk square.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Since they were in New Jersey since time immemorial --- that is, when I was four --- I figured them to naturally be everywhere, but certainly around New York City. It took some time for me to get the concept of a regional chain; I think I may have been taught it by Bob's Big Boy.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it. I'd gotten rather into the sandwich wraps, particularly grilled.

[bunny-hugger.livejournal.com]

We have determined the closest one is in Howell, 30 miles away. I was very surprised to learn that there isn't one in Lansing anymore. I remember passing it many times over the years, but it turns out it closed in 2010.

[xolo.livejournal.com]

Here. we have Frisch's Big Boy.

[chefmongoose.livejournal.com]

My dentist has one of the little sinks, but it's only given for the final rinse of teeth; the rest of the time it's all vaccuuming. When did you realize things weren;'t going quite as you expectorated?

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Heh.