BRUSHING YOUR TEETH
I have written earlier about teeth, but a curious concern about teeth came to mind last night when I was watching an old movie called It Always Happens on a Thursday (1953, starring John Forsythe and Loretta Young). Loretta rises first in the cramped New York apartment and the first thing she does is brush her teeth. I have no complaints about such a habit, but what caught my eye was that it took her something like 15 seconds to brush her teeth! Such a brief tussle with a toothbrush was at odds with my own habit.
I brush my teeth for a few minutes, at least three minutes. Loretta brushed hers in 15 seconds and I add here that this is not the first time I have seen such rapid brushing in a film or tv show. I realize that a director would not want to lose three minutes of expensive film time showing Loretta brushing her teeth, but 15 seconds seems ridiculous. Why put this this in the film in the first place? Maybe people, like me, would notice and wonder why she doesn’t brush her teeth in the morning routine?
I’m making a mountain out of a molehill, but that’s what this blog is all about…small, insignificant thoughts and huge monumental ones. As much as I should hate to admit it, this is what I was thinking about when I saw the scene. By the way, Loretta’s young son claims to have brushed his teeth in the morning although we never see that he does. What suffices is that he shows his pearly whites to his mother who pronounces them clean. Her husband is still in bed so the question of his oral habits is of no concern.
A couple of remembrances come to mind, however because of this movie scene. In my neighborhood in Missoula lived a family with two twins. They had almost matching names and what I remember most about them is that they both had matching teeth…brown teeth. How was I not supposed to notice? The explanation was not bad oral hygiene but rather their teeth did not have any enamel. This is the first time I encountered this…most likely because I am not a dentist!
The second memory is from seminary days when a classmate told me that he was admonished by his dentist for brushing too hard and too long which caused permanent scratches and wear on his teeth enamel. I guess too much of one thing or another is never really healthy! By the way, the American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes using a soft brush bristle brush that should be replaced every 2-3 months. And don’t forget your gums!
Musing Through Life's Days and Places 