Second best dentist visit ever

I had my second best detist visit ever today. Now that's saying something! There aren't too many times in a person life when they can say they had a good visit to the dentist. I have two distinct ones that I cherish.

The first one happened when I was 15. I got my braces off after three years of torture. It was a wild and wonderful feeling to reclaim my mouth once the braces were off. Shortly after I got my braces off, the orthodontist was kind enough to insert a permanent retainer into my mouth. It sat behind the bottom front row of teeth, right in front of my tongue. It's remained there ever since.

Well not anymore. That annoying, canker-sore causing, food catching piece of metal came off today. Last night when I was flossing, part of the cement that holds the retainer in place popped off. I called the dentist first this morning to see when I could get in. It's mighty difficult to eat anything when a metal bar in your mouth is flopping around loosely. They got me in at 3 p.m. And it was gone by 3:30. An hour later and I'm still rubbing my tongue against the back of my teeth enjoying the wild sensation of smooth teeth.


(Note that there is no longer a metal bar behind the bottom front row of teeth!)

Things I'm looking forward to doing without a metal retainer in my mouth:

• Flossing without special gadgets
• Biting into an apple like a normal person
• No more food getting stuck behind/under the retainer
• Fewer canker sores