My Husband is Afraid of Me!

This is the latest newspaper article I wrote for the Japanese newspaper:

A few weeks ago, there was a story that made it to the headlines of the internet. A female dentist who was dumped recently by her boyfriend was paid an unexpected visit by him. He was experiencing a severe toothache. The story goes on to say that she agreed to treat him but during treatment, gave him a strong drug and while he was unaware, extracted all his teeth. He woke up all bandaged up, in pain and toothless.

This story eventually proved to be totally false but it still touched a nerve with the public who fear the dentist.

My husband is no exception.
We've been best friends since high school and we started dating when I was in dental school but I never knew his anxiety of being in the dental chair.

The first time I was going to treat him, as the chair went back, he turned to me and said, "I'd like to apologize for anything I've done in the past to upset you. I'd also like to apologize in advance for anything in the future that may upset you. I'd also like to apologize for anything I've done that I'm not aware of that made you upset."

It was only then that I realized that this man in my chair; this man who've I've agreed to share my life with was totally afraid of me! Me, not as his wife, but ME, as the dentist!

Unfortunately, his fear of the dentist is shared by many. Luckily, there are now medications that can ease your anxiety while in the dental chair. You take a small pill when you arrive 1 hour before your appointment. You relax, read a book or take a nap. After you're relaxed enough, your dental treatment will begin. You won't be asleep but you'll still be able to answer my questions and carry on a conversation. It simply takes the edge off your nervousness.

Of course, my husband said that all in fun but it still makes me realize that there are people out there that avoid the dentist. Don't be embarrassed and as my husband can tell you, I'm really not scary at all and you can certainly keep all your teeth!

Earth Day 2012

I've forgotten about Earth Day this year until inevitably, notices and homework brings attention to something that should be in the back of our minds everyday.

"Mommy, I have a project due this Friday about Earth Day 2012".
"OK, so do it!" 

I had seen her toting around an old empty pint-sized milk carton from her school lunch a few days ago. She's always doing some crafty project on her own so I didn't think anything of it. Mind you, it was filled with soil that was dug out of Grandma's potted plants at home. Convenience of having a MIL who loves having plants around the house. Soil source on demand.

"I need your help"
"What do you mean?", I ask suspiciously.
"Just a little help. I'm done with the major part."
"What's left to do?"
"I have to write about it."
I look at the dirt in the milk carton. "What's there to write about? It's dirt."
"Mommy, be serious.! If I didn't really need your help, I would do it by myself!"

I'm sensing a desperate cry for Mother to redo her project because it failed. 
"OK,What is the project on?"
"I'm supposed to reuse something and turn it into something good for the earth. I'm planting seeds in this used milk carton. But the seeds didn't survive."
"That's OK, you can't expect seeds to sprout in just 4 days."
"But I think the seeds died. I put too much water in and I think they drowned."
"Oh...."

Well, thank goodness it's spring and we have a lot of weeds growing in our garden! Those helicopter things that fly down from the trees outside...free seeds!! And they're hardy as heck! Once they take root, ain't much you can do to beat them back except pull 'em out which is exactly what we'll be doing. Earth Day project / garden weeding project! Let's go!


We also decided to use empty egg shells instead of the milk carton. Much more biodegradable than a milk carton!


I had just used some eggs that morning for breakfast so I had her dig the half shells out of the garbage. I know, I know, totally nasty but necessary! 

Honey, please scrub your hands down while you're washing the egg shells...


We went out to the yard to search for seedlings.(By the way, mosquitoes are out already. I was bitten on the arm.) The hunt would've been pretty boring except that during the walk around the yard, I surprised a neighborhood cat eating a bird. MAJOR YUCK FACTOR! Much worse than retrieving egg shells from the kitchen garbage can.  Thank goodness the cat was scared off and the bird was dead. It sat a few yards away eyeing me. Of course, who was left to dispose of deceased, beheaded bird?? Obviously, yours truly. I left the stray feathers blowing in the wind. Enough is enough. They'll decompose by themselves or more likely, blow into someone else's yard.... 


With 6 seedlings in the soil, in the egg shells, in the bio-degradable cardboard egg carton, I must say, it looks pretty decent! 


I found out that egg shells are good for the soil in that they are almost 90% calcium carbonate. The calcium can be used as a nutrient by the plant. The pH of the soil is also regulated. Crushed up egg shells around just-planted seedlings can also keep away slugs and snails because they don't like crawling over the shells. Painful for little slug feet, I guess. Crushed up egg shells also help aerate the soil, keeping it healthy and helps with water retention for delicate seedlings. WHO KNEW?!


As I hunted for seedlings. I'm thinking that maybe I should have done an experiment on how long does it take for a dead bird to decompose in the yard. Time lapse photos? Nah. I'm not going to take the project to that level.

Pretty good for "Round II"  of the Earth Day project 2012!


Egg as food  ->  Egg shell as seedling pod  -> Egg shell as part of compost! 
Mother  -> Brain storming source  ->  Earth Day project saver!

 

Stop Zapping Me!!

In response to recent buzz in the news about dental x-rays linked to brain tumors, here's my latest article published in the Japanese newspaper:

 I Don't Want To Take Anymore X-rays, Doc!

 

Recently there has been a lot of talk in the news about dental x-rays and the link to brain tumors. You’re probably saying, “A-ha! I knew it! There had to be something those dentists are not telling us! I don’t understand why they keep zapping us.”

While dental x-rays are often seen as somewhat of an annoyance to patients, it is very valuable in helping dentists detect and treat oral health problems at the earliest stages. I know, I know, the films are bulky and we have this big heavy apron on you but there is a reason for the torture.

So why exactly are we taking x-rays or what are we looking for? One of my patients said, “Why do I need x-rays? Can’t you just look around or poke around with that sharp pointy thing?” Many oral diseases cannot be detected only by a visual or physical exam alone. We are looking for cavities between your teeth, gum disease or more specifically bone loss, infections under the bone, or certain tumors. We don’t have Superman’s x-ray vision so these things cannot be seen with our eyes.

How often these dental x-rays should be taken depends on your oral health condition, age, risk factors and signs or symptoms you’re experiencing.  You should only get dental x-rays when necessary and only when they are necessary.

Nowadays, there are many ways to protect you from harmful radiation. The doses of radiation are lower today than it was 2 decades ago.

That big heavy apron that we put on you?  That’s a lead shield to protect the rest of your body. That hard thing we velcro around your neck? That’s a thyroid shield to protect your thyroid. Those bulky films?  Those are digital x-ray sensors. Digital x-rays require 80-90% less radiation than regular x-rays.

When your dentist takes x-rays, they should be read, reviewed and compared to your previous x-rays or conditions in your mouth along with the intraoral exam. Your dentist should also explain to you what they are looking for and what they’ve found afterwards.

With proper dental x-rays, your dentist can treat you in the best, most comprehensive, most conservative way possible. Most cavities, gum disease, infections or certain tumors won’t be detected by a patient until much later on.

In other words, “DON’T PANIC, DON’T STOP SEEING THE DENTIST”.

Have your dentist explain everything to you. They’ll be glad to!

A Death In Our Family

It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that there has been a sudden death in our family.

Jerry has been a part of our family for 3 years now. We adopted him when his original family gave him up. There were just too many siblings for them to take care of. He was the most energetic one so they gave up on him.

Once in our family though, Jerry's energy was viewed only as him having an unlimited curiosity and a thirst for exploring his surroundings. We saw him as a boundless happy youngster and he never failed to put a smile on our faces when we saw his bright eyes sparkle with joy. He was always neat and clean, and for the most part, quiet as a mouse.

Jerry loved taking naps during the daytime but unfortunately, that only translated to awake time during the evening hours. Allison sometimes said that Jerry kept making noises and running around at night. He didn't sleep near our room so I didn't notice the ruckus. Although he loved daytime napping, Jerry was never nasty when you woke him up to play. He would often sit with Allison on her desk when she did homework.

Jerry lived a full life of 3 years with us. As you can probably guess now, Jerry is not a person but a gerbil. We still consider him as part of our family. 

There is only one thing left to do now. WHO WILL DISPOSE OF JERRY???

Allison? ......She claims that she is too heartbroken to even look at his cage. Hmmmm. Really, now.

Harrison?........ He claims that it's really not technically HIS pet and most of the time, Allison doesn't even let him play with Jerry, so why does he have to do the deed? I see his point.

Mother? Are you serious? Why do I have to be stuck being the one to search out a small cardboard box, fill it with fluffy tissue, position the deceased rodent so it looks like he's in eternal rest, and place a tissue on him like a blankie? Do I have to go out by myself to the yard to dig a deep enough hole to place said rodent in so racoons or neighborhood cats don't dig him up and have a meal? Can't imagine Jerry parts spread all over my front lawn. And besides, I've already packed away one of Harrison's previous hamsters. The other one was never found in the house. Makes me wonder sometimes...

I was tapping away on my blog when Allison came up to me.
She said brightly, "I got someone to do it for me."
"Who?" I asked. There was only 2 people she could've finagled to do it for her. Harrison, by bribery, or.....
"Baba." We both said at the same time. 
Hmmmm. As I recall, I did hear her dialing the phone a few moments ago.

Somehow, dead rodent duty is always delegated to the dads. You want to be the man of the house? You want to be king of the castle? You want to be head of the household? Well, there are just some things you need to do then. And being pet mortician and grave digger is one of them. Good luck, and remember to sanitize your hands before you come back in for dinner. And when you sit down for dinner, your family will look at you with adoring misty eyes and acknowledge that once again, Daddy pulls through for the family. 
RIP, Jerry.  <sniff, sniff> There will never be another.

Do You Love Your Dog?

Here is the latest article I wrote for Japanese newspaper. I write a monthly column for 2 Japanese newspapers. My hygienist translates them for me to Japanese. This is dedicated for all my friends who have dogs and love their dogs!

February was National Pet Dental Health Month. We all love our dogs and their wet, sloppy kisses, but honestly, sometimes their breath is enough to knock over an elephant!

About 80% of all dogs have some type of gum disease by age 3 and smaller dogs tend to be more prone to this than bigger dogs.  Taking your dog to the vet to have their teeth cleaned may involve putting them to sleep and in addition to being pricey, can have serious consequences for certain dogs.  If your dog is not healthy, or if your dog is very small, or if your dog has had bad reactions to the drugs, it may be inappropriate or even dangerous for your dog to be put to sleep for a simple teeth cleaning.  It's easier and less expensive to keep dental problems even before they even start.  Here are 6 tips for keeping your dog's breath from knocking you over every time they greet you in the morning with doggie lick and a "Hhh-hhh-hhh-how are you!" 


Tooth Brushing:  You can find doggie toothbrushes and doggie toothpaste in most pet supplies stores.  The doggie toothpaste doesn't contain fluoride and is usually meat flavored as it is a flavor appealing to most dogs. The younger you start with your dog, the better they will cooperate.


Crunchy Foods:  Most dogs will prefer moist dog food or human foods over boring dry crunchy dog food but the dry kibble will not stick to your dog's teeth as much. The crunching and scrapping will tend to clean the plaque of your dog's teeth as well.  

Healthy Treats:  Like with people, eating healthy treats such as fresh apples or raw carrots will clean your dog's teeth.  Commercial dental treats for dogs will also work to help prevent future dental problems.  "Greenies" are a big brand marketed towards preventing doggie bad breath.


Dental Rinses:  While it may be hard to teach your dog to gargle with mouthwash, there are dental rinses to squirt in their mouths, add to their water or wipe onto their teeth.  



Avoid Very Hard Chew Toys:  Some dogs really love to gnaw hard bones or toys as this is a natural behavior for dogs but dogs can break their teeth chewing on very hard things.  


Good Dental Toys:  There are many good dental dog toys available on the market.  Dog toys that have ropes will actually clean or floss their teeth.  Puzzle toys may also have bumps or nubs on them that help clean your dog's teeth as they are gnawing on them to get the treat inside.

My own dog is a 4 lb Pomeranian who thinks she is a 90 lb Chow Chow.  When I got her, the owner told me that Poms are prone to gum disease.  "Not to worry," I thought,  "I'm a dentist, I can take care of that!"   The next day, I went to the pet store and bought a doggie toothbrush and tube of doggie toothpaste.  I set her on the closed toilet seat and put some toothpaste on the toothbrush.  She eyed me suspiciously as I approached her. She sniffed the toothpaste with interest.   I opened her mouth but even before I could get the toothbrush in, she exploded in an angry ball of fur and teeth.  Thank goodness I've learned to become quick at avoiding teeth closing down on my fingers but I almost lost an arm!  After I caught my breath and gave her an angry stare, I approached her again.  One must never give up, they say.  I showed her the toothbrush and she lifted her lips to show me her teeth.  Now that I have a good look at her teeth from a distance, I could clearly see that her teeth are fine the way they are.  We came to a joint decision that she'll keep her teeth the way they are and I'll keep my digits.  I'll stick with the top 5 list as mentioned above, (...,minus the teeth brushing tip!)


Five years later, she loves raw carrots, apples, and "Greenie" dental treats.  When I ask her, "Do you want a Greenie?"  she'll do all her tricks in rapid succession in anticipation of gettting the treat.  I still have my fingers and the doggie toothbrush has long been retired and is now being  used to clean around the faucets in my bathroom. 

 

Put On Some Kalon to Impress My G Friend

I was checking on the status of my Cozi Calendar when I came across this entry for Valentine's Day.....

"Put on some kalon to impress my g friend"

This was entered as an "All Day" event to be done on Feb 14th by my 11 year old son.

I almost had a cross between a heart attack and a laughing fit!
 Mind you, he's barely 11....
Wasn't it just last year that he was up late writing Valentine's Day cards for his whole class so that no one would be left out? since when does his Valentine's Day attention get singled out to one specific female person??

Just yesterday, he gave me a paper plate project that was made in school for Valentine's Day.
On it, he taped his computer class project that said, "Happy Valentine's Day Mommy! I love you! I love you because now you cook as well as Grandma but you don't get the recipes from the TV like her, you learned it from Cooking Mama on the Wii.  Love your one and only son, xoxoxoxoxoxo times 1000000000000!"

Doesn't it kinda boil down to what matters to an 11 year old boy? where and when is their next meal coming from and their excitement for life is always to the nth degree.

But back to this g-friend business...... G friend??!! What G friend?!?!?!

I discreetly ask him, "So.... what are you doing for Valentine's Day tomorrow?"
"I don't know, I don't have a girlfriend anymore," he said sadly.
I was relieved and curious at the same time. "What happened?" I asked.
"She likes someone else now." Poor thing, heartbreak can be tough!  *me, sighing with relief!*
I put my arms around his small shoulders. "Don't worry, girls can be like that sometimes."
"OK, Mommy. But that's just not very nice of her though." (Live and learn, son, live and learn!)

I was tapping away on my computer later when he came up to me, hugged me and said brightly, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy! You're the best, I love you!" He handed me a stretchy bracelet with bright pink beads that spell out "M-O-M" and with hearts.

Future girlfriends, let me tell you, this stretchy bracelet will always be more precious than any piece of jewelry from Tiffany's or any dozen long-stemmed roses!

Until the time he has a "real" girlfriend, I will cherish his homemade cards from school. Future girlfriends will get fancy Hallmark cards with mushy sentimental poems that are already printed on the inside but I will get his unabashed unfettered love affirmations surrounded by painted macaroni and paper lace doilies.

On the other hand.... I will be sniffing him tomorrow when I give him a hug as he leaves for school......

F is for.....

OK, so I'm a good couple of weeks into my F-Diet and the power walking.....
What can I say ......
F is for...... Failing? 

Between Christmas, New Year's, and Chinese New Year's, not only have I fallen off the F-Diet wagon, but honey, that wagon has long gone past me on the road.
F is for.... Fallen off the wagon?
The weather has not been helpful either.  
F is for.....Freezing temperatures?

I had an visit with my cardiologist the other week. (Yes, I've gotten more used to calling him "my cardiologist". Although it's a relationship I want to end soon so we can't be that amiable!)  He says I'm doing OK but wants me to get more into it. Yes, Sir, Dr Cardiologist, Sir! I know it's for my own good. I'll take it more seriously.

One thing I've noticed is that I've become really good at justifying foods to include in my F-Diet. You see, I've told a lot of people about my F-Diet hoping they'll hold me accountable. 

 During Christmas dinner....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" someone says as I reach for a thin slice of pie.
"F is for ......Flaky crusts!!", I politely remind him.
"No it's not!"

During New Year's dinner....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" someone else says as I make a motion towards the dessert plate.
"F is for........Fresh whipped cream?", I venture.
"No it's not!"

During Chinese New Year dinner.....
"Hey, that's not part of your F-Diet!" This time, it was 2 people who said it at the same time as I looked in anticipation when the ice cream was brought out. OK, already, Bobbsey twins!
"F is for......Frozen Freezy treaties?", I say weakly.
"No it's not!" they retort in stereo...

By this time, I know exactly how a 2 year old feels when everyone tells them "No-no!" all the time.
But thank you, everyone for holding me accountable and not backing down on my committment!
Because I realize that....

Finally......F is for .........FRIENDS! 
 I look FORWARD  to the day when I can say,
"FINALLY FREE OF THE F-DIET!"
Hoping it'll become more of a lifestyle change for me in the FUTURE.