LIVING LIFE

I loved Rice Krispies as a child – actually I still enjoy eating them. Not only do they taste good, but it is always amusing to hear the sound these crunchy, airy, little nuggets make. Lately, I have become aware of something else that makes similar sounds but is far from amusing, to say nothing about being extremely expensive. It is the sound of my teeth hitting each other due to clenching, which has resulted in several cracked teeth.

According to recent studies, In addition to causing an unprecedented demand for toilet paper, an increased number of Instacart subscriptions, and a rise in the divorce rate, the pandemic has created a tremendous number of emergency dental visits due to broken teeth.

In an attempt to prevent any more dental work associated with bruxism (teeth clenching), I recently purchased a highly rated mouthguard online. Not only did it prevent me from clenching my teeth, it also kept me from closing my mouth. Contestant number two was much better but it took several nights to adjust to the vise-like fit. I would be happy to purchase a custom mouthguard from my dentist, but unfortunately my first cracked tooth was destroyed by my intense clenching and is no longer residing in my mouth (cue a trumpet playing Taps.) Once an implant is completed, I will be able to purchase a night guard which should fit perfectly and last for many years.

For those of you who find yourself grinding or clenching your teeth during stressful times, I strongly suggest that you purchase a mouthguard, unless you enjoy sharing your 401K with your dentist.

It is my hope that the only snap, crackle, and pop that I hear in the future will be from a cereal box.

The information written on this blog is for informational purposes only and does not endorse, or permit any actions taken by any individuals as a result of reading this information, including any and all comments received on this blog. I don’t encourage any actions to be taken based on the information on this site.