Dental Hygiene: Brush, Floss and Rinse

Nothing like a visit to the dentist to scare some sense into a know-it-all teen. Last week’s visit yielded four words no one wants to hear: “He’s got a cavity.”

Since then the boy has been a regular zealot. I haven’t had to remind him to brush his teeth all week. It’s been great.

My teen and I are pretty low-key as we travel together to school each morning, side by side in the front of the Montero. I drive him because it’s not that far out of the way, he loves to get a ride but mostly because I enjoy spending time with him.

Friday morning we’re just chatting along aimlessly when he made the comment that he’d “brushed, flossed, and rinsed with ACT” that morning.

I replied, “I brushed and flossed,” To which he responded, “Mom, you’re fighting a losing battle.”

I laughed out loud and kicked him to the curb. We were, after all, at the high school.

In addition to her duties as managing editor of Goodness and Portland Family Magazine, Mary Rarick couldn’t imagine life without her family, her girlfriends, Indian food, iced soy lattes and fabulous shoes. Her community involvement includes representing parents on Century High School’s Site Council and serving at her local food bank. Follow her blog on Portland Family Magazine and connect with her on Twitter.