Thursday we went to Marseille for a few appointments. Jean-Marc took the opportunity to drive us through our old neighborhood, in Le Roucas Blanc (our first home was there on the left, behind the house with the blue shutters–at the end of the Impasse Gagliardo. On the hilltop, you are seeing the Basilique Notre-Dame de la Garde). We also passed the church in which we were married…see it at the end of this post.
Today's words: "sans dents"
— without teeth
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L'homme naît sans dents, sans cheveux et sans illusions, et il meurt de même, sans cheveux, sans dents et sans illusions. –Alexandre Dumas
Man is born without teeth, without hair, without any illusions, and he dies the same way: without hair, without teeth, without any illusions.
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
I am sitting next to a pile of clothes on my bed, trying to wrestle my foot into a high-heeled espadrille, the third pair of chaussures I've tried this morning. "You are only going to the dentist," Jean-Marc points out.
"Yes, but…she's so chic!" My behavior perplexes me as much as my husband, but I can only shrug my shoulders: I am a chameleon, most comfortable disappearing into the background. The neighborhood where Sylvie, la chirurgien-dentiste, is located is in a fashionable quartier in Marseille, and all my efforts to fit in will be en vain. In vain–such is vanity! I end up pulling on a pair of cowboy boots as old as my firstborn. I know the women in Marseille will be wearing ballerinas or sandals, but the women back home in Arizona…well what do I know about Arizonans anymore?–I've lived in France half my life!
And it is showing. At 50, I soon learn my teeth are in grave danger of le déchaussement: loosening and eventually falling out!
"You have beautiful-looking teeth," Dentist Sylvie (who I met at Flavia's) assures me, but beneath it all la maladie parodontale is underway. Sylvie shows us (I've dragged Jean-Marc along for a consultation, too) our radios. "Do you see those tâches noires? Evidence your bone mass is diminishing!"
Having worked on the American military in Italy, Sylvie's assistant, une hygiéniste dentaire (also named "Sylvie"); chats with me about my countrymen until I am relaxed. She lowers the examination chair to get a good look at my pearly-whites (or pearly-wrecks?). A few flicks with a sharp metal probe and she runs right into inflamed gencives. "Not good!" As she alerts the other Sylvie, I am remembering past warnings, from my own belle-mère (Lynne, in Seattle, who lectures internationally on dental health), and another favorite dentist, Robert, back in Les Arcs-sur-Argens, who warned that if I did not begin wearing a mouthguard, for bruxism, I'd be in trouble down the line.
Here we are 20 years down the line and it seems this inflammation is, in part, related to tooth grinding (which may be related to anxiety). Stress has indeed been linked to periodontal disease! And gum disease is linked to everything from heart disease to erectile dysfunction (i.e. not flossing your teeth could lead to trouble below the belt). If that, dear reader, isn't motivation to floss your teeth and brush twice daily what is?
I leave Sylvie's office with an estimate for something called surfaçage radiculair (tooth planing and scaling) and something called "les Inlays-Onlays" (ceramic tooth fillings) which are designed to repair all those holes in my teeth, from nightly grinding. Overwhelmed, or dépassée, from all the information (and the cost estimate…) I wish I could just go home and gargle with salt water–like my wise Uncle Tucker! Wouldn't that, eventually, clear out all that bacteria living up underneath my gums? Or is something more radical (scraping around the roots…the "tooth planing") needed? One thing is sure, this dentist appointment chez Sylvie has been a wake-up call and I am grateful for that: I promise, from here on out, to brush my teeth twice a day, floss, rinse my mouth after every meal and to once and for all quit being such a worrywart! Stress seems to be at the root of every illness, doesn't it? More than gargling with salt water, I'd do well to take a chill pill!
Our daughter who turns 21 in September.
From the dentist's office we headed to Le Cercle des Nageurs–the oldest swim club in Marseille–and where Jean-Marc and I had our wedding reception back in 1994. We were here to meet our daughter for lunch, and then take her to her meeting at IICC (Institut International de Création Et de Coupe). What a coincidence! 23 years earlier, pregnant with my son, I tagged along with my friend Suzanne who, like Jackie, had an appointment at this very same fashion school.
That's Suzanne, to my right. This was our Town Hall marriage. The church wedding was a few months later (church picture below)
I vaguely remember walking up La Canebière, searching for the building which was located beside a cathedral. And I can almost see Madame Ortega, with her shiny auburn hair who is presently greeting us…but not before chewing out her assistant (who up until now had done a smashing job showing us around) for leaving the door wide open.
"What do you want–all of our computers to be swiped? GO CLOSE THOSE DOORS!" Having put her cohort in his place, Madame took her seat. My eyes took in every inch of this colorful personnage, all the way down to her red-lacquered toes. Jackie was as intimidated as the rest of us, and vowed after the meeting never to be in the crosshairs with Madame.
For the second time that day (after the dentist's) we were given a rundown of fees…. and my mind reeled with it all. I looked over at my daughter (who was still agonizing over the school workload she was about to commit to) and I said, "What if we just chuck it all and go live on a horse ranch in Montana?"
What with these cowboy boots, one of us would fit right in!
—
Notes: Chirurgien-Dentiste Sylvie Bensoussan offered me a bilan, or dental check-up, in her state of the art office at 7 Parc Jean-Mermoz. More info at her website.
I am now using and loving this toothpaste and have bought soft-bristle toothbrushes for JM and me. It's a start! On my goals list: to get an oral irrigator. Would love your thoughts. Do you use one?
Update: Thanks to your recommendations I have ordered the Electric Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush
FRENCH VOCABULARY REVIEW
les dents = teeth
les chaussures = shoes
le chirurgien-dentiste = dental surgeon
le déchaussement = receding of gums, loosening of the teeth
la maladie parodontale = periodontal disease
la radio = X-ray
la tâche noire = black spot
la gencive = gum
hygiéniste dentaire = dental hygienist
la belle-mère = mother-in-law, stepmother
surfaçage radiculaire = root planing
dépassé(e) = overwhelmed
personnage = character
le bilan = assessment, appraisal, check up
Jean-Marc and Jackie, at her rdv at IICC Fashion School. I wonder if my friend Suzanne is reading, today, and if she remembers her own interview in this historic room!
Saint Antoine de Padoue, the church in Marseille where Jean-Marc and I were married in 1994.
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Hi Kristi,
I have been very happy with my electric toothbrush. It has improved my gums and of course flossing once or twice a day. I was told by my dentist that I was brushing too hard with a regular toothbrush and that can also cause receding gums.
Have a great week!
Eileen
Hi Kristi,
And don’t overlook the Ayurvedic dental treatment called “Daily Swish.” Available on amazon and made locally (here in New Mexico) by Banyan Botanicals.
Jeanne
I am sure you have posted the picture of your civil ceremony before but this was the first time I noticed your dress. So chic, simple and perfect for the occasion! Did you ever write about it? Where you bought it or who made it?
I had the dental planing done. It wasn’t fun. But since then I have brushed carefully, with a manual soft brush and flossed. No problems any more. good luck.
Careful flossing first, water-pik on gentle to flush out bits between the teeth and around the gums. then brush with an electric toothbrush. Brush each tooth separately. No gum disease. I use something called Periodont, prescription item with fluoride. I have very dry mouth from taking a medicine, and using a Cpap. My teeth are cleaned every six months. At 77 I am pleased to have all my teeth and in fairly good condition. I love the water-pik because my teeth feel so clean. good luck and best wishes.
You simply MUST get a good quality, electric toothbrush. After going thru several, (many), horrible yrs of scraping and planing and abject terror and pain, I started using Gly-0xide the mon I saw any redness or inflammation or even a wisp of pink water, i.e. Blood. A periodontist taught me that. Then I began in earnest using a gum brush, specifically to attack and stop he “disease” your dantal asst/dentist referred to. I started using baking soda until the new Crest toothpaste came out, doing cleanins occas, and ate far less sugar. After four yrs, I had no cavities, and I went to a local dental school, “torture!!,” to get each “pocket” for each tooth’s portion of gum, checked. I didn’t qualify for thr gum periodontal disease project because my ums had improved so much. I agree with the latest studies: a found brush, that’s a small, elec toothbrush, is much better at getting plaque and food stuck in your teeth. So, you CAN do it w/out planing and scraping. I will never do that again!! I also believe drinking copious amou ts of iced and hot tra, hS teally contributed to my gum/teeth health, due to the tannic acid. That’s just about all I drink and the iced tea does, of course, have some real suger. I will be most happy if ypu’d let me send you some of these products. Might save you money & pain. And brush three times/day, and do gargle salt water when you can or use salt water in a water pik. Water piks get stuff nothing else but a dr’s pik can. Good luck, and never stop the ritual!!!
Please forgive the typos. Site wouldn’t let me edit.
…Carry on this street 300 metters and a bit on the right
and going down few stairs you arrive to my house !
I was so glad to hear that you are getting a SoniCare toothbrush. It truly did wonders for my and my husband’s dental health. And like the story you told about teaching your son, Max, about how to handle the broom lightly to do the work of sweeping, the SoniCare works best with a light and slow touch to let the sonic bubbling do its magic. Take care!
20 years ago, at 56, I was told by my dentist that my teeth would be gone in 10 years. Since then I have used a WATERPIK faithfully every night followed by 3oz of THERASOL concentrate diluted 8 to 1 with distilled water, eau demineralise in france. I still have all my teeth. 64oz of concentrate is not cheap but lasts a long time when mixed 8 to 1 with water.
P.S. the 3oz of Therasol mix is used thru the WATERPIK also. The eau demineralise can be found in the camping section of E Leclerc and other Walmart type stores.
Dear Kristi..glad you caught this on time but it can be monitored. The toothbrush that I recommend (very highly) was designed by a gum surgeon and it really works..it is a nimbus brush (very soft bristles to stimulate the gum). You should also get a mouth guard to prevent bruxism…and just about any toothpaste with fluoride should work…just not baking soda because it scratches the enamel…can you tell I have a lot of experience? xx
Hi Mary, I forgot to say, she did ask me about my mouth guard, which I wear faithfully these days.
At age 68, I have used a Waterpik for over 50 years, when I had braces. Even had one of my bridesmaids hold my veil as I used it on my wedding day, 47 years ago. I NEVER go to bed without using it. After flossing, brushing twice with a timed toothbrush, I still get chunks of food out from between my teeth. Shocking!