Dr. Teeth

On Saturday, I was assisting with Keep State Great, the annual fall community service day for NMSU student groups. One of the young women in my group was trying to remember the name of a Muppet, "the piano guy". "Do you mean Rowlf or Dr. Teeth?" I asked. "I forgot about that guy! Rowlf. I mean Rowlf." You might as well add The Muppets to my list of expertise in arcane, esoteric knowledge about childish entertainment.

Speaking of teeth and doctors.... (I'll never get tired of finding a good segueway.)

Last week, I had my biannual dental cleaning and checkup. It turns out that the reason my jawbones are receding from my teeth is because I apparently clench my teeth when I sleep. (Unlike other bones, according to the hygienist, jaw bones recede under pressure, rather than grow.) I don't think this process can be reversed, but they are going to fit me for a "night guard" to reduce the recession. Plus, the hygienist gave me a special brush with tiny, conical heads to clean the spaces between my teeth. I'm pleased that I can use it without causing pain or bleeding, but it dismays me that I have such gaps in the first place.

While we're on the subject of bones, let me tell you about a guy I met at the gym. He appears about 20 years older than I, but he is in phenomenal shape. He's not overweight, and he has great musculature. He's about my height, and he has all his hair (even if it is gray). Heck, I wouldn't mind being in such great shape now, let alone when I'm in my 50's!

I mentioned my admiration of this patron's apparent physical well-being with the gym's exercise specialist. It turns out that the man in question was quite an athlete in his younger days, hence why he is able to keep in such good shape. However (you should have suspected a "but"), he is about to go in for double hip replacement (both at one time) because the same athletic background apparently did a number on him. I guess every silver lining has a cloud.