Real is Better Than Fake

On her talk show last week Supermodel Tyra Banks removed her Wonderbra from underneath her shirt and demonstrated to her studio audience that her breasts are the real thing.

Which reminds me that I was going to talk about flossing.

Having run a small dental clinic for folks without dental insurance, I have a lot to say on the topic. I have statistics and anecdotes galore. (My favorite: A caller who boasted that he brushes his teeth once a day whether they need it or not.)

I'll spare you the lecture and say this: Only brush and floss the teeth you want to keep.

Skip the bothersome ritual if the idea of prosthetic teeth excites you.

If you start thinking of dentures, crowns and implants as prosthetics, as uncomfortable and unnatural as any other, you might work a little harder to spare yourself the trouble. Comfort and flexibility are not the hallmarks of prosthetic limbs.

I have seen my share of painful denture seatings, full-mouth extractions, four-unit bridges.

And yes, fake is better than nothing.

But real is better.