Writers block.  As I sit here, having dedicated this time in my week to write, I have writers block.  This is particularly funny because I have had numerous ideas of what I have wanted to write about the past several weeks, but none of them come to mind now.  Beginning today I will start writing my ideas down on a list so that I can refer back to them when it comes time to write.

I say “I have writers block” as if I have caught a cold.  If it were catchable, then it would also be contagious, which perhaps it is.  If you put several people in a room and assign them to write something, anything, and one of them has writers block, and he/she announces that he has come down with this “disease”, perhaps others in the room would also suffer from the malady.

On the other hand, I am aware of many cases when one of my children has a writing assignment for school and they cannot think of anything to write about, but I can think of several things they could write about.  So perhaps only one person in a room is allowed to catch “writers block”.

How is the disease manifest?  In my case, I have noticed that it appears immediately.  There is no gradual onset.  It seems to present itself when no prior preparation or thought goes into the writing subject.  There may be other symptoms but they do not come to mind at this time.  Which brings up another interesting thing about writers block: it seems to weaken and strengthen over short or long periods of time.

Writing

What is the remedy?  I already mentioned one:  preparation and prevention.  The things that help me are if I keep a list of topics to write about, if I am well read (gleaning ideas from others), if I take time to meditate daily, and get enough sleep.  Once the disease has established itself, a remedy is to walk away and do something else, allowing the mind to relax.  Read a self-help book or article.  Go on a walk or participate in vigorous exercise.

But if you must absolutely write at a set time, such as when there is a deadline and there is insufficient time to try any of the above mentioned remedies, then the best thing to do is to simply write.  Write random thoughts and don’t stop writing.  After writing for a period of time, go back and clean up your writing through the editing processes.

Can any of this be applied to dentistry?  Absolutely.  As I meet with patients and discuss their oral health, we inevitably turn the discussion to prevention:  what are they doing to prevent oral disease.  Often they admit that they have good intentions to brush after each meal and floss daily, but they don’t actually do these things regularly.

Regular, daily, consistent preventive efforts of brushing after each meal and daily flossing is critical to preventing cavities, which is the most universal human disease, but is preventable.

Just as a writer schedules time to write, we must reserve time to brush and floss.  We must recognize that this is a priority for us.  We must get out of the mindset that cavities are ok, because we can simply go to the dentist and he or she will “fix” the cavity.  Any “fix” is time limited, meaning the materials used to restore a tooth will not last indefinitely.  They will break down over time due to acidity, biting forces, and numerous other factors and need to be replaced.  So simply “fixing” a tooth now means possible, and even probable, “fixes” in the future and each “fix” of a tooth becomes more complex and costly.

The best thing to do is be consistent.  Brush and floss daily.  There are other preventive efforts we should incorporate as well, such as

Flossing

limiting sugar intake, avoid soft drinks and juices, exercise (a subject for another day), get enough sleep, use a mouth rinse, and use a water pick.

Writers block can be largely avoided by keeping a list, being well read, and taking time daily to ponder and meditate.  Dental disease can be largely avoided too.

I know these preventive measures work because I also meet with many patients daily who are daily flossing their teeth, and brush after every meal.  They use a Waterpik and mouth rinse.  They eat healthy foods and limit sugar in their diet.

If you have any questions about the preventive methods you use, or the current state of your oral health, don’t hesitate to give us a call.  We would love to visit with you.