I had my normal cleaning appointment yesterday and was careful to give my Dentist the new diagnosis and meds I was on. I told him that I had read that it was particularly important that I tell him I was on Triavil. I had assumed incorrectly that the caution had to do with using gas for dental work. But my dentist says that is not the reason for needing to know about it. He said that any meds or conditions that caused a dry mouth left the teeth much more open to rapid decay. It seems that saliva does a lot toward keeping the mouth bacteria population under control.

He suggested a Fluoride mouth wash, but NOT one that had alcohol in it. And he said that may be too strong for some people, and that it could cause gum irritation. There were alternatives that he could offer, but not over the counter products. So I will try this first and see how I do.

I told him that I had stopped using the TAP device, since the change in diagnosis, and because I was leary of using it while my GERD was acting up so much. I could not chance gagging and choking on the reflux acid that would back up into my mouth.

It did seem to stop the mouth breathing for a long time, but I have not been sleeping as well just lately, so I was thinking about trying it again. He said I needed to use it at least once a month regardless, because teeth tend to move ever so slightly over time. If I didn’t wear it often enough it would reach the point that it did not fit any longer. And I certainly don’t want to spend that money again sometime in the future, when I could have prevented it.

So I’ve been up most of the night tonight, just the way I used to do. This has been gradually coming on for the last few weeks, but tonight was the worst it’s been in a very long time. I’m actually wearing the TAP right now. We decided it made more sense to wear it for awhile while I am awake, until my mouth gets used to it again. Right now if feels like I have some huge thing in my mouth, but I’m sure it will become much more comfortable, just the way it did last time, if I work at it.

I have been noticing an increase in the way my brain and emotions cannot handle any kind of time pressure, no matter how slight. And every time I try to fool with those stupid Digital Converter boxes and try to tape a program it really shows up big time. I was so frazzled last night trying to get it set up to tape a program that I don’t think I could have told you my name!! It’s a horrible feeling, and one that I prefer to attribute to the med side effects, rather than a true sign of dementia onset. It’s hard to get that thought completely out of my mind, though, after caring for my mother so long before she died with Alzheimer’s. As I have mentioned in some other posts, my family’s neurological history is not pretty.

I’m continuing to try to up my activity level a little bit each day, but I still can only work in short spurts. After that I need to do something sitting for awhile, which for me usually means working on the computer.

And I’ve gone back to doing the neck exercises each morning (I wasn’t supposed to stop), since I’ve been getting the tingling nerve signal again that means the degenerated cervical disk is pressing on a nerve. I don’t want to end up in the stiff and painful situation I was in earlier this year, so for now at least I’m being a good girl and following doctor’s orders. It’s just hard to make myself faithfully do them when I’m feeling good. Yes, that’s childish and foolish. Guilty on both counts. But I’ll try to be better about continuing them this time, even when it stops bothering me.

It takes at least 21 times to build or break a habit, but it’s worth the 21 days to have a better Quality of Life!! So, old habits have been revived, and hopefully continued. This will give me something positive to work on each day.

I intend to ENJOY this Holiday Season, and not just survive it, the way I have the last few years.