Pelican Dental Concepts

Either the boss must have been feeling extra generous, or he felt like all of the employees needed some time off, but either way I’m enjoying the heck out of myself on this all expense paid cruise to the islands. This is my type of vacation. Between the unlimited food and the free salsa dancing lessons, this is quite possibly the best time of my life.

I mean I’ve been to the beaches over in Panama, and the ones in J-ville and even the ones in Miami, but my goodness the beaches I splashed in when we stopped in the Bahamas were straight out of the movies. I could see all the way down to the bottom. Amazingly though, even the beaches weren’t the highlight of my trip.

So of course by now, you think I’m a geek of the mouth. And you’re right, I am. (By the way the complimentary toothpaste and mouthwash on the ship were above my expectations - I found myself eating more than three times a day just so my mouth could party as hard as the rest of me.) Anyway, the best part of this whole trip was signing autographs and taking pictures with all the children onboard. I tried my hardest not to give a lecture, but I think I successfully cleared every fear of going to the dentist from almost everyone on board. And that my friends, is what boosts this vacation to a level above the best.

Just like almost everyone else in the world, I dreaded going to the dentist for my 6th month cleaning when I was younger. But I look forward to jumping in the chair and leaning back as Dr. Doitright picks and pokes at my teeth to create a whiter and fresher smile. But beyond walking out of his office sparkling, going to get cleanings twice a year is as simple as practicing good hygiene.

These bi-annual appointments prevent tooth decay, remove bacteria build up and assess any major dental problems that may cause discomfort, such as cavities, gum disease and wisdom tooth irritation. Yea, yea, I know. It’s not comfortable. But it’s better than walking around without teeth or avoiding your favorite foods because of tooth sensitivity caused by cavities.

The sixth month cleaning is vital to your health. Do you know that germs in the mouth can cause serious bodily infections? I don’t know how many more times I’m going to have to go through this, but if for no other reason than vanity, please, please pretty please with a cherry on top, go sit in the chair, stare at the light and imagine a vacation to paradise. I guarantee before you can even lay out on the beach, the dentist will be leaning the chair forward, taking off your bib and asking you what color toothbrush you want.

Perci Spotting: I’ll be hanging this month in Kissimmee for the Florida National Dental Convention. At the Gaylord Palms to be specific. Stop by and see me from June 12th – 14th!

Whether you’re going on a job interview or a blind date you should always show off your sparkling teeth. Your smile really is your first impression. You’ve probably heard the corny phrase that smiles are contagious, but it’s true. So one day I was on the beach, and I decided to test this philosophy. I smiled at every one I flew by, and believe it or not, almost all of them smiled back, and a few of them even struck up a conversation with me. In fact this really pretty goose began flirting with me. Of course I had to politely decline because as you know Lilly and I are still dating. Which reminds me, Lilly always told me that it was my bright and white smile that initially attracted her to me. You better listen to me. A smile is not only your first impression, but it’s a lasting impression.

What usually comes in sets, aggravates the majority of people who have them and may require a sedative? No, I’m not talking about toddlers. I’m talking about those dreadful wisdom teeth that cause the biggest fuss at every dentist office in the world.

Most people don’t understand their function, and I wish I could give you a long jargon-filled thesis on their purpose, but the truth is they’re really just unnecessary. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars that begin appearing in a person’s mouth between the ages of 16 and 30. Located in the very back of the mouth, the only real function they serve is chewing, and even then Mr. and Mrs. Molar #1, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Molar#2 can effectively hold down the chewing aspect.

Besides being completely unnecessary, Wisdom Teeth tend to create a heap of problems. The average person’s mouth just isn’t big enough to house these extra four teeth and therefore they become impacted. And once a dentist has determined that your wisdom teeth are impacted, most likely they will set you up for surgery to have them removed.

But in the mean time, I suggest going to your nearest ice cream parlor to freeze the pain away. Tell them Perci sent you, and you may just get a free ice cream cone.

Perci Spotting: I’ll be flying high this month at the Florida Association of Health Underwriters trade show in Daytona Beach April 2nd – 4th. Should be one heck of a spring break!

If I told you, you wouldn’t believe it. You just wouldn’t. It’s that big. Get this, last month an old friend of mine flew down to visit me, and gave me some surprising news. He had an extra ticket to the Oscars. The Oscars! As you can probably guess, I grabbed a suitcase full of my best gear and headed north. When I arrived, in no way was I disappointed. Never mind the writer’s strike, this thing was awesome. I saw everyone who was anyone in Hollywood in one night. And as an impromptu decision, my buddy Alvin and I decided to have our very own red carpet show - just like Joan and Melissa. We did have a bit of trouble getting the celebrities to actually stop for an interview, but I was too high in the clouds to let that damper my mood. We decided we were gonna name our top ten celebrity smiles anyway, and we didn’t need an interview to do so. So here goes:

1. Julia Roberts
2. George Clooney
3. America Ferrara
4. Justin Timberlake
5. Beyonce Knowles
6. Jessica Alba
7. Scarlett Johansson
8. Jennifer Garner
9. Brad Pitt
10. Will Smith

No wonder stars wear shades. With these bright smiles, who wouldn’t? And although I didn’t get the chance to shake hands with America’s sweetheart, Ms. Julia Roberts, I was flying about five feet away, and it felt like she was standing right next to me. Really! I think I have a crush. Shhh! Don’t tell Lilly. She’s still my number one, but who could resist a smile like Julia’s.

Oh February! The month associated with love. Usually I cringe at the very thought of February and that awful Hallmark holiday that falls on the 14th. But this year is different because I met the love of my life, Lilly, who just happens to be Daisy Duck’s third cousin twice removed. Never have I ever been so excited to celebrate V-Day.

But February is more than just a month of romance, it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month and that means work for me. I have to spread the word about the importance of oral health to the little ones. You see I figured it out. Instead of me wasting my breath trying to get you gray-hair ones to go to the dentist twice a month, I need to focus on the children. If I start them off young, convincing them that going to the dentist is fun and necessary, by the time they reach their twenties, they’ll be eager to go get those pearly whites checked out.

Believe it or not, this special month is also more than just spreading awareness to children, the Give Kids a Smile initiative focuses on those who are not able to go for the bi-annual check-up. So I make it my mission every February to go round up as many children as possible and sit them in Dr. Doitright’s chair so that their smile can brighten someone’s day. Well I’m off on my statewide tour to help children everywhere “Be a Breath of Fresh Air.” Hey don’t think I’m letting you off the hook, this is a great time to take your kids to the dentist using your DA/DR Plan. Don’t have one? Ask your employer to check into it.

As you know, Dr. Doitright has been my dentist ever since I landed this gig with Pelican Dental. He’s the best. I can almost guarantee you that your dentist isn’t as good as mine. You’re probably wondering, “Well, how do I find my own Dr. Doitright, or at least the next best thing?” There are plenty of handy dandy online directories out there filled with every dentist in every specialty from A - Z. But how do you know if they’re the right one for you.

Believe it or not, it took me a year, three consultations, two outrageous bills and a few preventable cavities to find Dr. Doitright. I did everything I was supposed to do. I always visited the dentist office prior to setting appointments to get a feel for the atmosphere and to meet the dentist and his staff, but still my mouth was unsatisfied.

It saddens me to tell you that there aren’t any tricks or secrets to finding the best dentist for you. I’d start with the list of dentists from the Florida Dental Association. My mom used to tell me that you should treat your dentist search the same way you treat dating. After going on a few ‘dates’ you’ll quickly figure out what you want and don’t want out of the person who’s going to be touchy feely with your mouth twice a year.

OMG! I’ve had one of the best holiday seasons ever. I hosted this year’s turkey day party and it was spectacular in so many ways. But I never would have thought that Christmas could top it. I ended up flying back home for Christmas. To be honest, my family conned me into flying back by saying that since Global Warming was in full effect, winters up north weren’t that bad. That was I lie if I ever heard one.

Despite the cold weather though, it was nice to see how the old clan of mascots were doing. And it was even nicer to brag to them that I had become the premier mascot in the whole state of Florida. Surprise, surprise! They finally started showing me a little respect.

In fact, they granted me the front and center position of our family photo because of my glamorous smile. I was so ecstatic - I felt a little like Rudolph. I can’t wait to get back and tell Dr. Doitright how he’s helped contribute to the Pelican Family bond. With all of this excitement going on I can barely wait to see what 2008 will bring.

So I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year, and the entire family is coming to my home for the holiday. It’s quite the undertaking - cooking an entire meal for a flock of hungry birds. They’ve all begged me to make my world-famous Chocolate and Hazelnut cheesecake. So needless to say, I’m in panic mode right now. If you’re reading this and not fully grasping why I’m so panicky, you must be one of those folks who is satisfied after one piece of pie. Can you even imagine feeding an entire family that never seems to get full?

Now I’m a rather fit lad, so I’m not too worried about gaining holiday pounds, but I’m worried like crazy about what all the Chocolate and hazelnut will do to my teeth! After all, I do have to keep those pearly whites in tip top shape. Maybe I’ll tell them this year we’ll all enjoy a nice salad, complete with all of the fruits and berries their hearts can take. You think that’ll work? I’ll have to make sure I’m brushing my teeth around the clock for them to survive this holiday. Wish me luck.

My sister (better known as the mouthwash queen) is coming to visit me. I’m scrambling to clean everything so it’s in top-notch shape when she arrives. I’ve been cleaning all week. Under, over, and in between. It’s not that I’m messy - my sister’s just CLEAN.

Now, you may think I’m overreacting, but you don’t know my sister. She has some kind of obsessive compulsive disorder. She cleans everything at least 10 times - including her teeth. That may be where I get my teeth obsession from. But trust me, if you think I’m bad, she’s ten times worse.

I’m already preparing myself for the tap water vs. mouthwash lecture. Why you’re asking? Because tap water doesn’t have enough fluoride in it, she always reminds me I should use be using mouthwash to keep my teeth strong and prevent tooth decay. Even though she’s my younger sister, (yeah who woulda thunk it?) I let her drone on because……she is right. Aside from helping keep my breath stay minty fresh, it helps to wash away the germs that flossing and brushing don’t reach. So for now, sister knows best.