First, to my students: I'd like to apologize if I offended any of you by standing too close. I was not ignoring my dragon breath; I just didn't have time to slay it while you were there.
I should explain.
Because of its 50-minute commute, my morning routine rarely allows me the time to eat breakfast and enjoy my coffee properly so I can clean my teeth before I get to school. Thus, it is often the case that I have to deal with it when the flow of the day allows for it (sometimes, even during class). I keep a toothbrush, toothpaste and some mouthwash in my desk for just this eventuality. I keep lots of weird things in my desk. Maybe I'll do a 10 Things post on that someday...
Anyway, I really hate when I don't get the chance to brush because I feel like I'm breathing coffee breath (or worse) all over my students. Plus, I feel better (and probably teach better) when I'm all minty fresh. There are days, though, when, despite my best efforts, it just doesn't happen until later in the day. Listerine® and Trident® help a little, but neither is really an all-day fix. It's a daily challenge to keep a minty fresh face.
Disappointingly, today was not a minty fresh day. I walked in the door and it was non-stop stuff: Meetings, teaching, the 48 conversations that take place in the hallway as I'm going to one or the other. Like many of my days, it was a challenge today to find time to take a deep breath, let alone dig out my toothbrush.
I had to be at school a little while after the students left this afternoon to work on a college recommendation for one of my seniors. I waved good-bye to them as they left, had the standard 48 conversations on the way to my classroom and planted myself at my desk. I realized at that moment that I actually had time to take a deep breath. That led quickly to the realization that I needed to get right back up and, with my Reach and my Tom's of Maine, make my way to the sink.
I returned much better able to focus on the recommendation, and I'm sure the student for whom I'm writing it will appreciate that I did so with a clean, fresh face.
It was a better recommendation, I'm sure.
1 comment:
After I read your post, I realized how important oral hygiene is to you. Aside from having a beautiful set of teeth, a good oral hygiene also boosts your confidence and reduces your risk of acquiring an infection. With that in mind, oral hygiene must be a part of everyone’s daily routine. There’s no better way to start and end your day than a fresh breath and a great smile!
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