Make a better investment

Whenever I hear the word ‘investment’, the first thing that comes to my mind is money. But is that always the case? Let me share an experience with you…

I used to have a gap between my front teeth, and for years the gap kept growing. It bothered me every time I looked in the mirror and in every photo taken of me. I thought for a long time about getting them fixed, but as an adult, it seemed like a lot of trouble. Well, that’s what I thought at the time – smiling with metal braces would be worse than having a gap in the first place.

I asked my friends what they thought and a couple of them said that the gap looked cute on me. They questioned why I would waste money to torture myself?

Well, I didn’t get the support I was looking for, but it didn’t stop me going ahead. I knew that I would be happier later on that I had made the right choice – so eventually I had the gap fixed and now I’m enjoying the result. I smile without even thinking about whether I’m showing my teeth or not (but perhaps not right after eating!).

This was a little investment in myself and I am very satisfied with the return. There are two things I have learned from this investment;

1. It’s never too late to ‘fix yourself up’, and
2. The importance of oral health.

After the orthodontic brace, I cared more about oral health, not just daily routine cleaning, but how to clean teeth properly. Last year a book in the public library caught my eye. It’s written by two dentists sharing their knowledge on Periodontal Disease. I’d heard of it, but didn’t really know what it was or what caused it.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the tissues surrounding the teeth. In its early stage, called gingivitis, the gums become swollen, red, and may bleed. In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or fall out. Bad breath may also occur. ~ Wikipedia

Basically, if you don’t clean your teeth properly, you have increased the chance of getting this disease. Health is our biggest asset, why can’t we invest a little bit more time and money on ourselves and our loved ones to keep it? We are talking about a 100% guarantee return.