The Miracle of Toothpaste

Okay, that may be a stretch to say, but today toothpaste came close to saving my diet if not my life in the long run. What does one do to remove the lingering flavors of a savory lunch from one's palate? It has been my habit to just grab something little...something sweet...the "ta-da!" at the end of a magic trick, the final taste bud reward after a mid day meal. To me a piece of milk chocolate is like an indulgent, hour-long hot stone massage for the tongue. Don't talk to me while I'm in the moment. Your words would be not so much ignored as drowned out by the whirling decadence that is chocolate. It's like the voice of "Auntie Em" calling out to Dorothy as she is flying through the whipping winds of that tornado. Nothing personal, but Dorothy had something more pressing on her mind at the time.

So, I say all of this to say that it dawned on me (thanks, Lord for the prompting!!) to brush my teeth as opposed to grabbing that piece of chocolate today. My mouth is now minty fresh. I can feel the Arctic winds in my mouth each time I breathe in. How delightful. And, I have to admit, chocolate doesn't sound nearly so appealing now. It would kind of be like drinking orange juice after brushing your teeth. Nasty. My toothbrush is now my new best friend. I am tempted to attach a clip to it and wear it as a brooch so that we are never apart.