a) Brushing at least twice a day

b) Flossing regularly

c) Eating four croissants, candy and taking coffee at night and ‘forgetting’ to brush before sleeping.

d) Visiting your dentist regularly

If you’re Kenyan, did this remind you of 8-4-4 grilling? I bet it did.

Teacher: Class, what’s the answer?

Class (shouting, and needlessly dragging the answer): Ccccccc (Teacher properly canes whoever answered ‘D’ or ‘A’ or ‘B’)

Where am I going with this? Stay with me, and don’t judge me. Until January 2024, all I did was brush my teeth, not twice daily, but once. Gross, right? I was grilled in the 8-4-4 system and knew all the oral hygiene practices, in theory, but for some reason, I never practised them. I remember brushing my teeth twice every day some time in 2021 after a painful molar extraction (it had a cavity the size of the world), and because I didn’t want to ever go through such an experience again, I bought the biggest Listerine bottle, replaced my toothbrush and started brushing my 31 teeth, gum and tongue, twice daily, for barely two weeks. Dental floss was forever absent in Mr. Kangethe’s household, so I can blame my parents’ lack of awareness in that regard, lol! The habit of flossing wasn’t instilled during my formative years.

I’m currently in school and after lunch break, I see one of my Colombian classmates in the washroom, flossing and brushing her teeth, and I remember the first time thinking to myself, ‘Okay, why is she doing that here? Can’t she wait to do it in the house?’ The real question should have been, ‘Why am I not doing that, after eating a big meatball, sticky rice and sauce?’ She made me start to rethink my dental hygiene, which is what exposure does, so when Mutune and Iater went shopping, she picked floss, and I did, too. That night, I had dinner, brushed my teeth as usual, then flossed, and lo! I was surprised that I still had stuff between my teeth – gunk! Honey, I embarrassed myself in my bathroom and vowed to floss once every day, at night. I’ve still not started going with a dental kit to school – may be a bit of a stretch for a beginner, though I must say that I’m so serious that I use straws to drink coffee to avoid staining my teeth. Sexy, right?

Why am I talking about teeth? Well, because teeth are important. Dental hygiene is essential. More to the point, though, is that our bodies are magic. Loving and caring for my body is what love looks like to me today – feeding it well, clipping its nails, flossing its teeth, taking care of hair, moisturizing its skin, protecting its eyes. I think, we take for granted what our bodies do for us – they have carried us since we were born, growing with us, acting as a shell for what we are – our essence. Your brain and eyes are working fine, which is why you can read this article and make sense of it, your brain is working fine, which is why you left your house in the morning (if you did), boarded the right matatu, or cycled to where you were supposed to be. Your brain is working fine, which is why you were able to use the correct route, back to your house. You’re sober. Your hands are working fine, you can hug your loved ones. YOU CAN BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND FLOSS. Your tongue’s receptors can detect tastes, which is why you can enjoy four croissants, and tell the difference between the taste of croissants and cheese. I hate cheese. I know its easy to ‘neglect’ the ‘non-problematic’ things about our bodies, as we perceive them, e.g., in my case, for a long time I’ve invested in skincare (visiting dermatologists and buying products) because my skin is super-sensitive and acne-prone, while neglecting my teeth, well, because they’re textbook- perfect, if I do say so myself- they look good, well-arranged and aren’t aching. Others have flawless skin so they strictly use bar soap and Vaseline, while they invest thousands in getting braces, and going for regular dental check-up. Others have zero ‘problems’, and that’s okay.

I could go on and on, but I won’t. Our bodies are magic. I’m here to remind you, and myself, that we should have a holistic approach towards taking care of ourselves – both the parts we really love, and the parts we wish looked/felt different. Pause here, study your body, appreciate it, and not just its aesthetics like big nyash (nyash is nice), or beautiful teeth, or juicy sister locks, but functionality – how its different parts work to keep you alive, and to ease your life, and if you’re Christian like I am, say like King David, that ‘I will praise thee, Lord; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.’

I’m obsessed with my body, and I hope you are too. You should be. I’m about to tuck the body in bed – the day was long. Don’t forget to share this with whoever has a body.

Be well, and spread love and kindness to yourself and to others. Byeeee!!! See you soon!