In addition to flossing, I use tiny brushes to clean between my teeth. Interdental brushes feature a plastic handle about two inches long. Protruding from the handle is a brush small enough to slide between your teeth, approximately 1/2 inch long, composed of a thin wire holding nylon bristles. These brushes are handy for extracting stubborn bits of food from your teeth. I use them three times a day. When I’m finished wielding the interdental brush, I let it air-dry, then reuse it later. I tend to keep each individual brush for about a week. If I try to make a brush last too long, eventually the thin wire, stressed by the brushing motion, will fail. If that happens, the half-inch brush usually winds up stuck between my teeth. During the last decade, this has happened to me maybe a dozen times. I’ve always been able to grasp the brush with forceps and withdraw it without incident . . . until recently.
While interdental brushing last Friday, the wire broke. Apparently, the brush somehow flipped down my throat. However, it occurred, suddenly I noticed that the brush was no longer in my mouth. It felt like it was lodged in my throat. I hacked and spit repeatedly, unable to cough it up. So, I tried, unsuccessfully, to wash it down. During the next few days, I was able to eat, drink and sing. My throat didn’t hurt, except when I swallowed. I kept thinking that eventually it would go away, but when it persisted for four days, I took a trip to the Emergency Room. 
The doctor told me that she believed the brush had already gone down, because I would be experiencing worse symptoms if it was still lodged in my gullet. Just to be safe, however, she ordered an X-ray, noting that the wire part of the brush should show up on an X-ray. I hadn’t undergone an X-ray in quite a while, and I was surprised that they didn’t put a lead shield over me. The technician explained that modern X-ray technology produces significantly lower levels of radiation, rendering the shield unnecessary, and studies indicate that the lead shields can retain radiation, so they are no longer used.
The X-ray came back negative. Swallowing the brush left an abrasion in my throat, causing discomfort that eventually faded away. A happy ending, but I think I’ll seek alternative toothpicks!      
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889. 
Upcoming Gigs:
Street Rally in Newport on Sat. October 18 from 11 to 1
Penelope Newcomb’s Halloween Party in Charleston 6 to 9

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