The Count Your Teeth Bug

Discussion in 'Tall Tales & Fabrications' started by Hal Pollner, Jun 30, 2020.

  1. Hal Pollner

    Hal Pollner Veteran Member
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    Kids used to say that if a certain kind of bug got into your mouth, it would "count your teeth".

    I believe they were referring to the Sow Bug.

    Hal
     
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  2. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    I have never heard of that; sounds ridiculous.
     
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  3. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    And I thought I was hearing voices...
     
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  4. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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  5. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Hah. My husband was a biker back in the day. Once when speeding down the interstate he was struck by bird-doo on his shoulder and nearly knocked off the motorcycle. (At least in his re-telling.) :D:D He said he thought he'd been shot. I told him to slow down. End of boring transmission.
     
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    Last edited: Jun 30, 2020
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  6. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I used to do tons of bicycle riding. I commuted to work on my bike...quite the adventure heading from the burbs to the threshold of DC. Lost of road trips, weekend trips, etc.

    Life is different without a windshield. I imagine hitting an object with your face going 60+MPH is actually a dangerous thing.
     
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  7. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Yes, motorcycle riding can be uncomfortable for so many reasons. Rain drops feel like needles at highway speed, other motorists use you for target practice, etc. When I see a rider without a face shield I cringe.

    And now, back to Hal's sow bugs and teeth counting....
     
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  8. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I did a quick search on "count your teeth bugs" and came up empty. The only vaguely related thing I saw was advice on how to keep a certain type of bug from infesting your toothbrush (I could have gone my entire life without reading about that.)

    I'm trying to form a joke about sow bugs and the front row of a Willie Nelson concert. I'll get back to you on that.
     
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  9. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
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    I can remember the time I'm waiting in traffic in Boston with the top down and a bird pooped on my head. yuk yuk
     
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  10. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I've owned my share of rag-tops. They carry risk.
     
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  11. Al Amoling

    Al Amoling Veteran Member
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    I had 3 Pontiacs, 2 VW bugs and 1 Oldsmobile but only one bird poop
     
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  12. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
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    Dunno about the sow bug and counting teeth thing but after perusing the net, I did find some preschool videos about a “sugar bug” which rots teeth in the mouths of our young ones. :confused:
     
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  13. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    I had an Austin Healey, a Nash Metropolitan and a Pontiac Grand Prix with t-tops.
     
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  14. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
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    Well, Hal... I finally found a reference to "sugar bugs on teeth." Nothing whatsoever to do with Sow bugs. https://www.drorthodontics.com/what-are-sugar-bugs/

    What are “SugarBugs” and How Do I Get Them To Go Away?

    At Reagin Orthodontics we are committed to good oral hygiene and that means you need to make sure you are getting the sugar bugs off of your teeth. Sugar Bugs or plaque, is a combination of the food you eat with bacteria already found in your mouth.

    Plaque is a thin, sticky, colorless deposit of bacteria that constantly forms on everyone’s teeth. As plaque increases, it becomes gooey white stuff – you can see it and sometimes feel it on your teeth (they feel kind of “fuzzy”). Bacteria (“Sugar Bugs & Starch Slugs”) live in the plaque. Whenever you eat, the sugars and starches in your food cause the bacteria to produce damaging acids that attack your tooth enamel and gums. With time and repeated acid attacks the tooth enamel breaks down, causing cavities, permanent marks and stains on teeth.
     
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  15. John Brunner

    John Brunner Senior Staff
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    Interesting that the site does not mention using a mouthwash to kill the buggers, not does it mention their math skills. Are they on a Base Ten system, or what?
     
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