STIMULATION FRUSTRATION

Email sent February 16, 2022 to Sunstar Americas, makers of Sunstar Gum Stimulators.

Hi,

Because I’m above average in intelligence, I smoked for about 40 years. I smoked a pipe, which any orthodontist, endodontist or your run-of-the-mill dentistdontist, will tell you is good for your gums, pulling them away from your teeth. I and other smokers have been regular and generous donors to these gentlemen’s bank accounts.

Before I go to bed, my routine includes flossing, sticking a tiny brush between my teeth — tooth by tooth — and, before brushing, using a Sunstar Gum Stimulator. My orthodontist, the owner of a bright shiny car, recommends that I change the little red tip on the Sunstar Gum Stimulator every two weeks. Ha, ha.

I’ve tried and tried to pull an old tip off with my fingers, as you claim is possible, and when that didn’t work I used a pair of needle-nose pliers. The instructions you include with a new tip says to “moisten base of new tip and press on to handle with a twisting motion.” While I think almost all of us would like to have our tips moistened from time to time, this graduate of Indiana University, grandfather of four, Class Clown of Frankfort High in 1955 has been unable — in months of trying — to get a new tip on the stimulator.

What does one do when stumped these days? Right. Go to You Tube. A You Tube video of a guy changing a Gum Stimulator tip shows him with two cups (detergent in one, water in the other), a cigarette lighter and a socket from a wrench set. This video runs several minutes. I did not watch all of it. I stopped after the guy inserted the new tip in the socket and kept warming the socket with a cigarette lighter.

I had my teeth cleaned this morning, and when I told the dental hygienist, for the third or fourth time, how I had failed again to conquer the challenge of tip replacement she promised to show me the next time I come in.

Fair enough. She owes me. A year ago I gave her a recipe for a fine pie crust from “The Hoosier Cookbook.” Your tip replacement instructions should be so simple and foolproof.

Sincerely,

Larry McCoy

#dental