Apparently You Can Floss Religiously and STILL End Up at the Dentist 😭

I Need to Defend Myself First

I need to clear something up first. I'm not one of those people who only floss right before dental appointments.

I actually brush and floss twice a day religiously and consistently: in the morning and at night, with the kind of commitment, discipline, and optimism of someone who thought she was doing reasonably okay. 😄

And yet… I ended up at the dentist this week because I've been having gum pain on the lower right side of my jaw for about one week.

So I finally went to see Dr Priyanka at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. She took one look and basically confirmed, "Yes, the gum is infected."

And there was even pus coming out from one side.

Alamak. This is exactly the kind of sentence you want to hear while lying under bright dental lights. 😭

The Annoying Reality of Teeth Crowding and Periodontitis

For context, I already knew I have periodontitis (gum disease). I also have teeth crowding, which means certain areas are harder to clean no matter how disciplined you are.

So despite regular brushing and flossing, bacteria can still accumulate deep around crowded areas and gum pockets.

Adult life is really humbling sometimes. And yes, dental treatments are usually excluded from insurance claims, which makes the whole experience even more annoying.

Oral health maintenance is one of those things that quietly becomes expensive over time. I've actually written before about my frustrations with how costly healthcare is becoming; you can read more about it in this blog post.

Okay, back to periodontitis. Look, periodontitis is not one of those "buy better toothbrushes and toothpastes, and magically everything disappears" situations.

It's more of an ongoing management thing, which could include damage control, you know, trying to keep bad oral bacteria from turning your gums into a war zone.

After cleaning the infected gum, Dr Priyanka also sent me to the imaging department to do an OPG (orthopantomogram) x-ray so that she could evaluate the condition beneath the gums and around the bone support more thoroughly.

So at the next appointment, the treatment plan for my periodontitis will be based on what she sees from the X-ray findings, which honestly makes me feel both reassured… and slightly nervous. 😭

Apparently my adulthood is just going from "Yay, no cavities" to "Let's evaluate the bone support around your teeth for a no-extraction plan."

Character development indeed. 😄

I Came Home with Antibiotics and Oral Probiotics

After the X-ray, I came home with antibiotics to clear the infection and BioGaia Prodentis Lozenges.

Now THIS caught my attention. Because I've always associated probiotics with gut health. You know… yoghurt drinks and digestive health commercials.

But oral probiotics?

So today I learnt that our mouth has its own microbiome too, which means our mouth is basically an entire ecosystem – a tiny bacterial civilisation with good residents and problematic residents.

The oral probiotic lozenges are meant to support healthier bacterial balance in the mouth. The strain inside this one is Lactobacillus reuteri, which has been studied in relation to gum health and oral inflammation.

So now every morning for the next five days, I will be taking the antibiotics. Then, every night for the next 30 days, I will be taking one lozenge in my mouth while reflecting on how adulthood slowly turns all of us into people with highly specific wellness routines. 😄

Did You Know That Oral Health Would Become This Technical?

Honestly, if you told my younger self that one day I would care deeply about:

- gum pockets

- gum infection

- oral microbiome balance

- probiotic strains

…I would not have believed you.

The funny thing is: when people talk about health maintenance, we usually think about exercise, skincare, hormones, supplements, sleep…

But oral health quietly sits there like, "Excuse me. I, too, can become expensive if ignored."

And to be fair to me, I wasn't completely ignoring it.

That's the frustrating part.

Fun Facts I Learnt From This Dental Episode

- Sometimes even when you are trying your best, chronic conditions still need ongoing maintenance, especially something like periodontitis.

- Teeth crowding (which can be genetic, thank you very much) can make cleaning difficult even with good habits of consistent brushing and flossing.

- Gum infections can still happen despite consistent oral care.

- Oral probiotics are apparently a real thing now.

And perhaps most importantly:

Adulting is just progressively collecting more specialised healthcare products over time. 😄

Tiny Things That Made Up My Mother’s Day 2026

A Single Carnation Wrapped Like a Tiny Present

Here's my series of small things across the day that somehow came together and quietly became Mother's Day 2026.

I'm beginning to appreciate these kinds of celebrations more as I grow older – soft, sporadic moments that make me pause and think, "This is nice. I want to remember this."

The first thing that marked the days to be remembered as Mother's Day was this simple white carnation. Just one flower wrapped carefully with a ribbon, given free by a restaurant where we went for dinner after Mother's Day Mass..

There is something about single flowers that feels very gentle to me now. Maybe age changes the way we see things. Maybe midlife softens you in unexpected ways.

At this point in life, I think I value thoughtfulness more than grandness.

Apparently Russian Desserts Are Part of My Personality Now

I genuinely did not expect "Russian desserts" to become a 'category' for Mother's Day 2026, but here we are!

The Raspberry Pistachio Medovik (Russian layered honey cake) was rich without being overwhelming, layered with cream and raspberry sauce/jam that somehow tasted both indulgent and comforting.

The Oreshki are one-bite walnut-shaped cookies filled with dulce de leche goodness – the kind of dessert that feels old-world in the best possible way.

I think part of growing older is allowing yourself to enjoy oddly specific things without needing to explain them to anyone.

You know, just a simple "Yes, let's have Russian honey cake on Mother’s Day."

By the way, you can get these Russian desserts at Torte by Linda at Bandar Kinrara 5A, Puchong.

Someone Took the Effort to Make a Heart-Shaped Egg

Honestly, this may be one of my favourite photos! Because a heart-shaped egg is such a tiny, unnecessary detail, which is exactly why it feels meaningful.

It was Mother's Day eve, and the chef at Buttermilk Daddy Cafe intentionally shaped an egg into a heart simply because they wanted the meal to feel a little happier, I guess.

And somehow it is these tiny things that stay with you longer than grand gestures do.

Tanghulu and Midlife Contradictions

At this stage of life, my reality is basically this: Taking magnesium glycinate for better sleep at night while deciding to eat sugar-coated (hello inflammation!) dessert the next day. Haha.

The tanghulu looked ridiculously pretty lined up together: grapes, hawthorns, yoghurt-filled strawberries, mandarins, and blueberries. All with glossy sugar shells catching the light.

Anyway, I think adulthood can become so heavy sometimes that small playful things start feeling important again.

In fact, sometimes shiny sugar-coated fruits on sticks are enough.

Coffee and Cake Might Be One of My Love Languages

There was also coffee. And cake. A delightful combination that has followed me through: work stress, deadlines, motherhood, burnout, healing phases, existential crises. LOL!

At this point, coffee shops feel less like "trendy places" and more like tiny pause buttons in life.

These days, I'm learning that moments of rest with coffee and cake are probably what keep us human in the first place.

Mother's Day Mass Cake Offertory

This year, I had the opportunity to sponsor a cake for the offertory during Mother's Day mass.

What I remembered most, though, was not the cake itself. It was the sudden transition from the calmness and orderliness of mass... to the slightly chaotic cake distribution session afterwards.

The delicious cake with soft buttercream started melting quite quickly, so serving the cake became slightly chaotic.

At one point, the first layer of the cake literally slid off the second layer, resulting in buttercream messiness everywhere. Naturally, serving time became much slower while the queue behind kept getting longer and longer...

It was one of those unintentionally funny moments where everyone was trying their best to stay calm while I was quietly panicking over a collapsing cake. At least I think that's what happened. Haha!

I guess that's also what I like about church events sometimes. Beneath all the formalities, there is still warmth, familiarity, and people simply enjoying small moments together.

And somehow, celebrating Mother's Day with sloppy cake after mass felt very wholesome in a simple way.

Maybe This Is What I Appreciate More Nowadays

A single carnation.
Russian desserts.
A heart-shaped egg.
Tanghulu.
Coffee and cake.
Church cake after mass.

Nothing particularly grand. But all together, they somehow made the days feel memorable in a very "real life" kind of way.

And maybe that is what I want to remember about Mother's Day 2026 after all.

Why I Finally Feel Better (And My Brain Is No Longer in the Longkang 😄)

What Changed?

In my previous post, I shared how speaking with a menopause specialist helped me make sense of what I was experiencing.

It has been six weeks since that consultation session. I realise I have been feeling better: my sleep has improved, my mind feels clearer, and most noticeably, the "brain in the longkang" feeling that I experienced before is no longer so obvious.

It came from a few things working together (as prescribed by my menopause specialist doctor).

1) Supporting hormonal balance (Oestrogel* gel in the morning daily)

2) Improving sleep quality (200 mg magnesium glycinate every night)

3) Correcting underlying deficiencies (25,000 IU vitamin D3 once a week)

*Note: I already have a Mirena IUD (which provides a progesterone-like hormone (levonorgestrel)) to protect my uterine lining, so additional oral progesterone is not required.

Why Sleep Made Such a Big Difference

When my doctor said that my improvement was likely due to better sleep, it made sense. When sleep improves, other areas tend to improve as well. My thinking becomes clearer, my mood becomes more stable, my energy levels improve, and my cravings for sweet things reduce.

Sleep allows the body to recover and function more efficiently.

A More Stable Version of Me

What I am experiencing now does not feel like a temporary boost. It feels like a return to a more stable state. I feel less foggy, less reactive, and more consistent throughout the day.

What I'm Focusing on Next

Following my recent consultation at the 6th-week mark, I now have a clearer idea of what else to work on next on top of the treatment modalities mentioned above.

These are not drastic changes, but practical adjustments that I can build into my daily routine over time.

First, I'm working on adjusting my sleep schedule. The goal is to be asleep before 11:30 pm so that I can wake up around 8:00 am more consistently. Since better sleep has already made a noticeable difference, maintaining a regular sleep rhythm is a priority.

Second, I'm starting to build a morning exercise habit. The focus is not intensity, but consistency. Even a short session in the morning is enough to begin with. The aim is to make movement a regular part of my routine before work.

Third, I'll be scheduling a blood test (at the 16th week) to review my vitamin D3 levels (last I checked, I was in the deficiency band) and check my thyroid function. This is to ensure that there are no other underlying factors affecting my energy, mood, or overall well-being.

These steps feel manageable and realistic. More importantly, they feel aligned with where I am right now.

A Work in Progress

I may not have everything figured out. However, I am learning that this stage of life is not about doing more or pushing harder. It is about understanding my body better and responding in a more intentional way.

I will see how these changes work over the next few weeks and share an update.

My #PerimenopauseAndMenopause Series

If you're new to this series, here's what you can find out more:

Part 1: I Haven't Quite Felt Like Myself

Part 2: Breaking Down or Waking Up

Part 3: When Burnout Isn't Burnout

Part 4: A Visit That Made Me Feel Seen and Understood

I Retook the Sorting Hat Quiz. Now I'm a Ravenpuff.

I took the Harry Potter sorting hat quiz in 2024 and got Hufflepuff as my core, which felt about right at the time. Loyal, steady, generally trying to be a decent human being who doesn't make life harder for others.

Then I retook it this year (2026).

And somehow… I'm Ravenclaw now.

For the record (because of course I tracked it), across THREE quizzes, the pattern was… consistent:

Ravenclaw: Clearly dominant

Hufflepuff: Still present

Gryffindor & Slytherin: There, but not running the show

Which, honestly, feels accurate.

So yes, I'm "owning the bird"!

So, I'm a Ravenclaw now.

The bird. The thinking.

The quiet need to understand how things work before I agree with them.

No, I'm not suddenly quoting obscure facts for fun. But, I will:

- mentally reorganise your sentence structure

- question your logic (silently, most of the time)

- and try to find a cleaner way to say something

It's just how my brain works now.

What might really be happening

(using the biological lens)

Perimenopause isn't just physical; it often comes with subtle cognitive and emotional shifts:

- Lower tolerance for nonsense

- Clearer prioritisation (what matters vs what doesn't)

- Less people-pleasing, more self-trust

- More reflective thinking (pattern-seeing, connecting dots)

This combination does look a lot like Ravenclaw traits emerging more strongly.

Apparently there's also a name for this combination: Ravenpuff

A thinking-first, people-aware hybrid.

I once came across a line that described it quite well:

 

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

I wish Ravenpuff sounded as cool as that sentence, but I'll take it.

As a Ravenpuff...

I have significantly less patience for things that don't quite make sense.

- Less tolerance for overcomplication

- Less interest in explaining myself five different ways just to soften the message

- More trust in my own judgement

I did have a moment where I thought, "Am I becoming too self-centred?"

But no. I think I've just upgraded from:

“let me adjust for everyone”

to

“let me make sure this actually makes sense first.”

It's not a dramatic change. Just… a clearer one.

Final thoughts (nothing too deep, I promise)

Maybe nothing really changed.

Maybe this part of me was always there, just quieter before.

Or maybe this is just what happens when you start trusting how you think a little more, and stop second-guessing it.

Either way, I guess I'm a Ravenpuff hybrid now.

And honestly?

It fits.