The Slice: Filling in the gaps as we look through the years

When you get to a certain age, you start to wish you had a few do-overs.

Sometimes this game of “What if” involves relationships or exotic career paths not pursued.

And sometimes you find yourself wishing you had done a better job of flossing.

OK, I know that doesn’t sound all that exciting. Flossing your teeth?

How could something so prosaic make the short list of life choices you wish you had made when younger?

Well, trust me. It can.

You know that sweatshirt slogan that was popular a few years ago: “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”?

That sentiment sums up the situation with your dental health. If your teeth don’t feel right, it is impossible to be carefree or content.

Still, when we imagine traveling back in time to offer our younger selves some life-changing advice, we probably don’t visualize heart-to-heart talks about oral hygiene.

Chances are, we think about buying long-term care insurance when we were young or speaking up at a crucial moment when your voice would have made a difference.

But maybe there would have been no persuading you, back when you were, say, 20.

Perhaps you were so focused on social concerns and how your hair looked that a pep talk about flossing would not have registered.

Oh, well. Never too late to get serious about taking care of your teeth, I suppose.

Though when your old fillings start to fail and need to be replaced, it might not seem that way.

Wildlife report: Here are some of the animals I have seen while riding my bike to work.

Deer, coyote, raccoons, turkeys, skunks, snakes, owls, rabbits, magpies and marmots. And I could swear I heard a pterodactyl but it was probably a crow. What’s on your list?

Where the police should set up their speed traps: Vince Roland recommends Mission Avenue, next to Chief Garry Park. “I want a cut of the take.”

Mary Lines suggested Pacific Park Drive, especially between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., would be a target-rich environment.

Today’s Slice question: If you could clone yourself, what tasks would you assign your duplicate?