Dentist

I know, usually a trip to the dentist comes with the imaginary "du..du..du" scary movie style.  Not for me though.  I LOVE IT!

You are probably thinking I'm some kind of freak and maybe I am.  But I really do love going to the dentist.

As I've mentioned before, I wasn't taken to the dentist as a child.  In elementary school, we were taken each year to teach us good dental health and get checked.  The dentist made us chew these nasty pink tablets that would stick to the tarter build up on the teeth. 

How fun right?  Wrong! 

As a child who was given no instruction on brushing teeth nor the tools to do so, it was humiliating.  Of course those stupid pink tablets made my mouth look like a giant flashing neon sign of tooth decay and tarter.

Multiple times, I was sent home with that ugly pink sheet of paper from the dentist saying I had a variety of issues with my teeth including an overbite, cavities and severe tarter.  Each pink sheet consequently made it's way to the trash can via my mom. 

No money.  No time.  Dentists lie.  There's nothing wrong with you.  Those were some of the excuses I got (when I got any) for not following up with the dentist.  

We were also given a toothbrush and toothpaste during our school trips to the dentist.  Mine were either thrown away or I was forced to clean the toilet at home with them. 

During my first job out of high school that offered dental insurance, I finally went for a visit.  That first visit led to many, many, many more.  I had to get on a quarterly cleaning schedule that would last for five years.  Those were some painful visits full of scraping and flossing and literally teaching me how to floss and brush.  Yes, I had to be taught the right way to brush my teeth at 18 years old.

I also had to have several fillings.  Thankfully, none of the teeth had gotten so bad that fillings wouldn't fix the problem.  I also had sealants put on my few good teeth for the first time at 23.  Yes, it took 5 years for my mouth to recover from 18 years of neglect.

Maybe after all those visits to the dentist, I might not have been such a big fan.  I think maybe that I have transitioned to loving it.

My mom, grandparents and multiple other extended family members have gone through the process of having dentures.  Most of them, I was too young to remember but I do remember the process with my mom and grandma. 

Their teeth were awful.  They had neglected their teeth and gums for so long.  They had gingivitis, missing teeth and teeth so rotten they had to be pulled.  Crooked, nasty, neglected. 

It's reflecting on that process that gets me so excited to go to the dentist.  I can't wait to get into that chair, lay back and let them check my teeth.

Sure, they occasionally have to do a little scraping in the nooks and crannies where everybody tends to get build up.  But, it's a fairly quick and painless process.

I look forward to those every 6 month visits to hear the words, "You look great, keep doing what you are doing."  In fact, when I change dentists, they are often amazed that my mouth is so healthy after I share with them my dental history. 

I'm so thankful that I seem to find some of the most understanding and patient dentists.  They always are so good to calm any fears I have and reassure me that I have lots and lots and lots of years left on these choppers.

As excited as I get, it's always a sad reminder that they neglected themselves as well as me.