Taking
care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to
live a happy and healthy life. Everyone gets that talk (at least I hope you do and if you don't, switch dentists because they obviously don't care about you or your teeth).
I've
never minded going to the dentist's office. In fact, I thoroughly
enjoyed getting out of school for an hour or two and just sitting while
others cleaned my teeth. I always got a new tooth brush and a new kind
of toothpaste to try out (no joke, that really made my day). I didn't
really do the floss thing all that much when I was younger, so it was
the same speech over and over again: floss everyday.
I
had an appointment today and I felt all cocky and confident about the
condition of my teeth. I floss a lot (every other day) and I brush at
least twice daily. I even do the whole rinsing with mouthwash thing when
I'm feeling extra sassy. The point being that I was on top of the world.
Today's
visit was no different than my usual visits, except the woman that
usually does the cleaning wasn't there. It was a fill-in. The visit
started off nice and sweet with a polishing job, rinsing, and so on.
Then came the flossing. I cried ... okay, almost cried. IT HURT! She
knew it, too, and said, "Sorry, but that's how you gotta do it." My poor
mouth; I felt violated. I thought you were supposed to be gentle and
nice to your gums when you flossed. This lady murdered them! Apparently
you have to, now.
So here are a few tips and things to expect if you are ever anxious about going to the dentist:
1.
Murder your teeth. When you floss, really dig in there and make your
gums bleed because that is how your teeth become strong and healthy.
2.
You know how, after you brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash, your
teeth look nice and white in the morning? Don't expect them to look
nice and white when you leave the dentist. I don't know what they do to
make them look that way, but they do.
3.
If you expect to suddenly have clean and healthy looking teeth when you
brush and floss them really hard right before visiting the dentist's
office, you're a fool.
4.
Just like when you take your car in for an oil change and they always
find something else wrong with it, there will always be something wrong
with your mouth; accept it. It's either your jaw, the straightness of
your teeth (even when they told you that you didn't need braces), your
gums, your wisdom teeth, or maybe it's just that your ugly (that's a
joke). They will always find something.
5. Be nice, they have control of your teeth for the next hour.
6. Expect to have an extreme urge to brush your teeth as soon as you get out.
7.
Schedule your next appointment when you're there, because when you say,
"I'll call when I figure out my schedule", you're a chicken... and they know it.
8. Enjoy your experience, because you'll have to go at least twice a year for the rest of your life :D
Oh, and if you're this happy... you suck.
