Going to the Dentist Is Fun
Maybe I’m weird, but I actually enjoy my trips to the dentist. I say this as someone whose DNA seems to invite dental problems and who has paid a heavy price in terms of pain and money for my dental neglect. I’ve had root canals deep enough to open up a new shipping route through the Himalayas. My teeth got bad because of a few years when I was afraid of going to the dentist. What a fool!
Those days are over, thank goodness. A painful oral surgery drove home the message. Now I know that regular dental check-ups are important and not at all painful. It makes me feel better to know that my oral health is in professional hands. In fact, it makes me feel better in general. Good dental health is clinically proven to contribute to good overall health. For a person like me whose mouth chemistry breeds cavities like horny rabbits no matter how carefully I brush and floss, it’s really important to get that 6-month preventive cleaning and check-up. If I didn’t, I would have a pretty funny looking smile — and I don’t mean “ha-ha” funny.
Some people agonize over the mere thought of going to the dentist. They have a severe anxiety about it. That used to be me until I realized that every dentist I have ever visited has been gentle. Sure, you feel a little pinch if they apply a local anaesthetic, but you don’t feel it as much as I’ve felt some of my more painful toothaches. Contrary to popular belief, dentists do not enjoy causing pain. As health care professionals, they prefer to alleviate it, at least that’s what my dentist says. She has no reason to lie about it.
Preventive dental treatment actually tickles. Once you develop a level of trust with your dentist that gets you past the instinctual aversion to having pointy tools put in your mouth, you’ll find that the sensation of having someone care for your teeth can be quite pleasant. Nothing feels better than walking out after a six-month checkup with a bright smile and a clean bill of dental health. Even if you get a cavity, it’s best to catch it early — less drilling and filling that way.
All I can say is that if you’ve been putting off your regular dental check-up out of anxiety, you should stop that silliness. Going to the dentist is fun if you do it every six months like you’re supposed to.
