I Bared My Teeth

I love my hygienist, Stephanie.

She’s friendly, interested and competent.

I got comfy in the chair, covered myself with my fleece blanket because it’s freezing in there, and then she put my little bib on and started to get to work cleaning my teeth.

But as soon as I opened my mouth and she started looking around in there with the overhead light on and that little mirror on a stick, I realized how vulnerable I felt.

When you think about our teeth, most people only see the front teeth and they don’t know anything about what’s going on in the back. For people with tooth decay, it is easier to live with it because it’s unseen for the most part. The majority of people are concerned about how their smile appears, and if that is good, then whatever can’t be seen can end up neglected.

It’s not that they don’t care about their teeth, or their appearance, but dentistry is expensive. And then there’s the fear factor that goes along with it, and I cannot use an electric toothbrush because of the sound it makes. A lot of people have anxiety about going to the dentist.

And I think I figured out why.

As Stephanie was looking around in my mouth, I realized that she was seeing a part of me that no one else could see, that she was looking in a place not normally seen. And she’s looking for gum disease, plaque buildup, and whatever else could be going on with my teeth or gums. So she sees the good, the bad and the ugly. She sees the plaque and the damaged gums, and the teeth that have cavities or whatever they have going on. So in essence, she is looking into a little secret world that we have- our mouths. And trust me, I flossed, Water Pik’d and brushed my brains out before I went there today.

And make no mistake about it ; she can tell if you’ve been flossing, brushing, rinsing on a regular basis. She sees the areas where you may not floss as thoroughly as other areas. There’s pretty much nothing you can tell her about what is in your mouth or how you’ve been caring for your teeth… she’s like a private investigator, going in and ferreting out anything sketchy going on inside your mouth. One thing that you cannot fake is taking care of your teeth and gums. Stephanie is always going to find out the truth.

I think the toughest thing for me to think about is that people go without dental care because of the cost, or the fear of sitting in the dentist chair. Bad teeth can lead to bacteria entering the bloodstream, which can be, in some cases, life-threatening..

I try to encourage people to care for their teeth before they become a problem. Even when money is tight, there’s a way to find creative financing for your teeth.

There are all kinds of services available for loans or payment plans, and the dentist’s office will work with those of us who have no dental insurance.

If you have been putting off going to the dentist because of the cost, find a way to put some money into your mouth. If you’ve been putting it off because of the fear associated with the dental tools, ask for sedation. You’re not alone in either one of these scenarios, these dentists deal with this every day and it’s my belief that dentists usually get into the profession to make a difference in someone’s life. A smile can change everything for someone.

So my advice to you today is get out there and take the first step. Call a dentist office and set up a visit. And then actually go to the appointment, be brave and be honest with the staff, and they will take care of you whether it’s financial or the fear factor.

I had always avoided the dentist because of the cost and the fear factor, but almost four years ago, I bit the bullet ( pun intended) and I have no regrets. In fact, I think it was the best thing I ever did for myself.

November 2 of 2020, I had my wisdom teeth pulled, and I had four other teeth replaced with implants. I had no pain whatsoever during or after the procedures, I filled the pain medication at the pharmacy, just in case, thinking that I would wake up in the middle of the night in pain, but it never happened. I never had any pain.

I don’t have perfect teeth, I dont need them bleached ultra white. I don’t need perfect glaring white teeth, they just need to be healthy to keep me healthy.

If you’ve been putting it off, do something about it today. You won’t regret it.

And there is something satisfying, about having my teeth cleaned and hearing Stephanie say,”Wow, your gums look really good.”