The Dentist

I already had a post for this week in mind, but I went to the dentist and while I sat there with plenty of time to think, I thought of a whole blog post! Now someone just needs to invent a mind recorder so I can remember everything. It all sounded amazing and witty in my mind, but I'm sure it won't come out the same.
I'm a person who goes to the dentist every 6 months. I'm all about preventive care. I love to get my teeth cleaned. I hate any other procedure required by the dentist.
I wasn't the best at taking care of my teeth as a child and teen so I have my share (and probably more so) of lovely silver (and some white) fillings. I remember my oldest brother never had a cavity. The dentist we went to as a child would take a picture of you if you didn't have any cavities and post it on this wall. I always aimed, but didn't always reach, that goal. However, my brother did. Grrr! It's not that he took amazing care of his teeth either, he was just born with great teeth genetics I guess.
I still vividly remember the time I had to get 6 tiny cavities filled because I didn't floss my teeth. Two appointments later and you better believe I learned my lesson. I now floss every night and I'm quit obsessive about it because I hate, and I do mean hate, having cavities filled.
Marty and I make dental appointments right after each other so we can swap kids and not have to go separate days. Today he went first. When he came out he warned me that our hygienist was "in true form". We always joke about how some times hygienists are harder than others. Today was a hard day. I almost wish he hadn't warned me. We always go at the end of the day too and I swear they are harder by the end of the day because they just want to go home.
Today as I sat there staring at the fluorescent lighting because where else do you stare? I thought of how incredibly awkward the dentist experience can be. I wondered if anyone had ever published the "dentist etiquette", with things like:
*Where do you look while the dentist or hygienist is working in your month?
*What do you do when they ask you a question and still keep their hands in your month?
*Do you swallow as the hygienist reaches to grab the "sucker" or do you wait since isn't that the reason why she's getting it? Besides, do you want to swallow all the plaque buildup she's scrapped off your teeth?
*Should you worry when you look down at your bib and there's blood everywhere?

Just a few questions I remember thinking. I'm sure dentists see all types and people probably do strange things. How awkward would it be for the hygienist if someone was staring at you the whole time?
Another quick dental experience. I was getting a cavity filled and everyone in the room was having a conversation about Alvin and the Chipmunks. They were trying to think of their names and they could only think of Alvin and Theodore. They kept trying to remember the third name. I, of course, loved the chipmunks as a child so after so long of them trying to guess and figure it out, I manage to get out "sssssmin". They finally take their hands out my mouth and say what? "Simon", I say and they all laugh. Why do they torture us by having a conversation without us?!

I'm having a love/hate relationship with my teeth tonight. My teeth feel so clean, but they also really hurt. It wasn't even fun to eat dinner tonight. My teeth were so sensitive. Normally it's not this bad. Hopefully it's like a great exercise workout, where it hurts, but it's a good hurt and then it goes away. No cavities for me this time, which means I don't have to be placed in that awkward dentist situation until mid July. Yea!