I would rather
- give birth
- barf
- go to the gynecologist
than to the dentist. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Our dentist is a wonderfully kind and gentle man, and his hygienists couldn't be sweeter...but it still not enough for me to think kindly of them. It's nothing personal. I know they're just doing their job...in fact, they actually have our best interests at heart. Just trying to help me and my children from becoming victims of rotten teeth and gum disease.
I am not fond of the smell, the drill, the drool...all of it. But WORSE than all of that is the way I feel when I leave.
Do I floss? nope, unless 1 week before my appointment counts ;)
Do I make sure my kids have brushed ever tooth thoroughly morning and night? No
Do I drink too much coffee? *insert eye roll*
Did I bribe my kids with more sugar if they were good at the dentist? yep
Since I was a little girl, every time I leave the dentist I feel like a big, fat, FAILURE. Simply from not doing what I already know I should be doing. The dentist doesn't harass me or scold me...but I leave feeling like an idiot none the less.
It would make sense, logically, that to avoid this feeling of failure I would floss everyday, stay away from the "sugar bugs" and actually keep my 6 month cleaning appointment instead of canceling it. Easy peasy.
But I never do that. Instead, I do all the things I'm not supposed to, resent the dentist and avoid it at all costs until it's absolutely necessary I go. All the while blaming the dentist for their evil tools of torture and nauseating smell. After all, who is he to tell me what to do?!? I don't smoke or do other things that would be bad for my teeth so SURELY he could give me a little break, right?!?
I think the way I feel about going to the dentist is the way many feel about going to church.And that's what I'm pondering for today...