Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Brusha Brusha

I love the feeling of clean teeth. I brush my teeth at least 4 times a day, on weekdays. Why all the brushing? Because I'm stubborn about some things. When I make a declaration, I stick to it. After one particularly unpleasant trip to the dentist, I decided that I would do everything I could to never need another filling.

I don't hold a personal grudge against my dentist. He's a swell guy, and all. It's all the needles and drilling that get to me. It's difficult to say which I hate more: the injection (I have a phobia of needles), or the drilling itself.

I put that question to the test at one point. For a short time I worked for a health food company that had wildly generous insurance coverage. I was able to get all my mercury amalgam fillings replaced with white porcelain, under this plan. I had read a fair bit about how bad it is to keep mercury, a known toxin, in one's MOUTH (who's idea was that, anyway?), because the mercury gradually leaches out into one's body etc. Plus porcelain fillings are invisible, so I'd look like I had never had a cavity.

For reasons I can no longer precisely recall, I decided to get the work done without any anaesthetic. I was into meditation at the time. I was all: Hey, I'll just "breathe through it".

The lower jaw wasn't so bad. The jaw joint (temperomandibular, if you will) absorbed some of the vibrations of the drill. But the upper molars? YEEEEEAAAAAAIIIII! Not pleasant at all.

I visualized myself releasing the pain through my fingertips, zapping it out like a wizard shooting lightening bolts. I wiggled my fingers madly. The dentist glanced at my hands and laughed. "Are you typing HELP ME?"

"NNNNNNYYYYYYYYHHHHHHHH" I said. Which meant "Look, you're a nice guy, and I know you mean well, but this is no laughing matter! Stop making fun of my lightening bolts!"

Next time I'll take the needle.

12 comments:

Nilsa S. said...

You remind me of my fiance who swears brushing at least 2 minutes, twice a day means he doesn't have to go to the dentist. It's no wonder he hates the dentist. When you go only once every few years, there's a lot of build-up that even multiple brushings cannot avoid!

Emma Gorst said...

ha! I just went to the dentist this morning so scary dentist thoughts were on my mind too. I think you're brave and principled to do without drugs. And there is no way in hell I would ever let a dentist drill near my face without painkillers!

Karen said...

Ummm....You are a real awesome lady and all....and I say this with the highest respect....YOU ARE CRAZY! LOL!

No one is doing anything to my body unless I am properly drugged. Heck, I like to take a Xanax before a pedicure. You never know if that lady is gonna do something funky to my toes. ;)

Keera Ann Fox said...

I hate the damned needle, but I'd rather be numb. OTOH, I had one dentist who talked me through a filling change so wonderfully that I stopped asking for the damned needle.

However, brushing 4 times a day sounds like overkill. You can damage the enamel doing that. Use a mouthwash/rinse with fluoride, instead.

'Course, I'm a scrubber, even with a soft toothbrush. :-/

Anonymous said...

You're like Bill Murray in Little Shop Of Horrors where he goes to Steve Martin's dentistry place and just loves the pain.

Warped Mind of Ron said...

I find I meditate better at the dentist if he has just jabbed me with a needle, it helps me focus my meditation...

Sparkling Red said...

Nilsa: I go to the dentist every 9 months for a cleaning, and he always showers me with praise and encouragment. Prevention is the best strategy. If only your fiance would give it a try, he'd see how well it works. But what are the odds of that happening? :-p

Aurora: Brave... or maybe just crazy? ;-)

Karen: Thanks! I'll take that as a compliment. I don't like manicures or pedicures. Having my cuticles poked with sharp instruments gives me the heebie jeebies.

Keera: True, it's possible to overdo it. But I trust my dentist would tell me if I was causing any damage. As long as he's happy (and he's very happy), then I'll keep it up. :-)

Unsigned: Am not!

Ron: Sure, sure... I bet. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Brush your teeth, round and round,
Circles small, gums and all,
A small, soft toothbrush the round and round way,
Will keep your teeth healthy and stop tooth decay,
So brush very carefully, two times a day,
Go round and round,
Round and round.

Sparkling Red said...

Whatigotsofar:

Up like the sun,
Down like the rain,
Back and forth like a choo choo train!

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh! I can't even imagine... I've only had one cavity and it barely hurt b/c I got the juice and all... but w/o it? wow

Pixie said...

lol He would try to be funny at a moment like that huh?

I definetly think brushing, rinsing and flossing up to 4 times a day is the best ever if you don't want to go to the dentist especially if you don't have any dentist insurance :D

Jameil said...

giiiiirl!! without any anaesthetic????? NO INDEED!!