trip to the dentist

Following a 2-year hiatus from all things dental, my throbbing wisdom tooth finally forced a visit to my mom’s orthodontist.

A few things I learned from my trip to the dentist:

• It’s embarrassing to be 26 and just now have your wisdom teeth come out. Can you say late-bloomer?
  
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• For someone who hasn’t had a cleaning in 2 years (disgusting, I know.. I’ve been busy), my back teeth are in remarkably good condition.
  
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• Four years of braces, retainers, and multiple extractions have NOT given me a perfect set of pearly whites. To my credit, the dentist said that my teeth weren’t yellow at all – there had, in fact, been some orthodontic cement that was improperly cleaned. Ha!
  
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• For someone who gorges on lattes (both the coffee and tea kind), I had the uncanny ability to keep the caffeine stains only on the front part of my teeth. She suggests I take on energy drinks instead. Extra Joss, anyone?
  
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• Not even a molar can shut me up. HAHAHA. She actually said she was surprised I could open my mouth at all, given the swelling and infection. Hahahaha! I think someone would have to screw my mouth shut to keep it from opening.
  
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• It’s quite hard to answer questions that your dentist asks when her hands (and a bunch of dental equipment) are in your mouth. She was very, very nice about it and quite entertaining so I appreciated that anyway.
  

Apparently, you experience a certain amount of vulnerability when you come in for oral prophylaxis. You not only risk letting yourself “be known,” including all the stupid things you’ve done in the past like drink or smoke or whatever, but you also reveal parts of yourself that most others will never get to see (and I don’t just mean the gums and stuff). There’s so much you can learn from someone by witnessing their cleaning. Things like food preferences, hygienic practices, and social quirks to name a few. Now imagine what it feels like when you go to the gynecologist. ;)