I Hate the Dentist

This morning, I went to the dentist after a three year hiatus. The hiatus is especially shameful given that there is a dentist operating out of my apartment building. However, like most people, I'm not really a fan of the dentist. Prior to heading downstairs, I was in the bathroom flossing, brushing, and gargling with mouthwash. I wanted my teeth to be clean before having them cleaned, because it had been so long. The thought that my teeth were gross, created all sorts of legit fear. And I thought to myself: why have I waited so long? And I narrowed it down to these three:

The Anxiety
 I had kind of fallen down on flossing in the past couple of months. I hadn't given it up completely, I just didn't do it every night like in times past. Sometimes, you get home really late, and you just hurriedly brush your teeth and fall into bed. Or, sometimes, you're out of floss, you go to the grocery store, buy everything BUT floss, and decide: "I'm not going back out there." I feel like I have the basics: toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash. But, I get worried that (1) my gums will bleed when they start doing their little scraping, which will (2) lead to a lecture on flossing, which ends with (3) shame. I also fear they will tell me I have cavities...

The Invasive Nature of it All
I'm not thrilled when strangers touch me. So, you can imagine I really don't like it when their hands are IN my mouth, and they are lifting and twisting and turning my tongue. It's gross. They're putting little metal sticks right on my sensitive gums, and scraping. Dental Hygienist...you are too close!

Also, I HATE HATE HATE the X-rays. It hurts when you bite down on the little X-ray sticks so they can take the picture. I feel really exposed and vulnerable just laying there. And they put a stupid apron over your body--to shield you from radiation I guess. But I'm always thinking: but you're X-raying MY FACE. I guess it can't be helped. No protection to be had for my face.

Side Note: I quite enjoy the polishing. That weird toothpaste they use with the little red sand...I love it! Only because my teeth feel SO clean afterwards. It makes it all worth it.

The Cost
What if they find a cavity, or receding gums, or gingivitis? Then...thou art screwed. Insurance helps a little, but I've spent a lot of money over the years in dental care. And it's unavoidable. If a tooth hurts, it's excruciating, and you HAVE to get it fixed. You're all like "money is no object" when money is always an object...just not at the dentist.

And I started thinking: this is kind of like going to church. Kind of like becoming a Christian. How so?

1. There is anxiety in taking that first step, because sometimes we don't feel good enough or "nice" enough, or like the type of person who should be at anyone's church. We've done things. Or we haven't done things that we should've and you can fear "they" will tell you that you have "cavities."
   
2. Church is super invasive. Salvation is really nitty gritty, personal, in your face drama. I really can't sugarcoat it. When you are at the dentist, those tools HAVE to go in your mouth. When you're reading the Bible, and you're listening to sermons, it's going straight to your heart...and you feel it. And it kind of hurts.
3. Being a Christian is legitimately a life of sacrifice. And it will cost you. Anyone who tells you that it will not cost you, and who is selling you this hippy dippy version of Christianity has tricked you but good. "Take up your cross and follow me" is real (Luke 9:23).

I will expound on those three points in my next blog: Jesus is a Dentist.