Mom Goes Dental
Posted by Danielle Bean in Family on Wednesday, August 05, 2009 3:00 PM
Lisa already talked got us talking about how much we dread going to the dentist ourselves.
Now can we talk about how much we dread taking our kids to the dentist? And how silly that is after all?
We had appointments this morning. I was so proud of myself for making these long-put-off appointments a couple of months ago that I added the accomplishment to my “Small Successes” for that week. Now actually bringing the kids to their appointments will get added to this week’s successes, I am sure.
The kids are not the problem. They are actually quite good about the whole experience. What I hate about bringing my kids to the dentist, though, is the potential for the visit to make me feel like a very bad mom who doesn’t care for her children’s teeth.
I do care for their teeth. But I also care for their meals and laundry and education and general housekeeping. Also, I do trust the biggest kids to care for their own teeth, with only occasional reminders. And sometimes that’s a bad bet to make.
Funny how hanging out with dental hygienists for the morning can make you feel like your children’s dental care is the single most important part of your daily routine. By the time we left, I was almost convinced that I should be flossing my 4-year-old’s teeth twice a day. Almost.
It’s only been a few hours, but I am already coming to my senses. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that I keep catching the 4-year-old’s little brother eating the dental floss he brought home.
My favorite hygienist at this particular office is an older woman who always makes point of pulling me aside and winking at me. “You’re doing a good job, Mom!” she says. I was not at all surprised to run into her at Mass one Sunday not too long ago and find out that she has six grown children of her own.
I do prefer a mom of many to the 20-somethings who frown and eye me suspiciously when they hear how often (as in NEVER) my kids use an anti-cavity mouth rinse before brushing.
We survived today with relatively few cavities, so perhaps everyone should be duly impressed with my daily dental diligence. Just between you and me and the internet, though: I suspect the fluoride in our water supply deserves most of the credit.
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