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[spiffy]

Well, my mother told me yesterday, or the day before, that she wanted to take me to the dentist, for a check up... To be honest, I don't want to go at all - and I would like to have an excuse, or just a way of evading that unclear unset appointment. :p She says it has to be in December because we get money off or something.

I know I should go to the dentist and all of that, but I don't want to go. I have only been once - Jan 2004, when I was 11 - and although there were no drills or anything too special, I didn't like it (so I wouldn't like to imagine what a visit to the dentist with drills in would be like ). Last time they told me I had one very small caries, and I had to take some special mouth wash to stop it from getting bigger.

I know that some days I have exams, and Japanese class, and have to stay behind at schools, but I want to make sure I don't have to do. Any... thoughts? Suggestions?

[Kokuma]

1) Brush your teeth twice a day with Xylitol toothpaste

2) Between meals, chew some Xylitol bubblegum

3) Brush your tooth after eating something sugary, when you feel your teeth "sticky"

I've brush my teeth at least once a day since I was like 6yo, and I haven't had caries in many years and I've had my teeth drilled like once.
But I have pretty strong toothbone, comes from dad's side of family.

[spiffy]

1) Brush your teeth twice a day with Xylitol toothpaste

2) Between meals, chew some Xylitol bubblegum

3) Brush your tooth after eating something sugary, when you feel your teeth "sticky"

I've brush my teeth at least once a day since I was like 6yo, and I haven't had caries in many years and I've had my teeth drilled like once.
But I have pretty strong toothbone, comes from dad's side of family.

Hey! I brush my teeth three times a day at least! LOL! What I need is an excuse not to go to the dentist, heehee.

Oh - and what is Xylitol? I use Signal or Colgate toothpaste, Fluor-aid as my mouthwash (and sometimes Listerine), and I like Orbit chewing gum, hehehe.

That's good that you have good teeth (I've no idea whether mine are good/bad/medium)!

[Mimitchi]

Well I dunno how to give you advice on not going. I find that the longer you wait the worse a condition gets. Been there, done that. So best go in and just get it over with. Perhaps do it a week before another event that you are looking forward to, that way you can see something more fun in the horizon to help you keep thinking "soon this'll be over and I'll get to do ____".

Keep this in mind too; at least you don't have to take your clothes off in front of a stranger, lay in a hospital bed for several hours or get an IV or a cast put on or worse yet deal with any broken bones. These things, to me, are much more frightening

I can tell you this much from experience (and advice that my cousin who works in dentistry told me). Brush and floss for at least 2-3 times a day for 2-3 weeks before the appointment. Or however long you have, the sooner and longer the better things are. Especially brush and floss before bed - that is most important - the worst of the problems really tend to build up at night if you didn't brush before bed. Your dentist will not know if you've not been doing it very well for the past couple of years. It only takes that amount of time to turn things around, assuming you haven't been doing it three times a day everyday since your last appointment. I think most ppl don't always have time for three times a day.

While doing this won't reverse anything that may be wrong now. It'll stop it from worsening over the next few weeks and prepair your gums and teeth for the possible poking and prodding they may have to go through. The more you floss and brush, the tougher your gums get.

In 2001 I had to go through tons of dentist work, as my wisdom teeth came in and caused tons of havoc on all my other teeth. Believe me, it's not so terrible as going to a hospital for blood work or that sort. Though, I am biased as I have a phobia of needles.

Either way... I wish you the best and have strength! You'll get through this! And than the holidays are right around the corner, so hopefully there's something fun to look forward to after it's all said and done.

PS: sorry for the long read...

[Bojko]

Ack, I know how you feel. =(

Last New Years I made a promise to myself that I would go visit the dentist. December is almost here, and I have not yet made good on that. I know that I need a lot of work done, braces even.
The dentist is just one thing I cannot face, when I think about it too much I start to freak out and get all upset. .. so replying to this probably was a bad idea.
It wasn't fair, I brush and floss 2 times a day for as long as I can remember, and yet I still come out with problem teeth. Guess that's just the way things are for me.

But yes, I know how you feel. And I'm probably the last person in this world to tell you to just bite the bullet and go. But.. hmm..

I say pick a nice dentist if you end up having to go, someone you think is good and willing you tell you what they're up to (or not to say anything at all  ).

[Kokuma]

Oh - and what is Xylitol? I use Signal or Colgate toothpaste, Fluor-aid as my mouthwash (and sometimes Listerine), and I like Orbit chewing gum, hehehe.

Xylitol

A sweetener, used in teeth-healthy chewing gums and in chewing pills meant for small children to prevent caries. Founded by finnish and swedish scientists in 1970's. Also known as "birch sugar" thou it actually is five-C alcohol. The name birch sugar comes from the fact that Xylitol was originally found from birch bark. It's also found out that children who chew xylitol bubblegum have less ear infections.

Wikipedia article can explain this thing better than I do.

[Jiro]

woah!!
I know 100% how you feel!
I always get scared and wanna run away >.<
an exccuse... hmmmm.... Thats kinda hard
Try saying, Mom it'll just waist money, 'cos dentist are expensive and my teeth are fine
hehe

[spiffy]

Thanks guys. I know I should go, and I brush my teeth. Hopefully, Mum'll just forget as always, or I'll say: "It may cost you a lot for nothing".

Thank you. I'll read the Xylitol stuff after dinner, hehehe.

[Mothra]

Well there really is no way to avoid it. It's just one of those things you really need to do and just get it over with.
The dentist is so much better and faster than when I was a kid. Jee whizz.. Now adays you are in and out! even fillings are fast!
Nice looking teeth are more than worth it!
You should see a lot of the people I work with. Eek!! I wish a lot of them would see a dentist!