Avoid Being Dependent on Mental Crutches
Sadly, visiting the dentist is an often hated event in people’s lives. I’ll admit, the idea of sticking dangerous-looking metallic objects into my mouth isn’t appealing. And there’s that awkwardness about what to do when the dentist asks you a question. You want to answer, and in any normal situation, you would. But at the dentist, all speech is made impossible by the tools shoved in your mouth.
Anyways.
The reason I go to the dentist is to get my teeth cleaned and the dentist ALSO gets rid of the junk in between my teeth. In other words, I’m a bad flosser. My friend said something funny, though, about that.
He said something like, “I haven’t been to the dentist in over a year, and normally I am horrible about flossing. But lately, I’ve been flossing more consistently than ever now that it’s been so long since I’ve been.” It’s like he had been scared into flossing. He had been using the dentist as a crutch. I suspect I’m the same way. Because I go to the dentist regularly, I get the idea that “oh, the dentist will get that, I don’t need to floss quite as much.” Well that’s not true, I’m supposed to floss regularly, not once a week.
Now, this isn’t a post suggesting to stop going to the dentist, but my friend’s comment is useful. Are there things in your life that you use as crutches in lieu of doing things that you should be doing anyway? I know that I have a couple of “dentists” that take the place of me getting better at “flossing.”
Flossing is important! Avoiding mental crutches might even be more important! Thanks for the insight, Dan!
This is the first post of yours that I don’t really like. You have a valid point, of course. But as a religious twice-a-day flosser, I’m disturbed.
I know. People that floss regularly are disgusted by those that don’t. I’m really trying to get better.
Wait, you floss twice a day?
No prob. I got it from you.
So true! I recently had put off going to the dentist (lapse in insurance, etc) and I became a lot better in my floss routine! For the first time I went in (a few weeks ago) and I got flossed and my gums didn’t squirt red all over the poor lady cleaning my teeth
It was pretty cool. Needless to say, I’ve only flossed once or twice since then 
Now that you’ve verbalized this phenomena, I may have to ponder my crutches
good insight!
Haha, wow. Tmi about the blood all over your dentist, but I know what you mean
I’ve slowly been getting better at it. My goal is 3 times a week now (flossing, not blood spurting).
lol sorry! that’s why i said “red”
i had typed out blood, and i was like eww too graphic 