Most of us today have busy, rushed and stressful lives. Everywhere we go we are surrounded by food, usually sugary treats, soda pop, and all varieties of junk food snacks. There are donuts at work, cookies and pop at the soccer games, candy bars stashed away in our purses and cars, suckers at the bank, mints and chocolates to fill our pockets as we leave restaurants. The list goes on.

Going to the dentist on a regular basis is a definite must. We have been taught the proper way to brush our teeth and that we must do so one hour after eating. It doesn’t take long for a cavity to begin boring into our tooth. How many of us take the time to stop and take care of our teeth?

Most people brush their teeth once a day. Many brush twice a day but ideally, we should brush three times a day, after every meal. However, if we are eating candy and snacks between meals then what does that do to our teeth?

My first visit to the dentist was when I was six years old, back in the 1950s. It was fairly pleasant. There was a tall white pedestal sink by the big chair. I was fascinated by the way the water constantly swirled around. I even enjoyed spitting in it. The office was cold and drafty, but the dentist was nice, and I got to take home a new toothbrush. Fortunately, I did not have any cavities at that point in time.

Of course, later as I went through the years, I had the most unpleasant experiences of regular surface cavities, root canals and crown work. I will never forget one dentist talking on the phone for a full twenty minutes while I sat in the chair with a rubber dam in my mouth. I never went back to him.

Now-a-days dental offices are anxious to make their patients comfortable and confident in their care. Just as it is at dental office Milwaukie or, where energy efficient and high-tech equipment is used. X-ray images are state-of-the-art and three dimensional. Everything is completely sterilized and spotlessly clean. They exercise the highest health and safety measures.

We also receive beautiful Christmas cards, calendars and friendly reminders from our dental offices. They go out of their way to show that they care and want to keep you as a patient. To earn your trust the office atmosphere is calming with good music, televisions, etc., all for your comfort. They make a point of decreasing the stress that one feels when they need dental work done.

I am ever grateful to the kind dentist who stayed late one afternoon to work on my root canal. My pain was quite severe. It was difficult to drive to his office with that much pain but knowing that he could help me got me there safely. He very skillfully fixed my sad tooth and I was able to sleep well that night. Now when I daydream about living in the romantic world of Jane Austen, I quickly remember how grateful that I live in a time with highly advanced dentistry.