Day 53 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? No cavities at the dentist!

Let me start by saying that, even though I’m a self-proclaimed masochist, going to the dentist is not fun for me. But my hygienist is as good as they come and she makes the process as fast and painless as possible. She gave me a good report on my teeth but she also suggested I get a Waterpik to keep my gums healthy and prevent bone loss as I get older.

My dentist has no idea that I have an eating disorder. Dentists are often the first ones to notice a problem in people who purge because they notice enamel loss. It’s always nerve wracking to go to the dentist because I always wonder if they’re going to figure it out. Part of having this illness is managing the side effects, so I’m really diligent about taking good care of my teeth. I breathed a small sigh of relief when the dentist popped over to look at my mouth and x-rays and said, “Everything looks good.”

My hygienist did some deep cleaning which was a little painful, but I remembered one of the calming techniques I learned when I was in my piercing phase. One time when I was getting three piercings, I didn’t have any friends with me to hold my hand. (I was as the piercing parlor on a whim.) I gripped the edge of the table instead and the piercer looked at me and said something like, “That’s not going to work. Just breathe and accept the pain.” It’s a simple thought and it absolutely worked. Since then, that phrase has gotten me through all of my piercings, tattoos, and now dental work.

While I was being worked on I noted the serendipity of the timing of my dental appointment. I will be modeling this weekend and now I’ll have extra white teeth for the occasion!

In case you missed it: Day 52 of the 90 Days of Awesome – Lunch with Marc!