My tooth story taught me something about life.

February 7, 2022

For months, I have been suffering because of my tooth. I love to eat sweets but I always brush my teeth. However, I still got toothache. It was just two years ago when I visited the dentist to have my other tooth removed and now here I am again with the same agenda.

I know two years is long but with the pandemic going on, it is still risky to visit the dentist because of the virus. However, I braved myself and after months of putting off dentist appointments, I finally got the courage to pursue and be at her door.

Going to the doctor is a brave act for me that I overcame when I was in highschool. Those days, people my age would not go to the dentist without their mothers with them. But as to my case, no matter how hard I please my mother to tag along with me, she wouldn't. She would just hand me money and it would be my choice if I go alone or not.

Desperate to have my decaying tooth removed, I would go to the clinic alone. Some teenagers my age before has their moms to cling for moral support.lol. But me, I would hold firmly to the handrail of the dentist chair for support. That is how my dentist appointment alone started. After I receive my prescription, I would head on to the nearest pharmacy, hand in my prescription then I would get an ice cream at the neighboring bakery and pay without saying "Thank you" because it is still painful to open my mouth and say a word.

I would then spend a minute or two at the plaza, eating my ice cream and watching kids as they play at the monkey bar. It was pre-covid era and life was still easier and bearable. People got no idea that in the next year parks and playground will be empty.

I would go home proud back then because I was able to go to the dentist appointment alone successfully. Back then, I would hold it against my mom when she won't accompany me to the dentist but now that I'm old enough, I would settle myself to the fact that maybe she did so to train me to be okay with being alone.

She knew how clingy I am to her. Maybe I was the clingiest among my sibling and she saw that at my early age. Now, that I have mastered being alone, doing things my own, she would complain about the little time I spent at home. I always come home for the weekends and I'm always present at family and church gatherings but on weekdays, I'd be off for work or for school.

I still remember how I wished I would just be home and stay with them forever. It sounded impossible and ambitious. God really has plans. You see, when our aspirations and prayers are not aligned with His plans, He changes our heart. Today, I have come to realized that I won't be staying at home at all times, I could just spend as much quality time with my family.

Leaving you with this photo of a cute young lady who was next in line. I can picture out my niece, two years from now. She loves sweets too amd eventhough she brushes her teeth. I am sure that she would have to visit the dentist very soon.

How about you? When was the last time that you have visited the dentist?

Thank you for reading. Until then.