Dear Daughters,
This may seem like a funny topic, but it is an important one!:)
I decided to change our Dentist and ended up forgetting to schedule us all for new appointments. By the time I remembered and they could get us all in, it had been almost a year since we've been seen. If I'm being completely honest I wasn't really worried about two of you having cavities, it seems you have inherited the Taylor/Lund teeth from me and my side of the family. One of you had already had one cavity and I knew there would be a possibility of another cavity because, you Daughter- do not like to brush or floss your teeth. And then one of you had your very first dental appointments and I was curious to see how your little teeth had been doing.
Daughter's, I think we were all in a bit of shock when one of you came out with the hygienist and he told us, "The good news is all the cavities she has are in pretty easy to fix places, and they are evenly spread out on all sides of her mouth." I was thinking it must be four cavities, but when we were told EIGHT- I think there was an audible gasp from us all!
I know my lack of remembering to get us into the dentist played a role in the cavities, and I also know the genes your Dad passed down to you probably played a role, and on top of that the lack of good brushing definitely did not help.
Growing up I had my first cavity on a loose baby tooth, and the dentist said it was just beginning. I was so embarrassed to have a cavity, because my siblings rarely had any. I pulled that tooth that night, and from then on I was a little obsessive about flossing and brushing my teeth.
Your Dad as a kid hated going to the dentist because no matter what he did to care for his teeth he always had many cavities. And for some reason your Dad doesn't numb well for the cavity repairs, so it was very painful and quite traumatizing to go to the dentist.
You each had a 50-50 chance on who's teeth strength you'd get, and one of you seem to have gotten you Dad's. I'm sorry- it's not fun, it hurts, and I know you were really embarrassed. But, life has a funny way of teaching us things. All through life we take things for granted. We each grow teeth, we each know how to care for our teeth, but sometimes it's really a pain to take the time to take care of them.
If we choose not to take care of our teeth, just like in life there are consequences. We are told to brush and floss daily, a couple times a day if we can. If we do that, no matter what genes we have gotten from our parents- the result is stronger and healthier teeth, rather then dirty weak and cavity filled teeth. Even if we do what we should each day to care for our teeth, sometimes we still get cavities. But it doesn't mean we stop taking care of our teeth. If we stopped trying it would be so much worse.
Do you see where this is leading?:) In life we are also told and taught to do certain things- but we take many many things for granted. We have been blessed to live in a time where many things have a quick and easy fix and solution. But no matter how far technology comes- we still have a responsibility to continue doing the basics. The basics I'm talking about are praying and reading your scriptures. It takes time and effort to remember to read and pray. Trust me, I know it's not easy. It's something I struggle to remember to do. But when I do take the time and put forth the effort to take care of the basics, I know I am better because of it. My day is better, I feel happier, I have an underlying peaceful feeling. But even when I do the basics, sometimes things happen. We are not promised a perfectly easy life is we read and pray daily, just like we are not promise perfect cavity free teeth by doing the basic dental care. But we end up in a much better situation if we take care of the basics.
I know it may seem like a far stretch to like teeth to life- but it all comes down to taking time for the basics. I love each of you and want the best for you. I wish I could shield and protect you from the things that are going to cause you pain in your life- just as I wish I could have been the one in the dentist chair getting cavities filled instead of watching one of my girls have to go through pain. But I know, I KNOW, if we take care of the basics we are going to be blessed! I can't take the place of each of you as you go through your struggles and trials in you life, but I hope you each remember this tiny little lesson- brought on by eight little cavities.
And I hope you each remember to keep brushing and flossing daily!
I love you bunches!
Love,
Mom
