A post inspired by a relatively recent visit to some denture professionals in Perth to get some cavities fixed and my dentures whitened. Shudder. And, yes, I knew these things before, but the correlation is fun and soothing to my dentist-fearing soul.
1. Improvement comes from pain. It may be physical pain or emotional pain or spiritual pain, but when it is over – after you have been through the refiner’s fire – you are closer than you were before to wisdom and charity and perfection.
2. Regular brushing and flossing are much better than fillings and root canals… or worse. Avoiding sin and maintaining a testimony is much better than the pain of repentance.
3. A little peer pressure can go a long way. At the end of the 6-month cleaning and check up, the dental assistant is oh so eager to schedule the next appointment. I always cave.
4. Sugar may be enjoyable for a time, but the long-term tooth decay it can lead to is really unpleasant. Nutritious carrots and spinach can strenghthen teeth. Likewise, the sweet urban legend passed as a true story in sacrament meeting can bring an emotional tear to the eye, but the richness of the scriptures and the gospel nourish the spirit in lasting way.