When I was a kid, the shitty dentist we went to constantly shamed me about not doing a good job with my teeth and drilled and filled everything he could. We eventually went to a better dentist, but then I ultimately ended up with damage from orthodontics, followed by a couple decades of poverty and depression. I can't even describe the kind of anxiety I have over the thought of dental work. Yeah, my mouth is crap now, but I floss multiple times a day and brush regularly. It'll probably cost more than what I have in my retirement fund to fix my teeth.

BTW - when my kids were little I had a conversation with their dentist about the shape of teeth. Sounds like I was genetically fucked from the start with deeply grooved teeth that are extremely difficult to avoid cavities. So fuck my childhood dentist for seeding that shame and anxiety.

I like when they use the picks to get all the plaque out, then you feel your teeth with your tongue and you can feel all the sharp ridges that were dull from all the buildup.