My name is Sawyer Brooks and I’m six years old. Tonight, as I lie in my bed hugging my favorite stuffed lion, I can’t stop thinking about what Mom told me. She said tomorrow we’re going to a fun place where someone will brush my teeth, but the idea of anyone besides Mom doing it makes my tummy feel funny. The shadows on the wall dance as I try to imagine what this “dental office” looks like and if it’s really as fun as she promised.
The next morning, Mom helps me put on my favorite blue shirt, and we drive through the city until we reach a building with a big smiling tooth on the sign. Inside, the walls are painted with smiling cartoon teeth and there are toys in every corner. My little brother sits beside me, swinging his legs while Mom checks us in at the front desk. Everything feels new and exciting, but my heart still beats a little faster than usual.
A lady with shiny brown hair and a big smile comes over and introduces herself as Mrs. Mallory, the dental hygienist. She kneels down so she’s at my level and says, "Hi Sayer, I’m so happy to meet you! Are you ready for your super cool tooth adventure today?" Her voice is gentle and friendly, making me feel a little less nervous. She shows me the special “Superman toothbrush” and lets me touch it before I climb into the big chair.
Mrs. Mallory says she’s going to clean off all the “sugar bugs” hiding on my teeth. She uses the Superman toothbrush, which buzzes and tickles a little, then sprays my gums with a water sprayer that makes me giggle. I open wide as she tells me about the sugar bugs and how brushing every night helps send them away. "If you keep your teeth healthy, Sayer, they can last your whole lifetime," she says with a wink.
I watch as Mrs. Mallory brings out the biggest camera I’ve ever seen to take special pictures of my teeth. I remember what Grandma once said about losing teeth when you get old, so I ask, Sayer"But my grandma says when you get old like her, you lose your teeth. Is that true?"[/@ch_2] Mrs. Mallory laughs softly and explains, "That only happens if you don’t take good care of them. If you brush and visit us, you can keep your teeth strong forever!" That makes me feel proud and determined to brush every night.
When Mrs. Mallory finishes cleaning my teeth, she gives me a brand new toothbrush and a goodie bag filled with stickers and floss. My brother comes out with Mrs. Summer, another hygienist, and says he’s going to get a crown next time, which sounds so cool. As we leave, the whole place feels magical, and I can’t wait to tell my friends about the sugar bugs and the Superman toothbrush. Maybe the dentist isn’t so scary after all!
