tooth-hurty

"Like Eskimos have lots of names for snow, we have lots of colors for teeth!"

This is how the dental hygienist explained to me the newfangled cavity filler that is tooth-colored. I was astounded, because the last time I had a cavity, I got an aluminum-colored filling. That was only five years ago, and I was expecting more of the same. I guess the tooth matching makes sense, though, what with the teeth whitening craze and all. People want their teeth to look as perfect as possible. They wouldn't want a prospective mate to gaze into their mouth and see, gasp! a filling!

I could care less. Actually, I could care quite a bit if I knew I was paying an extra twenty or thirty bucks just to make my fillings blend in. In fact, I'd rather see where they were as a reminder to consistently brush, floss, rinse and not eat massive amounts of sweets. But I didn't have that option, and now even my fillings are "not quite the color of tea-stained."