We’ve all been there. You’re nervous as you sit down on the strange chair. You wonder will it be painful…how much is this going to cost…what if I just get up and leave as the dentist or hygienist prep you for the unknown. And then when they have what seems like all their tools & fingers in your mouth they ask, “How have you been?”

As a professional it will take only a moment for them to tell if you have been taking care of your mouth with daily brushing and regular dental visits. It’s no hiding the evidence. I remember years ago when our company started a dental benefit. I was so excited. It had been years since I had been to a dentist. This choice resulted in a very painful & expensive outcome.

The first line of defense for a healthy mouth is daily brushing and flossing. Chances are you will find time to brush your teeth even if you overslept or feel bad. That’s great for you and the people you encounter. If you really desire to have a healthy mouth you will find time to follow your dentist/hygienist advice by brushing before you go to bed. But even following all their instructions you will find yourself, if you are smart, in the dentist’s office having your teeth cleaned & checked. Chances are you will have accumulated plague or tartar build up. Ignoring regular dental cleaning & checkups will be painful, expensive and could impact your health.

So, our morning ritual of brushing our teeth is serious. Also having regular dental checkups is essential for addressing problems early. But what about our morning spiritual health? Do you take your oral health more seriously than your spiritual health? Do you spend the first few minutes with Your Creator & Savior in prayer and Bible study? If starting your day with a clean mouth is good for you and the people you encounter, don’t you think leaving home with a clean & fresh spirit would be good for you and the people you will be with? And finally, we recognize the significance of regular dental visit (cleaning & accountability) but are you involved in a Christian group for regular Bible study & accountability.

  What if you started your morning off with brushing your spirit: “Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.” Psalm 105:4

  Enrolling in a Bible study group (I suggest Bible Study Fellowship): “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

  Be fearful of drifting. It is so easy to drift away for the things that are good for us and replace them with a habit of being busy. One day leads to another and before you know it, you find you have a major oral health or spiritual problem. Left to our own ways we will begin to drift away from what we know. “But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” Colossians 1:23 “But as for me, it is good to be near God.” Psalm 73:28

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret…” Psalm 37:5-7