Why do we do this?

I had a dentist appointment this morning. And like everyone else, I made sure to floss and brush really well right before I went it. And as I was standing there, brushing my teeth, I thought to myself, why am I doing this? The dentist will be able to tell by looking at my teeth whether or not I have been taking care of them for months, or if I brushed for the first time this morning, so why? Same with flossing, every time I go in, they floss my teeth. And they aren't gentle about it either! But if they are going to do it, why do I do it before I go in? Why not let them just do it for the day. I mean really, do my teeth need to flossed twice a day? (Actually I floss several times a day because my teeth are like food traps!) Anyway, I am sure that in six months, when I go on back, I will, like everyone else, brush and floss really well again before I head in. I think that is just what we were all raised to do. (Or maybe it really is just me that does it.)

Orion went with me to the dentist too. He kept climbing up and down off my lap. The lady working on me was always worried that he was going to fall and get hurt. Had I been able to talk, I would have said "Really, the child does cartwheels off the couch, he is fine.) But since her hands were in my mouth, I was unable to assure her, that I was not worried about him getting hurt. He did really well though. He kept trying to look into my mouth to see what the big deal was. Even after we got home, he kept asking me to open up. Silly boy.