I brush my teeth and look in the mirror,
And laugh out loud,
As I'm beaming from ear to ear,
I'd rather pick flowers instead of fights,
And rather than flaunt my style I'd flash you a smile
Of clean pearly whites.

I've been to the dentist a thousand times so I know the drill,
I smooth my hair,
Sit back in the chair
But somehow I still get the chills

Have a seat he says pleasantly,
As he shakes my hand and practically laughs at me,
"Open up nice and wide" he says peering in,
And with a smirk he says "don't have a fit,
This will just pinch a bit"
As he tries not to grin.

When hygienists
Leave on long vacations
That's when dentists scream and
Lose their patience

Talking only brings the toothaches on because
I say the stupidest things
So if my results go south, I swallow my pride with an aspirin and shut my mouth

Golf and alcohol don't mix
And that's why I don't drink and drive
Because good grief
I'd knock out my teeth
And have to kiss my smile goodbye

I've been to the dentist a thousand times
So I know the drill,
I smooth my hair,
Sit back in the chair
But some how I still get the chills

Overall Meaning

In Owl City's song "Dental Care", the singer is expressing his love for clean, white teeth and his dread for dentist appointments. He starts by laughing at himself as he beams in his reflection after brushing his teeth. Instead of indulging in fights, he prefers picking flowers or flashing a smile of clean, pearly whites. Despite going to the dentist a thousand times, he still gets the chills as he sits back in the dentist's chair, and the dentist greets him with a pleasant smile. The singer deals with the anxiety of going to the dentist through the use of humor, even as he braces himself for the unpleasant poking and prodding.

When the dentist commands him to open up wide, the singer flinches, knowing that it will just pinch a bit, even though the hygienists seem to have left the building. He then admits to being nervous and often blurts out stupid things that only aggravate the toothache problem. Even as he jokes about golf and alcohol not being a good mix, he's aware that he doesn't want to make the mistake of losing his teeth and missing out on his million-dollar smile. In essence, the song highlights the relatable fears that many people face when they visit the dentist, seasoned with a light-hearted and witty commentary on the experience.

Line by Line Meaning

I brush my teeth and look in the mirror,
Starting the day with dental care - a simple and important routine.

And laugh out loud,
Proud of the healthy white teeth, happy with oneself and the simple pleasures.

As I'm beaming from ear to ear,
Feeling confident and radiant as a result of good oral hygiene.

I'd rather pick flowers instead of fights,
Preferring peace and harmony over conflict and aggression.

And rather than flaunt my style I'd flash you a smile Of clean pearly whites.
Valuing inner beauty and a sincere smile more than superficial appearance.

I've been to the dentist a thousand times so I know the drill,
Experienced with the familiar routine and procedures of dental check-ups.

I smooth my hair, Sit back in the chair But somehow I still get the chills
Despite familiarity, dental visits can still cause unease or discomfort.

Have a seat he says pleasantly, As he shakes my hand and practically laughs at me,
The dentist tries to put the patient at ease and uses humor to diffuse tension.

"Open up nice and wide" he says peering in, And with a smirk he says "don't have a fit, This will just pinch a bit" As he tries not to grin.
The dentist uses light-hearted humor to make the patient feel comfortable during the procedure.

When hygienists Leave on long vacations That's when dentists scream and Lose their patience
The dentist may become stressed or annoyed when his support staff is not available.

Talking only brings the toothaches on because I say the stupidest things So if my results go south, I swallow my pride with an aspirin and shut my mouth
When nervous, sometimes it's best to stay quiet and trust the professionals. Also, taking care of problems early with humility avoids bigger issues later.

Golf and alcohol don't mix And that's why I don't drink and drive Because good grief I'd knock out my teeth And have to kiss my smile goodbye
Taking care of personal safety and avoiding risky behavior to protect one's oral health as well as overall health.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM R. YOUNG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it