Many of you know I use astrology to select surgery dates for clients. You may not know I use it to pick dates for just about everything else, especially anything health oriented. More and more I have come to rely on the wisdom in Paungger and Poppe’s wonderful book, Moon Time.

My dentist employs the nicest hygienists in the world. But still, I dread teeth cleanings, and I hate them with the fire of a thousand suns.

I remember once I went in early April for my cleaning. Just after the new Moon. It was the most painful cleaning I ever endured. Worse than usual. It wasn’t the hygienist’s fault. I have sensitive teeth. And it made total sense when I read the following in Moon Time:

The favourable time for removing plaque is when the moon is waning, because new formation is thus kept within bounds. The ideal time would be Capricorn days when the moon is on the wane, but this is not absolutely essential.

I think it’s more than that— it’s not just about reducing the formation of new plaque after the cleaning. My impression was that the plaque was harder, there was more resistance on the pick, and the cleaning was rougher and more painful when I went on that new Moon in April. I notice the same thing when I pull weeds. It’s harder to pull out the roots when the Moon is waxing!

Dali hallucinogenic toreador

So this time, I was careful. I checked Moon Time and had my astro calendar open when I made the appointment. After hearing what they had open, I picked Monday the 27th. Waning Moon in Libra, with Mars sextile Jupiter— one of the most positive, optimistic, lucky and beneficial combos available to us as astrologers. And Jupiter is in Capricorn, sign of teeth. This must be good.

So how was the cleaning? I enjoyed it like a cat enjoys a bath. A cleaning is a cleaning, right? Regardless of the Moon, it is to be endured, not enjoyed. I studied the pictures on the ceiling (above my chair was Dali’s Hallucinogenic Toreador) and waited for it to be over.

I have receding gums and exposed roots, and they’re super sensitive. But I didn’t think they were that bad. In the hand mirror, after the cleaning, I was shocked to see a terrible looking mouth with bleeding gums and old lady teeth. Michelle, the hygienist, explained to me what’s going on and taught me how to brush and floss and clean to get them healthy again. I didn’t even know I was doing it wrong. After putting up with my kvetching and grimacing and squirming, she was so kind and encouraging and generous with her time, teaching me a better way to care for my teeth.

Mars (ruling cranky folks like me)1 sextile Jupiter (teachers).. She was in a teaching mood, and I was in a learning mood. And gosh, if you think about it.. this good day may have given me the wake up call that will save me hundreds or thousands in dental work down the road. Being in the right place at the right time… that’s the power of astrology.

Michelle, if you happen to read this… thank you so much! I’ll see you in 6 months. Dr. Dalley… Michelle’s a keeper. Whatever you’re paying her, it isn’t enough!

1 Mars also rules metal and pointy things like dental instruments. So you want a happy Mars when you go in for a cleaning.