From childhood, I was encouraged to go to the dentist every six months, but I didn’t. I went only when I had toothaches. Unfortunately, this happened every year or two and always led to more or less painful treatments. After I found Christian Science and had been practicing it for several years, I knew that it was time to address this through prayer.

Once when I had a severe toothache, I began to affirm that God had not caused it. God had made me perfect and without pain, so my teeth could only be healthy. Nothing changed, so I became afraid that I had more cavities. The thought then came to me: “Learn what teeth are.” Everything God made is perfect, spiritual, and indestructible, and He made all. Teeth actually represent substance and the only substance is Spirit, God. And because Spirit is perfect and eternal, it is impossible for Spirit or its expression to decay or be inflamed. 

But the pain didn’t diminish. It was clear that something more was needed. Love, God, was the key. I immediately prayed: “Love surrounds me”; “Love maintains me”; “Love leads me”; “Love is present.” I prayed with and thought deeply about these short sentences for some time, allowing neither any other thought nor any distraction into my consciousness. Then I suddenly felt a deep calm and peace. The pain was gone, and I haven’t had any further difficulties with my teeth for more than 25 years.