You just love brushing teeth. As a kid, while most of us had to struggle through The Birthday Song to finish the job, you were belting out a chorus of "99 bottles of mouthwash on the wall" until you finally put the brush down.

You might be accused of having a bit of a cleaning obsession, but you prefer the idea that you're just really good at your job. That is, if your job is working as a dental hygienist.

Dental hygienists are all about scraping the plaque and schmutz off teeth, so that patients stave off gum disease and get to keep their teeth until Social Security and Medicare kick in.

And what do they get for it? A little over $70,000 a year—and that's working part time (source).

You could always go for a pair of these instead...but you'd still need to see some sort of dental professional to get them fitted. (Source)

Dental hygienists are very important people; especially if you're someone who would like to keep all your teeth.

If you're not that interested in your teeth, then maybe not so much.

Dental hygienists are responsible for taking X-rays of the teeth, in addition to scaling, cleaning, and polishing them. They also paint sealants and fluoride on teeth to prevent cavities.

If your patients brush right regularly, your job is easy. But most people don't know how to do it.

That means a lot of heavy duty scraping for you, while cramped in strange positions for long periods of time. Better hope to marry a chiropractor.

At least you'll be well compensated for your trouble, which is good because only half of you will get insurance to take out that crick in your neck.

It helps to have strong math and science skills if you want to get into this line of work. You'll also need an understanding of human anatomy, biology, and chemistry.

You also won't have to endure so many years of school compared to dentists or orthodontists. Most dental hygienists have a two-year associate's degree. Some colleges will make students pass a year of general curriculum before admitting them into a dental hygiene program.

Don't expect to just graduate and go straight to work, though. You'll have to pass a dental hygiene program as well as licensing exams issued by the CODA (Commission on Dental Accreditation).

Depending on where you live, there could be a ton of schools churning out more hygienists than there are teeth to clean. You might have to relocate to an area that's a little less desirable.

Just please don't start wearing jewelry like this...no matter how much you love your work. (Source)

However, if you're a science geek who: loves biology and chemistry, wants to work in the dental field, and isn't interested in racking up med school-sized debt—then this job is right up your alley.

You also won't find a better paying job in the dental industry that you can do part time. You'll have the freedom to explore other things, like furthering your education, getting a real estate license, or becoming a professional cheerleader.

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