In which Connie has cause to feel very, very silly.

[conuly]

I was eating an apple for breakfast today, and after I was halfway through, I noticed that there was a something where I'd just bitten. After looking at it a bit, I decided I had no idea what it was, so I threw it and the apple out. Then I got on the train. And realized one of my bottom front teeth felt a little weird. Honestly, the realization wasn't even fully formed before I went "oh, shit, part of my tooth flaked off!"

Good news and bad news about the whole situation, after my emergency trip to the dentist. The good news is that my tooth did NOT start falling to bits, and that, in fact, I am very lucky (emphasis NOT mine) to have good teeth, because what fell of was a chunk of tarter, and that there was more still on the tooth, and my gums were starting to recede, and I was very lucky that there was hardly any real damage - yet. But lots of icky tarter. And look, here's a diagram of what's going to happen if you don't shape up - now! See? Teeth falling out? You're really very lucky - yes, he went on like this for a while, the dentist. He didn't need to bother, I'd already been freaked out enough, and duly scared.

See, I am hardly conscientious about brushing my teeth. I mean, I do brush, but not as often as I ought to. And until relatively recently, I didn't really brush at all. So by the time I started brushing, I was unable to brush my actual teeth, I was just brushing, apparently, the stuff that was on my teeth.

So now I have to make an appointment and have the teeth cleaned, and he wrote out a prescription for antibiotics and mouthwash (which I'll fill in the morning, it's too late now really) and told me again that I was very lucky.

Maybe I am. But I was also very embarassed at the sorry state of my teeth. And the repeated lecturing.

Comments

That is by far the worse effect of autism

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

thanks for reminding me.

the whole forgot-to-brush thing is quite annoying. I've been trying to get myself to brush regularily since the first grade, with limited success.

Re: That is by far the worse effect of autism

[conuly]

That is by far the worse effect of autism

I knew there was a problem, even (that's why I started to brush my teeth in the first place!) but I couldn't call the dentist myself and make an appointment. My mother also has problems with calling people, so it really took my panic to force her to call. At that point, *I* was very nearly going to call the dentist, which shows how badly I was scared.

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

I brush 1 - 2 times each day, but my wisdom teeth developed cavities while I was avoiding having them out... They scared me into getting them removed by crumbling to little bits in my fingers about a year ago -- not something I ever want to experience again! *shudder* Worst part is, because I waited until I was 26 to have it taken care of, the nerves were already all wrapped around the roots, and were damaged permanently during the extraction. :-(

[conuly]

*stares*

Wow.

*hugs*

[ser-kai.livejournal.com]

I had to have my wisdom teeth drilled out of my jaw when I was 26 or so. Not fun. I'm very glad that I suffered no nerve damage(it was so close I was warned it might happen).
Did you know it can also be the pressure the tooth is under if it's impacted or crowded? So it could have happened anyway.
I'm glad I've been really good about cleaning my teeth since middle childhood.

[invsagoth.livejournal.com]

All this talk about wisdom teeth being taken out and nerves wrapped around them and such is freaking me out. o.o My dentist said as long as I keep my wisdom teeth clean like normal I could keep them. Not that I really have room in my mouth for them but that's not my point.

Are my wisdom teeth going to fall to pieces no matter what, and will need to be taken out anyway? o.O;; This is something that I've always been nervous about.

[ser-kai.livejournal.com]

Mine were impacted. I was in pain because they were growing into my jaw. They had grown in far enough to be very close to a major nerve that runs through the middle of your jawbone.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I'm 30 and was just told mine MUST come out. Now I fear...

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry -- I was told that it's extremely rare that damage that doesn't heal within 9 months happens. My parents had theirs out in their mid-30s without any trouble, I just happen to be the statistical anomaly in life most of the time. :)

[rachelkachel]

If it makes you feel any better, my dentist has been telling me for years that my brushing needed work. I've never been motivated enough to make a good, regular habit of it, because I don't get cavities. Never had a single one. The only reason I have to brush is to keep my gums from getting infected (and believe me, they did. Better now) and also to keep them looking fairly clean.

I had to have my braces off early because my toothbrushing habits were so bad. My dad likes to rub that in.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I never used to brush either. (By which I mean teens through early twenties--as a child my mother made me, now I brush for sanitary reasons at the very least.)

But my teeth are really porous. So now I have... *counts* ...sixteen and a half teeth left. And many of those still attached are part metal, from fillings.

I currently have three broken teeth awaiting the $$ to fix them and can only chew on the left side. In order to eat an apple or corn on the cob I have to have a paring knife ready.

Brush your teeth, everyone--it may not help, but it sure as hell can't make it any worse.

[conuly]

Brush your teeth, everyone--it may not help, but it sure as hell can't make it any worse.

Not true. Brushing too harshly, or after drinking/eating something acidic (such as soda) can actually hasten how quickly the enamel is worn away.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

You and me both. I have an ongoing saga with the dentist. I have 13 cavities, some of which are very bad (yet not painful) and I went in today for a "deep cleaning" and because I only had an hour scheduled she only got my bottom teeth done. I go back Friday morning for the top teeth.

Then I have to have them cleaned every 12 weeks.

On top of that I get lots of fun fillings, hopefully one or two crowns, maybe a root canal, and the cherry on top...oral surgery to remove my impacted wisdom teeth.

Hmm, wonder why I put this off for so long. Ugg.

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

permission to eew? *shudders*

Until my dad recently got laid off, we went to the dentist every year, and we always brush our teeth at least once a day.

...so I find the fact that you don't brush alot very disturbing.

but I still love you in a totally platonic manner.

[conuly]

I have a lot of trouble with that. I forget to brush my hair, and I often forget to shower until I realize I can't remember how long it's been - which means I might shower twice in a day, or once in a week. I don't intend to do this stuff, I just have a *really* bad memory for personal things.

That is by far the worse effect of autism

[staircase-wit.livejournal.com]

thanks for reminding me.

the whole forgot-to-brush thing is quite annoying. I've been trying to get myself to brush regularily since the first grade, with limited success.

Re: That is by far the worse effect of autism

[conuly]

That is by far the worse effect of autism

I knew there was a problem, even (that's why I started to brush my teeth in the first place!) but I couldn't call the dentist myself and make an appointment. My mother also has problems with calling people, so it really took my panic to force her to call. At that point, *I* was very nearly going to call the dentist, which shows how badly I was scared.

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

I brush 1 - 2 times each day, but my wisdom teeth developed cavities while I was avoiding having them out... They scared me into getting them removed by crumbling to little bits in my fingers about a year ago -- not something I ever want to experience again! *shudder* Worst part is, because I waited until I was 26 to have it taken care of, the nerves were already all wrapped around the roots, and were damaged permanently during the extraction. :-(

[conuly]

*stares*

Wow.

*hugs*

[ser-kai.livejournal.com]

I had to have my wisdom teeth drilled out of my jaw when I was 26 or so. Not fun. I'm very glad that I suffered no nerve damage(it was so close I was warned it might happen).
Did you know it can also be the pressure the tooth is under if it's impacted or crowded? So it could have happened anyway.
I'm glad I've been really good about cleaning my teeth since middle childhood.

[invsagoth.livejournal.com]

All this talk about wisdom teeth being taken out and nerves wrapped around them and such is freaking me out. o.o My dentist said as long as I keep my wisdom teeth clean like normal I could keep them. Not that I really have room in my mouth for them but that's not my point.

Are my wisdom teeth going to fall to pieces no matter what, and will need to be taken out anyway? o.O;; This is something that I've always been nervous about.

[ser-kai.livejournal.com]

Mine were impacted. I was in pain because they were growing into my jaw. They had grown in far enough to be very close to a major nerve that runs through the middle of your jawbone.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I'm 30 and was just told mine MUST come out. Now I fear...

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry -- I was told that it's extremely rare that damage that doesn't heal within 9 months happens. My parents had theirs out in their mid-30s without any trouble, I just happen to be the statistical anomaly in life most of the time. :)

[rachelkachel]

If it makes you feel any better, my dentist has been telling me for years that my brushing needed work. I've never been motivated enough to make a good, regular habit of it, because I don't get cavities. Never had a single one. The only reason I have to brush is to keep my gums from getting infected (and believe me, they did. Better now) and also to keep them looking fairly clean.

I had to have my braces off early because my toothbrushing habits were so bad. My dad likes to rub that in.

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I never used to brush either. (By which I mean teens through early twenties--as a child my mother made me, now I brush for sanitary reasons at the very least.)

But my teeth are really porous. So now I have... *counts* ...sixteen and a half teeth left. And many of those still attached are part metal, from fillings.

I currently have three broken teeth awaiting the $$ to fix them and can only chew on the left side. In order to eat an apple or corn on the cob I have to have a paring knife ready.

Brush your teeth, everyone--it may not help, but it sure as hell can't make it any worse.

[conuly]

Brush your teeth, everyone--it may not help, but it sure as hell can't make it any worse.

Not true. Brushing too harshly, or after drinking/eating something acidic (such as soda) can actually hasten how quickly the enamel is worn away.

[frogmajick.livejournal.com]

You and me both. I have an ongoing saga with the dentist. I have 13 cavities, some of which are very bad (yet not painful) and I went in today for a "deep cleaning" and because I only had an hour scheduled she only got my bottom teeth done. I go back Friday morning for the top teeth.

Then I have to have them cleaned every 12 weeks.

On top of that I get lots of fun fillings, hopefully one or two crowns, maybe a root canal, and the cherry on top...oral surgery to remove my impacted wisdom teeth.

Hmm, wonder why I put this off for so long. Ugg.

[lakidaa.livejournal.com]

permission to eew? *shudders*

Until my dad recently got laid off, we went to the dentist every year, and we always brush our teeth at least once a day.

...so I find the fact that you don't brush alot very disturbing.

but I still love you in a totally platonic manner.

[conuly]

I have a lot of trouble with that. I forget to brush my hair, and I often forget to shower until I realize I can't remember how long it's been - which means I might shower twice in a day, or once in a week. I don't intend to do this stuff, I just have a *really* bad memory for personal things.