A Second Opinion: Oh, my aching tooth!
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No matter what your station in life, a truly beautiful smile can “grease the skids” for you and yours.
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by Mary Foran
Ever had a toothache? An abscess or a chipped molar? The extraction of your “Wisdom Teeth”?
American Dentistry has a long history of experimentation and “dolor“. But modern American Dentistry has really come into its own and conquered most discomfort and pain.
Novocaine is now used liberally to deaden the work area, “sleeping gas” can be requested, and there are more methods to make the experience less “unforgettable”!
Some dentists specialize in children’s first teeth, and others specialize in straightening teeth, and 3 to 6 month cleanings are now the norm.
A white, even, healthy mouthful of teeth is the goal of dentists who go to great lengths to achieve this outcome for their patients, who are more than willing to pay for their services.
The truth is, most dentists realize that their patients never brush enough, never “floss” enough, and often don’t visit a dentist or a dental hygienist often enough to really save their teeth.
Those with naturally white, even teeth are truly blessed in American Society, because, as the song says: “When you’re smiling, when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you…”!
Dentistry in general has really come a long way since the “Dark Ages”, and finding a good dentist is paramount to one’s health and even one’s longevity.
Toothpaste, toothbrushes, toothpicks, “flossing” apparatus, materials for making “crowns”, clear “invisible” plastic inserts or wire braces are very popular. Some dentists even specialize in complete dental implants into the bones of one’s jaws to achieve that perfect, flashing white smile.
No matter what your station in life, a truly beautiful smile can “grease the skids” for you and yours. Both men and women in the States are realizing the importance of their teeth for their general well-being and overall health.
Sugar consumption is often seen as the culprit in tooth decay, which is why some precincts consider or have imposed taxes on sweet beverages, and Fluoride is added to water supplies across the country. (“Soft” water areas need that, as opposed to “hard” water areas, in which more minerals are dissolved, hardening growing teeth)
Here are a few of the minimal steps dentist advise be taken to avoid the worst of it!
1.Be sure to brush teeth, gums and tongue at least twice a day with a soft-bristle brush.
2. Swish mouth with an as-potent-as-possible mouthwash to minimize gingivitis and bacterial decay.
3. Learn how to gargle and spit!
Good teeth are a Godsend, so guard them well to avoid having to have them pulled out for any reason to be “fitted” for dentures, which you will regret having for the rest of your life! (Or so I am told…)
One thing you can do for yourself is to have a handy “tooth kit” in a plastic bag or container which travels with you wherever you go, and which reminds you to Take Care of your Teeth morning, noon and night, the Dentists’ ideal schedule!
Azucar in all its many delicious and delectable forms and manifestations may be part of the cause of decay in teeth, but good oral hygiene can help mitigate all that inevitable damage caused by living life to its fullest, at home, in cafes, and Haute Cuisine restaurants!
Postre, anyone?
Images
Smile by Rupert Taylor-Price CC BY2.0
Cakes by Danny Chapman CC BY2.0
Born in Seattle, WA, U.S.A., and a graduate of the University of Oregon in Spanish and General Literature, Mary lived in Madrid, Spain during the 80s, a period in Spanish history which became known as “The Transition”. She taught English as a Foreign Language, and worked as Managing Editor of the Guidepost when it was still a weekly print publication. She did a stint on Spanish Foreign Radio and Radio Cadena, and corresponded for a Financial Times of London newsletter. She still has ties to Spain, loves the people and the country, and has great hopes for the future!
