I had my dental examination today. As it turns out, I’m a freak who never had wisdom teeth, and never will. The pain is likely caused by… gum disease. And I have a cavity in one of my rear molars. And I need to floss more.
The occasional musings of Andy Scheffler
No wisdom teeth…. Lucky. You get to miss out on being chipmunk-cheeked for a few weeks. It was fun, I guess, when I had mine yanked. The oral surgeon told me I could have all four pulled in the same visit, or have two done then, and come back later for the remaining two.
Like a dumbass, I did a John Wayne, and told the doctor, “take ’em all out the first time.” It wasn’t the pain that really bothered me that much, it was more that I couldn’t chew stuff for the couple weeks I had the stitches in. Not that it really mattered, but when you work at Burger King, it’s like being tortured when everyone and their uncle is ordering food you can’t chew yet, and you’re spooning down milkshakes on your breaks.
One of these days I need to get enrolled with a new dentist, and do something about my loose cap. It’s to the point where it’s annonying me. Good luck.
Whoa, lucky on the wisdom teeth. Mine were awful, it took 7 hours for them to remove all four since the roots were all happily wrapped up with the nerve bundle that runs along the jawline. The upside? valium drip!
Gum disease isn’t good (its a disease!) but you’re not alone. Last statistics I saw, /most/ americans have some form of gum disease. I was genetically predisposed to have a mouth every dentist hates, and developed it when I was really little. The only tips I can pass on are these…
Don’t overfloss, it can make things worse, but don’t skip flossing all together. Due to my absolute dislike of wrapping floss around my fingers until the tips turn purple, I buy those little floss-on-a-stick things, I think they are called plackers. They are your friend, since they are easier to handle (I think)
Look at your toothbrush. When was the last time you changed out the head/bought a new one? does it have stiff bristles or soft ones? Hard/stiff bristles can irritate gums, look for a medium/soft bristled brush. Your dentist may have told you, but try to avoid brushing into your gums, brush in a direction of gum-> tooth end when possible. Several major manufacturers have come out with ‘gum health’ toothbrushes which have a variety of bristles and lengths, they do help.
My dentist actually told me to eat an apple a day.. whole, not cut up. Apparently the act of biting into a whole apple (or other similar firm fruit) is not only good for you, but it stimulates your gums. Don’t know if there’s any truth to that.
Listerine is good for your gum health, too. It tastes disgusting. I have found the new citrus flavored one to be preferable. It’s orange.
I hope your mouth gets to feeling better! there is NOTHING WORSE than ongoing mouth pain. It’s so distracting.
:p~
I just noticed today that you added me! lol…Congrats on that Warren Ellis thing. I’m currently reading a couple of his Marvel titles. What other writers do you follow?
You suck for not having wisdom teeth…When I had all 4 pulled, I drooled blood for 2 days and looked like a f*cking chipmunk for a week.
Re: :p~
The other writers I follow are mostly in my interests list, but include Peter David, Judd Winick, Brian Michael Bendis, Kurt Busiek, Will Eisner, J. Michael Straczynski … I’ll buy anything and everything they they wrote. There’s a few others (Millar, Ennis, … can’t remember the rest) that I’ll strongly gravitate towards as well.
And I think I remember when you had your teeth pulled, too.
Re: :p~
Buy anything?? Let me take a wild guess here…you *should* have read these titles by now:
MOST Marvel Ultimate titles
Amazing Spiderman
Marvel Knights: Spiderman
Dare Devil
Punisher
Conan (Dark Horse)
Astro City
Superman: Man for All Seasons
Spy Boy
Supreme Power
Avengers (#500 & up)
Rising Stars
Midnight Nation
Adv. of Barry Ween
Frumpy the Clown (Frumpy is my idol!)
Green Lantern
Wanted
Secret War
Unfunnies
The Pro (1 issue one-shot)
Preacher
But what about Jeph Loeb, Greg Rucka, Joss Whedon, Gail Simone, Geoff Johns, & Brad Meltzer?
Re: :p~
Yes, I’ve read most of those (I think Conan, Avengers and Unfunnies are the only ones I haven’t), although Ennis and Millar (especially his Millarworld stuff, although Wanted is interesting) are becoming less interesting for me, I’m almost tempted to (*gasp*) stop reading Punisher, it’s just seeming like the same old, same old.
Jeph Loeb and Joss Whedon go into the “couldn’t remember off the top of my head” category. And I just remembered Kevin Smith, Grant Morrison and Alan Moore… sort of. The rest of who you named are all solid names that are recognizable enough to make me buy a book. Simone/Benes/Lei was enough to get me to start buying Birds of Prey again, although they’re all gone again now.
What an odd tangent this entry has turned to.
what is it with my oniichans and them not going to the dentist? *puzzlement*
and *WHACK* bad andi!!!!!! why you no go to dentist more regularly?!?!?!??!! you wanna end up like chico?!?!?!??!?!?!!
*glare*
– judy