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Buzzing. Buzzing in my premolars.
Aug. 17th, 2011 09:47 pmI continue to spend most of my time and money at the dentist's. I have yet another tool and process to add to my evening cleaning routine, which I think now lasts around 15 minutes if I do it properly. (Note I have had one cavity in my life, ever, despite braces.) I have once again been reassured that none of these gum problems is the result of my hygiene and also that it is vitally important that I'm more careful than anyone in the history of hygiene or else I'll lose my teeth - not that I'm going to lose my teeth! Far from it! I shouldn't worry at all.
Despite these reassurances, I don't actually worry or think I'm going to lose my teeth, which are still quite firmly attached, somewhat to my surprise, given the self-destructive behaviors of my immune system. I do however think I will spend the rest of my life visiting the dentist bimonthly, getting scalings and bone grafts and antibiotics and perhaps gum tissue transplants. Poverty is right out, as is joining the Peace Corps to go somewhere romantic and absent infrastructure.
This does not ultimately seem like a hardship; more like taking piano lessons, but instead of learning Beethoven I am ensuring I can continue to chew. It is perhaps not surprising that I enjoyed reading Michael Palin's diary in part because he spends almost the same amount of time at the dentist as I do. It's homey.
Semi-relatedly, Dad has bought me my first electric toothbrush, a kind he said helped him with his periodontal problems. (He is of course genetically responsible for mine, and got his from his mom.) Ciro loves it. I look on it with suspicion and alarm. After about a week, I have developed the skill of mostly not spraying toothpaste all over the bathroom mirror. This is progress.
Despite these reassurances, I don't actually worry or think I'm going to lose my teeth, which are still quite firmly attached, somewhat to my surprise, given the self-destructive behaviors of my immune system. I do however think I will spend the rest of my life visiting the dentist bimonthly, getting scalings and bone grafts and antibiotics and perhaps gum tissue transplants. Poverty is right out, as is joining the Peace Corps to go somewhere romantic and absent infrastructure.
This does not ultimately seem like a hardship; more like taking piano lessons, but instead of learning Beethoven I am ensuring I can continue to chew. It is perhaps not surprising that I enjoyed reading Michael Palin's diary in part because he spends almost the same amount of time at the dentist as I do. It's homey.
Semi-relatedly, Dad has bought me my first electric toothbrush, a kind he said helped him with his periodontal problems. (He is of course genetically responsible for mine, and got his from his mom.) Ciro loves it. I look on it with suspicion and alarm. After about a week, I have developed the skill of mostly not spraying toothpaste all over the bathroom mirror. This is progress.
