Composting bacteria PSA

Trigger warning: Dentist ahead

As I reclined in the dentist chair today listening to my dentist talk about what options we have for dealing with a cracked molar, I found myself shrinking to the size of an ant and taking a wander around my teeth.

My molar is still in my mouth (not for long) after YEARS of trying to save it after an unfortunate root canal resulted in a drill bit tip being left embedded somewhere deep in the pit where the root is supposed to poke into the jawbone. When, several years later, a raging infection set in, the missing drill bit tip was spotted in an x-ray. A rather horrendous dental surgery followed (and yes, I was conscious for every moment of that - I’ll spare you the details) during which the errant bit of metal was extracted via the outside of my gum in order to save the tooth.

The tooth, now thoroughly dead, was, however, intact. After the mess in my mouth healed, a shiny cap held it all together. That, I thought, was the end of the story.

Alas, I grind my teeth at night - and clench my jaw so hard that apparently, I have cracked that tooth in half. A hole has developed in my gum at the base of said tooth and, of course, that opening has allowed a low-grade infection to fester in there below the tooth and behind the gum.

I think I was sort of stress-dissociating in the chair because I had visions of sharp-toothed Pacman-esque bacteria squads chewing away at my jawbone.

Throughout this nasty conversation, my dentist remained surreally cool.

I have a whole week to stew on these questions and, no doubt, to have nightmares about the final parties the critters will be holding in my jaw before their protection is yanked out and floods of daylight and antibiotics finally wipe them out for good.

About six months ago I was fitted with a pretty skookum mouthguard to wear at night. “Keep wearing that night guard,” was the dentist’s parting shot as I fled from her office.

I guess it’s never too late to start protecting the unshattered teeth that remain, but kids be warned - if you are a tooth-grinder/jaw-clencher don’t wait decades to mitigate the damage. Yeah, those good mouthguards are expensive, but mortgage the cat or do whatever you need to do to get your hands on one.

In better news, after the dentist I went to the library and picked up this wonderful book:

I barely had time to look at it today, but my quick perusal had me adding this to my birthday wishlist as it appears to be a keeper. I’ll do something inspired by their zillion cool ideas and will share here as soon as I do.

Thanks for following along! (And, sorry about any vicarious dental distress I may have caused you…)