Blog on the Lillypad
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
 | Good News from the Dentist
About 10 years ago, I developed a strept infection in my heart after dental work. As I am allergic to most antibiotics, the experience gave me good reason to stay away from dentists. In 1997, an old filling broke, and so I had to seek dental care to get a crown that replaced it. I followed it up with a one day trip back to the specialist who had treated me for the heart infection. I got a clean bill of health. |
But I'm still extremely cautious about dentists. My policy has been to just avoid them. I never drink soft drinks, and I brush my teeth with a non-fluoride toothpaste several times a day. Once or twice a week I brush them with tea tree oil before bed, as that is an old remedy to ward off dental caries and gum disease.
Then in March I thought I had broken another old filling. I gave it time, and by June my suspicions were at last confirmed. I went back to the dentist, after a seven year absence, and was told I needed a root canal and crown.
And, of course, she wanted to do an exam to see how the rest of the teeth are. I reluctantly agreed. But the root canal came first. It took four weeks to set up, another four to get fitted for the crown, and it will be another four before the final crown is implanted. But the dentist found a slot for me to get a full exam.
When no complications arose after the root canal, I was relieved, but I was dreading the exam. I was sure she would find more problems. And every time I get dental work I feel like I am putting myself at risk.
So today, after seven years, I had a dental examination. HAH! No cavities, no gum disease, no more broken or loose fillings. Even the dentist was amazed. All is well (except for that permanent crown due to be implanted in three weeks).
After the exam I was just about singing. I turned up the music in the car and sped happily to the gym.
| When I first started using tea tree oil, I was told it was an excellent preventive against cavities and gum disease. I don't know for sure if that's true or not, but I plan to keep using it for as long as the Lord gives me teeth. Tea tree oils is sold in small expensive bottles at most health food stores, sometimes $20 per half ounce. But Wal-Mart sells it for four or five dollars per one-ounce bottle.
When I brush with it, I take a sip and brush all my teeth very thoroughly with it. Then I spit it out but do not rinse. I just go to bed. The taste is not very pleasant, but it's worth it. |  |
LOOK! NO CAVITIES! is still one of the happiest phrases in the world.
