Foresooth a tooth!

[Taffycat]

What's yours like...? Your dental hygienist, that is? Do you even have one? Or does your dentist perform the honours him/herself? We used to have one who did that. There would be so much water spraying around, that one would end up half drowned, unable to swallow/breathe, water trickling down my neck and even into my ear-hole! I think he used miniature JCBs as instruments - that's what it felt like as he gouged, excavated and kept hitting nerves.... and that was only supposed to be the clean-up! Help....!"

I am currently being treated by a marvel! This lady hygienist can wield her weaponry.... I meant to say instruments with the delicate touch of a feather duster. You hardly know that any work is taking place as she "hoovers" around molars, buffs the bicusbids and polishes an incisor or two. Yet at the end, teeth are gleaming and feeling good. No near-drownings, searing pain from indelicately probed nerves, or unnecessary blood-letting! It's amazing.

We chat. Like many in her profession, this lady is fluent in the language of "gurgle" that patients speak when their mouths are ajar and filled with instruments. The conversation covers books, anecdotes about pets, holidays, a bit of benign surgery gossip. She is also wise on matters toothy, of course.

Can you tell that I'm impressed? Lol. But it's true. She has even managed to solve a really long-standing problem I've had with a particularly sensitive tooth. "Aha! I know just the thing," says she, after listening to my lament about not being able to eat/drink various things without setting it off. She wrote a prescription for a toothpaste which is not available over-the-counter and sent me off to give it a go. It works! It genuinely does!! I practically have shares in "Sensodyne" (well no, not really...) but over the years, I've certainly purchased a mini-mountain of their products.... and one or two other brands besides. They were helpful, but NOT with this one particularly painful area. It seemed to defy everything I threw at it.... including some expensive stuff I purchased on the Net!

The dentist too, has an equally gentle touch. He has a shed-load of qualifications and is a mentor to other dentists. His surgery is better-equipped and the whole experience is a hundred times better - yet he doesn't charge as much as our previous guy, who really used to rip us off. He had a very nice surgery too, but, as the saying goes, it tended to be "all fur coat and no knickers!!" Lol.

Those amongst you who grew up with "Messrs. I. Drillem, E. Pullem & U. Bracem" at the school clinic, (a scary place a few decades ago,) might understand why I am throwing some complements around. The years of lying rigidly tense, wondering whether the practitioner was ever going to give one a break to rest a badly aching jaw (have had TMJ for years, which can be b*!!#$ painful even without the dental treatment!) are thankfully, in the past. Today, one is treated like a human, rather than an anonymous entity on the other end of a tooth! Yay!

 

[muckshifter]

I haven't been to a dentist for some time, no need, no knashers, not even plastic-make-believe ... I gum all my food to death.

Glad to see they been listening to their bread & butter ...

 

[Abarbarian]

"She wrote a prescription for a toothpaste which is not available over-the-counter and sent me off to give it a go."

So what is it.

 

[Taffycat]

So what is it.

It's called "Duraphat 5000 ppm Fluoride Toothpaste" tastes pretty good too, although with such a high fluoride content, one is advised (on the accompanying instruction leaflet) not to accidentally swallow any.

 

[Abarbarian]

It's called "Duraphat 5000 ppm Fluoride Toothpaste" tastes pretty good too, although with such a high fluoride content, one is advised (on the accompanying instruction leaflet) not to accidentally swallow any.

Ta

 

[historian]

I have good teeth for an old `un so they don`t ache. When I go to the hygienist it`s the only time they do ache, after all the prodding and poking about.Needless to say I don`t go to often.
historian.

 

[floppybootstomp]

Dentistry?

Glad to hear you've been sorted there TC, excellent news

Since me treatment 3.5 years ago the specialist dentistry dept at Guys Hospital look after me. It don't cost me a thing, which is good.

My teeth are not pretty and most of the back ones aren't there anymore. If I had a choice I'd have them all pulled and have dentures. But I can't have dentures cos I have a dry mouth and dentures are uncomfortable without a lot of saliva, which all normal folks have.

Maybe the upcoming acupuncture will re-introuce saliva to me gob and then I'll consider false teeth. My existing teeth won't last forever and that raises the spectre of only being able to consume liquid food. Which to be honest scares the hell outta me.

C'est la vie, as they say.

So who still smokes here then?

Ooooh, I know, low blow, ha-ha, but it bears thinking about don't it?

And oddly enough, today part of one of my front teeth sheared away so I must make an appointment with Guys asap.

 

[Taffycat]

It will be wonderful if the acupuncture works for you Flopps, for your general comfort. Some years ago I went through an episode of dry-mouth, (not, thankfully, for the same reasons as yourself.) At that time, my dentist prescribed "artificial saliva" spray - frankly, the very name of it grossed me out, lol, although it was really quite pleasant and minty! A squirt of it only provided a very temporary easement though, as I recall.

In light of your medical history, would you perhaps be eligible for having some dental implants, rather than false choppers? I believe there are some clever techniques these days, whereby one can have bridges anchored to implanted teeth(?) The most obvious benefit being that you wouldn't need so much plastic bunging-up your mouth. I've read bits and pieces about it, so might be worth asking at the hospital.

So who still smokes here then?

Not me your Lordship, Taffers is most definitely NOT a smoker, lol. But I am partial to the odd choccy-bar!!

 

[EvanDavis]

Originally Posted by Floppybootstomp
So who still smokes here then?

Never have and never will. Why anybody would ever choose to destroy their lives in this way I will never understand. Smoking is disgusting, not only do you harm yourself, but you harm those around you.
Think of it this way. The residue of your pleasure is smoke which is harmful to others.
I am a beer drinker. And the residue of my pleasure is urine. How would you like it if I ****ed all over you ? Enough said.
Oh and as for teeth. I have full implants top and bottom thanks to a butcher dentist. So only need a check up once yearly.

 

[nivrip]

the spectre of only being able to consume liquid food. Which to be honest scares the hell outta me.

Well, one consolation is that it could be Guiness.

The residue of your pleasure is smoke which is harmful to others.
I am a beer drinker. And the residue of my pleasure is urine. How would you like it if I ****ed all over you ?

Couldn't agree more. Similarly, if I was a heroin addict I wouldn't expect everyone within 25 yards of me to have a portion of my drug whether they wanted it or not.

Must admit, I did smoke for about three years when I was a teenager, although only about five a day. Soon saw the error of my ways and none since.

 

[floppybootstomp]

It will be wonderful if the acupuncture works for you Flopps, for your general comfort. Some years ago I went through an episode of dry-mouth, (not, thankfully, for the same reasons as yourself.) At that time, my dentist prescribed "artificial saliva" spray - frankly, the very name of it grossed me out, lol, although it was really quite pleasant and minty! A squirt of it only provided a very temporary easement though, as I recall.

Aye, I've tried a few of those, couldn't get on with them at all and they weren't very effective.

In light of your medical history, would you perhaps be eligible for having some dental implants, rather than false choppers? I believe there are some clever techniques these days, whereby one can have bridges anchored to implanted teeth(?) The most obvious benefit being that you wouldn't need so much plastic bunging-up your mouth. I've read bits and pieces about it, so might be worth asking at the hospital.

Unfortunately the radiation lowered the immune system in my mouth and surrounding areas so the hospital are reluctant to carry out surgery for risk of infection. Apparently there have been cases similar to mine where the jawbone became infected. could not be cured and had to be removed, which is probably not a good thing.

I have to take very good care of my mouth and oral hygiene is a priority with me. Teeth clean at least three times a day and a fluoride mouthwash once or twice a day.

I managed to give up smoking three times in my life, two years, two years and three years. By going back to smoking I sentenced myself to my current predicament. C'est la vie, as they say

 

[Taffycat]

Aye, I've tried a few of those, couldn't get on with them at all and they weren't very effective.

Totally agree, there is nothing so good as the "real thing"

Unfortunately the radiation lowered the immune system in my mouth and surrounding areas so the hospital are reluctant to carry out surgery for risk of infection. Apparently there have been cases similar to mine where the jawbone became infected. could not be cured and had to be removed, which is probably not a good thing.

That is a real bummer Flopps, sorry to hear that. But on a more positive note, your own gnashers will hopefully be with you for a long time yet; having such a good oral hygiene regime - plus a little help from the dentist - is giving them a very sporting chance

I still have all of mine - apart from two wisdom teeth, yay! Lol But I grew up in a denture-wearing (or in the case of my father - not wearing...) environment, so thoughts of losing 'em are not appealing. Hence, we too, have a bathroom cabinet full of tooth-cleaning paraphernalia.

Terry often has a chuckle about some "advice" a young, hospital dentist gave him about 40 years ago. He had an impacted wisdom tooth - Terry that is, not the dentist... Anyway, the young fellow took a look and said something to the effect "Hmm... we shall soon whip that out for you... local anaesthetic... in fact, perhaps you want to consider getting them all taken out..?"

Fortunately, his work was being overseen by the Prof in charge of the unit. "Er... no, I think not. The impacted tooth will require a general anaesthetic and admission to hospital for a few days! As for removing the rest of the teeth ... they are perfectly sound!" And yes, Terry's grinning-gear are all still present and correct!!

 

[HotDamn87]

Apparently the fact that I am a smoker makes me a disgusting person, but I don't remember making an analogy about urinating in someones mouth?!!! I agree with banning smoking in public places, and that it is a terrible habit; However it's my habit and if you don't wish to partake in it don't stand on my back porch, thanks!

 

[Taffycat]

Apparently the fact that I am a smoker makes me a disgusting person, but I don't remember making an analogy about urinating in someones mouth?!!! I agree with banning smoking in public places, and that it is a terrible habit; However it's my habit and if you don't wish to partake in it don't stand on my back porch, thanks!

Hmm... is smoking becoming the new politics/religion, I wonder? It certainly tends to make folk get hot under the collar.

The point is, we are all entitled to make choices, aren't we? But (before the smoking ban) someone could choose to sit in a bar all night, drinking nothing more intoxicating than fizzy water, whilst others got legless. Their choice. Not so easy for non-smokers though. They had no choice but to inhale the fug being generated and "shared" by those who wanted to indulge their smoking habit. At the end of an evening, clothes/hair would have also picked up that strong-pong of Wild Woodbine - or whatever - and in some cases, throats would get dry and scratchy. No choice. Other than to stay at home.

So deep, calming breath HotDamn87, your back porch is quite safe from imminent invasion But just for the record, you are the only one to make that unsavory urination analogy. Evan said: "How would you like it if I ****ed all over you ?" which was a tad different and, not of course, aimed at you specifically, because you hadn't even posted at that point. Oh and welcome to PCR, by the way

By the way, I wonder if anyone else here is offended, affected, or just dislikes being in a situation where someone is wearing very strong, pungent perfume? I don't mean a pleasant whiff of Channel, Hugo Boss, or whatever, applied discreetly. I'm talking about the wearer who leaves a 50 meter scent-trail in their wake!

It can be knockout!

 

[floppybootstomp]

Strong feelings here eh?

My opinion:

The comparison to being urinated upon is stupid. It's about choice. If somebody attempted to wee on me I'd knock them out. Prior to the smoking ban I had no choice but to inhale other people's harmful smoke if I wanted to visit certain premises.

Yes, smoking is disgusting and harmful but what people tend to overlook is it's also very pleasant. You can list the disadvantages til the cows come home but you can't deny the hit from a drag of a cigarette.

A bit like drugs, really, particularly heroin. Everybody knows a heroin habit will drain their finances and probably kill them but they also know it makes them feel damn good. Nobody ever mentions that do they? That heroin makes you feel on top of the world.

So I wonder what makes people start smoking or drug taking before they've sampled the pleasurable side and are in full knowledge of the dangers. Human frailty and weakness I suppose.

I personally feel a little sorry for smokers although I do favour the smoking ban. I think pubs and restaurants should have been allowed to have a smoking room if they had an isolated room but the goverment decreed otherwise.

And on the same subject all of my friends and relatives watched me go through my illness and only one of them gave up smoking as a result, all the others are still puffing away. That shocked me, a little.

I wonder how much tax revenue tobacco sales bring in and how much smoking costs our National Health Service? Evens, perhaps? Who knows. Whatever the financial comparison the human misery smoking causes cannot be measured. How many parents have been buried prematurely because of their nicotine addiction leaving distressed children in their wake?

If we want to discuss smoking here then as with religion and politics, please keep it civil and please don't make direct personal attacks.

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