Member-only story
What Are “Good” Teeth?
White? No cavities? Straight?
November 3: Do you have good teeth? Have you had some pulled? Do you wear dentures? Have you had implants? (Carole Olsen)
I think I have pretty good teeth. They’re all mine. I lost one tooth when I was pregnant with my first child. I had an abscess under that one. I endured a weekend of agony. I went to ED on Sunday night and got an injection in the buttocks. I had no idea what it was, and I didn’t care. On Monday morning, I fronted to my dentist, “Take it out.”
He was trying to save it. When I delivered that baby, my auntie asked if I was going to have more (babies). My answer: “ I’ve had worse toothache than that labour.” I wasn’t joking.
During my second pregnancy, a repeat of the first, except I told my dentist to take it out immediately. Another gap on the other side. Still a molar, so you couldn’t see the gap when I smiled.
Fifty years later, I lost another two. It’s a major procedure now because of my rheumatoid arthritis. The last one was on my upper left side and can be seen when I smile.
I’ve been lucky I’ve never had braces, but three of my six kids have. They’re very painful and very expensive.
My teeth aren’t white: they’re grey. Just their natural colour. I’ve had them bleached, and they…
