Seems like such a no-brainer.
Thirty seconds swishing Listerine, one minute flossing, two minutes brushing - two times a day. It's so easy to do. Only seven minutes a day total.
But, you don't, so...
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To start with, you get lots of cavities. Which means that you spend lots of time in the dentist's chair, and help him make those payments on his luxury car.
And you end up with a bunch of ugly metal in your mouth.
But do you improve your dental hygiene? Of course not.
Then one day, one of those large fillings in a molar cracks.
But, by then, you're a poor college student, and (you think, in your short sighted youthful mind) you don't have the money to get a crown.
So, you just ignore it.
And it rots. At first it doesn't hurt. But then it starts. Initially maybe just when you have something sweet, or hot, or cold. But then it becomes a constant dull ache. And then the real pain starts.
So, you go to the dentist. But you're still poor, and now a crown is no longer an option. Now you need a bridge, which (you think, in your short sighted youthful mind) you can't afford. So, you just have the tooth pulled. Hey, what's one tooth? You've got plenty more...
Unfortunately, it happens to be a lower molar. And gravity being relentless, the tooth above it starts to slowly drop down. And, the rest of your bottom teeth decide that now that there's extra room, they'll spread out a little.
Now that pretty smile that your parents paid the orthodontist so much to achieve isn't quite so pretty anymore.
Then, as if this wasn't enough, because of all the movement, and extra space, and your continued poor oral hygiene, you develop gum disease.
So now you really get to experience pain, as you endure gum surgery. And that new car that you want... forget that, those payments are going to the periodontist.
Well, you finally realize that you'd better do something different. That upper tooth is still dropping, your teeth are still spreading.
So, you break down and agree to get a bridge. Of course, that means that the teeth on both sides of the bridge need root canals.
More pain, more time, and now you've got payments to the endodontist too.
Then back to the dentist. More time, more metal in your mouth. And now you've got payments to the dentist as well.
So, all that time and money that you "saved?" Uh, guess not.
The story continues in this sad fashion, but, you get the idea, you don't need more details.
And the good news? You've decided that thirty seconds swishing Listerine, one minute flossing, two minutes brushing - two times a day. It's so easy to do. Only seven minutes a day total. What a concept!
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Posted by David at August 20, 2002 08:19 AM