Inspired, no doubt, by watching White Christmas last night and by my semi-annual dental checkup, I am moved to count my blessings. One of those I really should appreciate more is the continued good health of my teeth. I still have all of my own teeth, I’ve never had a root canal or a wisdom tooth extraction (mine came in just fine when I was about thirty, a rather frightening experience), and I have had fewer than a half dozen cavities over the years, the most recent a dozen years ago. I attribute that to a combination of good genes (my dad’s), parents that made sure that I had good dental care when I was a kid, fluoridated water, prudent oral care as an adult, and vigilant professional dental care on a regular basis.
I know that bad teeth can be an exquisite torment and I should be more cognizant of my good fortune in avoiding that particular problem.
why you luckything! but hey good idea, when the financial world is falling apart (despite all the TALK of coming out of the recession), lets count our good blessings! The best thing is, you probably don’t need dental insurance to top off health ins, that is, if you are self-employed. Wonder if the health reform includes dental insurance. Haven’t heard anything.
I too wish Dave would blog more about health reform. All I hear about is his damn teeth. I’ve only read one blog entry though.
Everyone has their own gene disposition. My wife brushes and flosses religiously. She goes to the dentist about quarterly. Yet, she is constantly battling cavities, root canals and caps.
Me? I brush and floss religiously. I never go to a dentist. Once every 10 years to make sure any plaque isn’t building up. No problems. What-up?
Flip side.
I have four discs in my cervical spine that have either been fused or are herniated/degenerative. It has resulted in periods of unbelievable pain, temporary paralysis, permanent muscle disfunction etc.
I work out and have been sports active all my life. My wife? Not so much, but no disc problems. I’d switch her problems for mine anyday.
So what gives? Genes.
I eat sensibly. My wife? Cholesterol heaven; loves those cakes and pastries. I have a plus 400 cholesterol. My wife? You don’t want to know. Its obscenely low. Welcome to your genes and liver function.
Life ain’t fair. Some of us accept it and adapt as best we can. Some scream like pathetic little women and pine for government intervention. Like that will help. (Certain commenters on this site in mind.)
Yes, count your blessings, all of you. You’ve been given a mix of good and bad. Look to yourselves to resolve the bad. Be very afraid if you rely on government to fix the bad.
You have my sympathy on the back problems, Drew. I know what it is to live with pain. I have a chronic pain condition with a constant pain level of anywhere from 6 to 9 on the assessment scale. Anything that touches it renders me incapable of functioning so I elected to stop taking anything a dozen years ago.
My mom and two of my sisters, the members of my family whom I resemble physically most closely, have had the same disc fused. Somehow I’ve missed that, possibly because of my mass of abdominal muscle. It’s something else for me to be thankful for.
Yeah, Drew, I’m with your wife. I’m thankful that I’ve had dentists who’ve conveyed to me gently, but firmly, that I’ve got a genetic predisposition to dental problems and I work hard to keep the teeth I have. Nothing lost yet other than the wisdoms, but I know the score and go three times a year.
And I’m serious about being thankful, knowing the score is very helpuful.
wow you people sound all so AGED !
I am 55, and scale of pain is 1.
And I floss regularly, and have a sonic toothbush.
Haven’t got a cavity in a while, but had an abcess that I think had been festering for years. My dentist simply yanked it out. amazing. didn’t even have to leave the seat, or wait for an appt with periodontist.
I count my blessing as I write this.