Here’s a weird thing I’ve learned since I started working with the homeless:
If you want to know if someone grew up rich or poor, take a look at their teeth.
It seems so stupid now, but before I got this job, I didn’t really think about teeth. I went to the dentist every six months. I was bucktoothed and gap-toothed as a child, so I got braces. That’s just how life worked. Almost everyone I knew had braces. By my final year of high school, my graduating class was a sea of perfect smiles. It never once dawned on me that other families might not have thousands of dollars to spend on cosmetic dentistry. In my world, if you needed braces and cleanings, you got braces and cleanings.
In the real world, thousands of children go without those things. People who live on food stamps can’t afford fresh food every day; when you grow up poor, you often grow up with sugary snacks and beverages, which decay your teeth over time.If your tooth gets chipped, broken or rotten, it gets pulled or it stays that way, because you can’t afford to fix it. And at the end of the day, you end up as an adult with dental issues.
If you have nice teeth, you probably don’t realize this, but we live in a world that is fucking obsessed with teeth. Celebrities have nice teeth. Politicians have nice teeth. When you picture a rich person, a successful person, an educated person, they have a full set of gleaming pearly whites.
In our culture, we use “bad teeth” as a signal of poverty. They are shorthand for low education, for “hillbillies” with a lower quality of life. Bad teeth are not welcome at job interviews. They are not wanted in the dating scene. If you are trying to be taken seriously – at the bank, at the lawyer’s office, at your child’s school, at the doctor’s office – bad teeth will hold you back.
And the consequences go far beyond the social issues. Tooth problems are painful. When you go to the dentist every six months, cavities and issues get caught early. When you go years between visits, abscesses, infections, exposed nerves and irreversible damage have time to take root. It’s an extremely painful thing to live with, it can make eating unpleasant, and tooth infections can get into your blood steam and kill you. Teeth are a health problem, and yet we price dental care like a luxury commodity.
So if you meet someone with crooked teeth, or broken teeth, or tooth decay, don’t stare. Don’t make fun of them. Don’t fixate on it. That person may not have grown up with the money or nutrition that you did. Take the person for who they are, not for the teeth in their mouth.
Dental care should be a human right, just like healthcare. Let’s fight for that.
Tag: teeth
deshima
replied to your post “*hugs you* You sound like you were so much a better person than I was…”
you get full aneasthesia for wisdom teeth removal?? In Europe I only ever heard of using local aneasthesia unless the patient is expected to be unable to hold still for whatever reason, which works perfectly fine and at least spares you the usual grogginess or worse nausea *shudder* associated with full aneasthesia.
I actually had the option, and went with full anaesthesia because I flat out panic at needles where I can’t see them going in. At the time. It’s since gotten worse*.
So, anaesthesia it was, and they took care of not just the wisdom teeth, but some fillings that needed done while they were in there, because it was better for my mental health that way.
(And honestly, with my reaction to anaesthesia, grogginess and nausea were not an issue. I metabolize it quickly, and I am combative when coming out, and then… nothing.)
*mostly because the other dentist in that practice decided to try to tell me that I couldn’t have needed the mouth block I requested when he needed to put a local in to deal with a filling, because I did just fine. And never mind that my hands ached from gripping the arms of the chair so hard, or that the mouth block creaked I was biting down so hard, and the only reason he didn’t get hit was because I was holding onto the chair that hard, and had gone absolutely rigid with panic.
Now I have to be able to not only see the needle go in, I have to be the one to say, “now” about it being slid in.
*hugs you* You sound like you were so much a better person than I was coming out of anaesthesia. I’m glad things went well, and you’re home safe. :)
I’m really curious how you reacted coming out of it now, Morgyn.
From what I was told, I was the emotional one with the occasional nonsensical need to either scream or laugh. I was crying *a lot*, but I was also in a really good mood!
😀 Being in a good mood is probably better, even with the random screaming or laughing.
I came out of the anaesthesia very rapidly, and was striking out at anyone and anything around me before I even managed to pry my eyes open, and would not stay laying down while it finished wearing off. Which took about five minutes before I was able to walk out of the office. At which point, I was about as coherent and sociable as I usually am when I first wake up, which is to say, coherent is a vague yes, sociable is a hard no.
I spent the ride home making grumbly growly noises, and was not allowed to make my own eggs or prepare my own drink when Alys got me home, which involved a detour by a pharmacy for the pain meds (which I never took, because tylenol is on my list of nope, even if it’s combined with an opiod). I didn’t speak much to the pharmacist.
I spent the rest of the day on the couch, watching… nature documentaries, I think. And drinking small sips of not-water and eating cold eggs in tiny bites. Alys went home at the end of the day, and I don’t remember if I slept on the couch, or if I slept in the loft in the second bedroom in the house, or if I’d already been able to move into the apartment at the time.
(Also, nitrous oxide just tastes weird but otherwise does nothing for me, and while anaesthesia does knock me out quickly, that’s not entirely a benefit when I also come out of it quickly once it’s no longer being administered.)
… and now I’m trying to remember if I told my primary care or my pain doctor about my reaction to anaesthesia. Since I didn’t have either at the time the teeth came out, and I don’t remember if I put that in my notes that they got.
*hugs you* Getting your wisdom teeth out can be entertaining, but it feels so much better once they’re out. The stitches that they’ll put in your gums after will probably feel weird, and especially when you’re swallowing (I kept thinking I was going to swallow the stitches because the way they felt). You also might not be able to open your mouth enough for a spoon for the first day, so liquids are your friend if you can’t.
I can hardly open my mouth as it is, so it won’t be too big a change, I think? I’m looking forward to the part after where this painful pressure I’ve had for months finally hits the road. That’s worth a week of a liquid diet and then some.
Smoothies and water ahoy! I also had someone suggest miso soup and oatmeal. I think icecream is one too, but that stuff is so dang cold. Once I have a date, I’ll start compiling a proper supply, along with getting some days off of work and school.
The part that kind of got me was the fact that there will be holes. Like actual holes I’ll need to clean out with a syringe for a few weeks, and out of everything they’ll have to do, that grossed me out the most and I just can’t tell you why.
Sigh.
I wish I could get it done tomorrow, or Friday even, but I need to have a referral sent and that can take up to ten days, which doesn’t even take into account the surgeon looking at my file and calling me to schedule an appointment, which could take *another* ten days.
*SIGHS*
At least twenty more days of this. Joy. At least I have a reason if I’m particularly salty! *hugs back*
Huh. I wasn’t given any instructions to clean out the holes in my gums where my wisdom teeth were, though they did give me antibiotics for mine. (Of course, mine were removed not just because they were crowding the rest of my teeth and broke one, but because they were infected and trying to rot out of my mouth.)
Oatmeal would be good – personally I recommend something with cinnamon and nutmeg and cream and stewed peaches, if you’re not allergic or otherwise unable to consume one of those – though probably not in the first day or so. Eggs, if you can do scrambled, thinned out a bit with something, are also good, and add protein to things. Again, if they’re safe for you to eat otherwise.
And salt water rinse can be useful, ‘cause that’ll help with any leakage of blood, and also help keep infection from being a problem, because bacteria aren’t terribly fond of salt water or being rinsed away vigorously. You can add powdered clove to that to help with pain/soreness, if you want. 5:1 salt:clove at the strongest, and using a pinch at a time. Probably no more often than twice a day, with the clove. (That’s what I use for my teeth on a regular basis, though my additives of choice are sage and rosemary and thyme.)
my entire life changed when my dentist told me that the only time my teeth should be touching is when i’m chewing. every single time my teeth are touching i have to separate them. and i noticed that i clench my teeth a LOT.
when your mouth is closed and your teeth are touching or held tightly together, you are unnecessarily straining muscles out of stress. the healthiest way to hold your jaw is slightly apart, where it is relaxed. THIS HELPS WITH HEADACHES
OH.
On Dentists
So I can’t brush my teeth. Like, it’s the worst kind of hell. I went to the dentist for a cleaning today and I told the hygienist this, and she was wonderfully helpful.
There are some incredibly soft toothbrushes available- namely, post-surgical brushes. Running them under hot water makes them even softer.
She told me that you don’t really need to use toothpaste- it’s mostly marketing. The foam gets to me, so that is really reassuring.
She gave me two particularly soft brushes and some xylitol gum. Trident is a market brand of xylitol gum, which helps with your teeth and can make your breath smell better.
The whole purpose of brushing is to disrupt plaque buildup. You don’t need to brush twice a day, every day with toothpaste if you brush correctly- little circles, focusing on near the gums (where most plaque builds up). So if you’re having a bad sensory day and can’t brush at all, it’s not the end of the world.
Hell, you don’t even need a toothbrush if even the post-surgical ones are too harsh. Going over your teeth with the same motions using a washcloth is enough.
She wants to find a fluoride rinse that has a taste I can stand (peppermint is the only mint I can stand) but she’s not particularly worried about it.
I go to Dr. Barr in Chicago. If you can get to the State St. Macy’s, his office is nearby. He’s very kind and patient and really understanding of my needs as an autistic person. The hygienist, I don’t know her name, announced everything she was going to do before she did it, and stopped frequently to see how I was doing.
This is really the only positive dentist I’ve ever had- past dentists have been too rough and not bothered to help find ways I can actually brush.
Basically this is a glowing recommendation for Dr. Barr’s office if you’re autistic, afraid of dentists, or have sensory needs. This is a recommendation even if you don’t have any of those things.
Im actually crying i feel like this post was reblogged for me oh my god oh my god oh my lord thank you
You can also dilute your mouthwash and use it to swish around if it burns. My dentist does this so consider it dentally approved
how to draw sharp teeth and have them make sense: a tutorial
Don’t talk shit about people’s teeth. Seriously.
Speaking as a major dental hygiene enthusiast…
Great-looking teeth come from two things: luck and money (which is also a function of luck).
- Dental procedures tend to be very, very expensive, and are almost never covered by insurance.
- Healthy teeth aren’t necessarily big, straight or bright white. Depending on what someone’s natural teeth are like, achieving that look may require a significant downgrade in their dental health; unnecessary crowns and veneers cause damage.
- Do not underestimate genetics’ role in determining teeth’s appearance, or how prone teeth are to problems. Genes and early development, i.e. things people get zero control over, can outweigh all else.
- A wide range of chronic conditions impact oral health and teeth’s appearance, too, and may contraindicate various types of work or raise procedures’ cost even more.
- Finally, for many people and many reasons, celebrity-looking teeth just aren’t a priority (even when they’re attainable; some people might want, y’know, a new car instead).
Regardless, don’t be an asshole. Not even very attractive teeth look good on those.
I’ve NEVER seen a post like this and I’m thrilled TBH because I’m very insecure about my teeth and there is literally one reason they are not nice and that is money so I’m literally down for teeth positivity
heeehehehehehheee
I’m autistic-questioning [no dx yet] and realizing that one sensory thing I really struggle with is brushing my teeth [because of how unpleasant it feels to brush]. But I’m also grossed out by how my mouth feels when I don’t brush, and I’m concerned about long-term health issues. I’ve tried manual & electric brushes but neither kind feels good. Do you have any advice or resources about something I might try instead of brushing to keep my mouth clean & healthy?
I’m quite obsessive about cleaning my teeth and showering as I feel horrible if I don’t, so I can’t advise from experience.
However, a quick look online suggested that alternatives might include using a cloth or paper-towel wrapped around your finger (with toothpaste) or even just using your finger (with toothpaste) will suffice, although that seemed to be suggested as a temporary alternative (if you’ve forgotten your toothbrush). Perhaps you could try it and see whether that will be enough long-term?
You can also buy tooth/dental wipes. Again, I’m not sure whether these are intended for long-term use in replacement of using a toothbrush, but you could try them.
If you still feel that you need to brush your teeth for your mouth to feel suitably clean, you could always try alternating to reduce the amount of times you brush your teeth, or brush your teeth for shorter periods of time but then also use wipes.
You could also try to ensure that you floss to remove any trapped food that might be missed with a wipe.
You could also use a tongue scraper to help clean your tongue.
Also, have you tried different textured brushes? Perhaps a softer brush (for children) would help, or a silicon brush.
Drinking lots of water and chewing sugar free gum are also things that might make your mouth feel fresher.
Perhaps our followers will have some advice?
You don’t need toothpaste, you just need to get the gunk off! I was given this advice by a dental hygienist because my sensory problems involve the pastr rather than the brush. I brush my teeth twice a day and have no teeth problems.
I use a cloth wrapped around my finger or sometimes just my nails, if I don’t have a brush.
If it helps, tooth powder instead of paste – salt, powdered herb/spice of choice (rosemary and thyme are both good options, so are clove or cinnamon, though they’re a little more astringent), and baking soda. I make mine from an approximately 1:4:4 herb/salt/baking soda ratio, and grind it all together with a mortar and pestle (I cannot deal with the sound of a coffee grinder or any motorized anything very well because of sound sensitivity, so I have stuff to do this by hand).
I then have a piece of linen (cotton would do to, even a paper towel, or a finger), which I use to make sure the gunk off my teeth, and the salt mix helps with keeping bacteria under control – and if you swish it about your mouth before spitting it out, it can help all around.
There's a Mirror on the Wall 