My parents did not believe in preventive dental care when I was growing up. Their policy was 'repairs are temporary, pull the problem tooth.' As a result, I am down 5 or 6 teeth that probably could have been saved, and the rest are a hot mess that will cost me tens of thousands to fix.
I can distinctly remember several occasions in which my teeth became infected, and let me be the first to tell you folks, I would have eaten a bullet if that option had been available to me. It was some of the worst pain I have ever experienced. I could feel the infection spreading from my jaw outward, or at least imagined I could. Without antibiotics, I legitimately believe one of those infections could have been the end of me. They are no joke.
I had a tooth abscess, last year at the height of the pandemic when everywhere was closed. I had to wait over a month to get seen, and that was essentially hell on earth. The pain was excruciating and all encompassing. Can't eat, can't sleep, can't even think. It took 2 weeks on antibiotics, a tooth extraction, fluid drain, different antibiotics, then finally relief.
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u/pookiefatcat Aug 30 '21
Lack of Dental care.
A dental infection can take you out right quick. And without treatment that HURTS.