How Tooth Decay Can Ruin Your Day

Summary

The article describes the process of tooth decay and its consequences, emphasizing the importance of oral hygiene.

Abstract

The narrative begins with a person neglecting to brush their teeth before bed, leading to a chain of events where bacteria in the mouth proliferate and cause tooth decay. Over time, the decay progresses from the enamel to the dentin, resulting in discomfort and pain. The affected individual experiences social and professional discomfort due to bad breath and toothache, ultimately leading to a dentist's visit. The dentist diagnoses the decay as a result of poor oral hygiene and dietary choices. The experience prompts the individual to consider lifestyle changes to avoid the financial and physical cost of dental procedures like root canal therapy.

Opinions

The article suggests that neglecting oral hygiene can lead to significant health issues and disrupt daily life.
It implies that the discomfort of dental problems can affect one's professional and social interactions.
The narrative conveys a moral lesson about the consequences of ignoring health advice, particularly regarding oral care.
It highlights the financial implications of dental treatments, suggesting that preventative care is more cost-effective.
The article subtly criticizes the consumption of processed foods high in sugar as a contributing factor to tooth decay.
It humorously presents the individual's decision to change their lifestyle as motivated by the desire to fulfill a promise to their spouse, rather than purely for health reasons.

A journey from the moment you eat till you get a root-canal

Imagine coming home, tired from work, you have your dinner and then decide to sleep. Your spouse reminds you to brush your teeth, but you don't listen, even though her gargle disturbs you. Soon, you forget everything and go into a deep sleep. While you are snoring loudly with your mouth open, you invite hungry germs for a feast.

As the millions of germs enter your mouth, they are greeted by their distant relatives and friends who already reside there. It is not merely haven but heaven for the various bacteria, that was promised by their ancestors. They all divide into groups and possess their favourite spot to dine in. They munch on the food particles sticking on the surface of teeth, and excrete out in rebellion. The acidic secretion slowly wears off the enamel.

Since this has been going on for a few weeks, some lower teeth start showing white spots, exhibiting signs of decay. The greedy germs show no mercy and continue their fiesta. The drilling begins, and now they enter the inner layer called dentin.

It's early morning, your alarm rings, and you rush to the bathroom. You sense that your mouth is slightly stiff and one of your molars hurts. You brush your teeth, although your were advised to brush after dinner and after breakfast, but you do it anyway.

While you are at work, you are unable to smile or speak openly. Not only your breath stinks, you feel mild pain whenever you drink cold water. This spoils your whole day and you fix an appointment with your dentist.

The next day, you visit the nearby dental clinic and complain about the on and off pain. The doctor takes a look, and then confirms with an X Ray. His diagnosis is that your tooth is decaying due to poor oral hygiene and the condition could get worse if you continue eating processed foods, especially those that are high in sugar.

As you reach home, you share your pain with your wife. You expect her to comfort you, but she scolds you instead. Since you promised to buy her a diamond necklace for her birthday, you decide to change your lifestyle as you won't be able to afford getting root canal therapy.

Although you would choose to lose your tooth instead of losing your wife, try taking good care of your oral health.