talkin' on, not through, the teeth

Okay, brace yourself, buds, no pun intended, I'm gettin' down 'n' dirty on the dental regime begun Saturday.

I’m happy to report progress in three days of intensive home treatments. There’s been tweaking, here’s the shakedown.

1. Most of the gumline’s in excellent condition, a happy discovery! And will remain so because I'm hereby committed to it;

2. There’s one problem (gum) area but it’s serious and will not withstand further neglect and whether one or two teeth can be saved remains to be seen. The problem is a consequence of an interplay of dental forces initiated with a bridge that for some imperceptible, inexplicable reason has never fitted quite right. Not much I can do but slow the degradation and continue with the immaculate dental care as a priority and lifestyle;

3. Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda: a keeper;

4. Diluted peroxide as a rinse: ditto;

5. Returned to the drugstore was the Listerine. The alcohol worsens gum issues and don't want the chemicals or sorbitol (sugar). Hydrogen peroxide's been effective for me and is affordable;

6. Dedicated flossing with dental tape dipped into peroxide. Boy does that attack the invisible yukkies between teeth and help heal. Positive sign: no more bleeding!

7. The showerhead's gentle stream of water, the poorman's waterpik.

There's no helping a mouth without addressing the vessel, the body:

8. Significantly reducing sugars, namely beer. Miss the flavor but health takes priority. Red wine's fine, in fact I prefer it in the cold season, and whiskey and gin remain staples;

9. Bee pollen. Used years ago in a time of high stress and depletion to marvelous results; I'm reminded of its powers and call to continue it through the cold, dark, wet season;

10. Coenzyme Q-10. A trial run after reading of its excellent effect on gums; gots to say I agree, a keeper;

11. Multivitamin;

12. Calcium-magnesium-zinc supplements;

13. Vitamin C supplements;

14. The biggest surprise of all: oil of oregano!

Yes, oil of oregano. It's considered one of nature's most powerful antiseptics and slayers of bacterial infections, teeth and gums being only one of many.

Three oils are good: tree tea, clove and oregano. My health foods store carries them, with the testers, so I went to try each while listening to my body, letting it decide. The tea tree oil, pretty good, the clove, so so, the oregano, POW!

Potent. Powerful. Woody. Very pungent. It stings. The body response was instantaneous and unmistakable.

I extol the virtues of oil of oregano. (If you're interested in them, please help yourself online.)

My regime stars oil of oregano.

Been repeatedly applying it diluted (it's so strong otherwise) through the day with a Q-tip on the problem area as well as throughout the mouth for general health.

In a few short days, it has significantly slayed the yuks, reduced inflammation and infection.

I add a drop or two (a little goes a long ways!) to my bottles of water and body oil at bedtime.

All these actions have had a synergistic effect.

For one, the teeth and gums have never been cleaner or healthier of late. The bad area is still not great (irreversible damage) and a dentist visit is in order methinks but it's way better than before; the damage has been halted (and now that I see it, I shudder, reprimand myself for letting it get that bad).

There's more.

The color's returning to my face. I'm no longer so Pete Doherty-ish, pallid and pasty. I didn't realize how exhausted and pale I was until my cheeks got a bit o' hue; also the skin looks healthier, fuller, less gaunt, exhausted but a functional exhausted.

I'm getting sleepy earlier, putting the bite on insomnia, and resting better, which I attribute to the oregano oil, it's warming pungency aids this thin-skinned girl prone to chills.

The black circles under my eyes have gone from pitch-black coal to plain black coal. This could be an illusion cast by the light fixture over the bathroom mirror.

This has been a wake-up call, a call I am heeding, a call for self-care (dentally and overall).

I don't have a concept of self-care. It was not part of my family, in particular my mother, it was considered bad, undesirable, the height of selfishness.

I'm learning, teaching myself late in life and slowly. I'm learning and excited that I am because it is overdue.

I regret that it took a crisis to shake me awake and into action. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would; so much I'd do differently. I'd give my gums the care they're now receiving. If I had, they'd never be where they are now. I'm sorry for my negligence. It wasn't intentional, it was what I know and all I knew.

To the unhealthy portion: I'm sorry for that negligence. I am learning. I want you well and as healthy as you can be under the circumstances. Continue telling me what you need and I'll do it.

To the healthy portion (which fortunately is the majority): I won't let it get this bad again. The healthful and attentive practices are here to stay; you have my word.

To the many more parts of me and my life that have suffered and do suffer from neglect and negligence, we know the reasons and now I am learning differently and I enter into you with self-care too.

This is all for now.