Aliens in my Mouth

                I don’t know how many months I have lived with this incredible pain on the bottom right side of my mouth.  I wasn’t even sure which tooth was causing the pain.  The last time I was at the dentist earlier this year, I pointed into my mouth at where I thought it was – somewhere between my wisdom tooth and front teeth.  But when the dentist touched each tooth and moved toward the front, the pain became more severe.  I made an appointment to have my teeth looked at by a dentist I had never been to before (one who is in our insurance network whereas the other is not) not realizing that Monday was a holiday and both Roland and Jenna would be off for Veteran’s Day.

          In Salt Lake, Veteran’s Day seemed like just another excuse to take time off, whereas in Oregon, they really go all out to honor those who served our country.  I always feel a happiness when I see the flags out revealing the patriotic pride that goes with – not just Veteran’s Day, but every day there is a reminder to display the flag.

          The Elk’s club is responsible for lining the streets and bridges with flags.  It looks really cool and respectful.  Veteran’s Day means something.  There are parades and ceremonies and other events that take place throughout the state.  I think that is great.

          So back to my tale of woe.  Whenever I would eat, I would try to keep the food on the left side of my mouth in order to avoid the blown up amount of pain that became more painful with each passing day.  It wasn’t even hard food for the most part – nothing that crunched.  On Sunday I was in so much pain that there were tears falling out of my eyes. 

          My stomach started sending me messages that it needed food and I had a light snack shortly after six.  I kept the food on the left side of my mouth.  Before I swallowed, I could feel something hard.  I knew it was a tooth – or partial tooth anyway, but could not find a place in my mouth where it might have come from.  But the pain was gone!

          On Monday morning I met some friends for breakfast, and for the first time in months was able eat my meal without having pain.  I could chew on both sides of my mouth.  It was great!

          Two hours after I returned home, Roland took me to the dentist in Winston.  I showed the doctor the tooth part that had come out of my mouth and he said it was from the bottom left wisdom tooth.  I really didn’t think the pain was that far back in my mouth.  He said the root is solid.  And unless wisdom teeth are removed before the age of 20, it is a painful procedure to have them removed at my age.  Fine.  I’ve already dealt with pain.  I really rather not pay through the nose to be tortured.

          Thus we set up another appointment to have the gap filled in next week.  Roland will be on vacation and will be able to drive me again (though I do now know how to get back there on my own) and so I will have an dental update to maybe write about next week (isn’t that exciting?)

          When we drove back into town we saw a crew starting to take down the flags.  It was only 3:30, but with all of the flags put out, it probably takes over an hour to set up and take down.  Going back to standard time may have given us a bit more daylight in the morning.  But now it appears to get dark early.  (I consider between 4:30 and 5:00 early).  That sight is sad like taking down the Christmas tree at the end (or very beginning of) the year.