Words of Wisdom
Words of Wisdom
By Mary Nelson
Everyone has a story.
I’ve always thought of Steve Hartman as brilliant. For a while, the CBS News reporter brought viewers a series
called “Everyone Has A Story.” Did you ever see it? The point was: Steve could throw a dart against a map, and randomly select someone in the phonebook in Anytown, USA, and present a compelling story. It’s because, no matter how mundane our lives seem, we all have a past filled with joy and strife, sour relationships and spectacular ones. And, as I’ve learned, everyone has a story about wisdom teeth.
At 31 years old, I still have my wisdom teeth. Yes – all four of them. My dentist says there’s sufficient room for the teeth – as in – they’re not crowding my other teeth, causing shifting and the like. The problem is brushing and flossing. It’s nearly impossible to keep wisdom teeth as clean as the rest, and for the long-term betterment of my health, it’s best to remove these four teeth. And, remove them simultaneously.
I’ve never met anyone who, at one point in time, didn’t have wisdom teeth. It’s a common thread with which people seem compelled to share their own experiences. In saying, “I’m having my wisdom teeth pulled soon,”… you might as well say, “Tell me about your wis- dom teeth.”
Immediately after making my appointment (February 17, should you wonder), a colleague told me about the time she had her wisdom teeth pulled. It was in college, and it was an absolutely miserable experience. This colleague strikes me as someone who probably has a higher pain tolerance than most. In speaking about giving birth, she didn’t express the kind of discom- fort as when she spoke about hav- ing her teeth pulled.
A connection of mine in Omaha media also had her wisdom teeth removed in college. She recalled, “The dentist was afraid he’d break my jaws so he put me in the hospital.” The hospital?! For crying out loud! Could anything be more discouraging?
Another colleague – after losing one wisdom tooth – experienced swelling significant enough, that she could only have liquids and French fries for a week or so after- ward.
Of the stories I’ve heard, all of them have been some degree of awful. All of them – except one.
A colleague told me about his friend’s experience with wisdom teeth removal. It went so well that the guy enjoyed a steak dinner that very night!
If that’s the gold standard, I would be thrilled with sterling silver. If I am sufficiently numbed, I will be happy. If my teeth don’t break on their way out, I will be happy. If I can eat soup the next day, I will be happy. If I can return to work the following Monday, I will be happy.
I find having a New-Year’s-resolution-kind-of-mentality is help- ful. At the start of the year, instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” I prefer to say, “I want to gain more energy and confidence.”
Last month, when I made this appointment, I didn’t throw open the front door of the dentist’s office and exclaim, “That’s it! I’ve had it with these teeth! Remove them at once!” My hygienist suggested it a few years ago, and I finally agreed. It’s not that I agreed to lose my teeth. I agreed to invest in my health. I’ve seen firsthand what a weak commitment to oral health looks like, and how it can lead to other problems – specifically – heart problems. And I’m not messing around with that.This may be a case of putting the cart before the horse … I’ve had friends suggest that to me. They ask: “Why would you have them pulled before you need to have them pulled?” I’m a nervous Nelly by nature. I always prepare for the worst. I worry a lot. If I can reduce the odds of anything going wrong at any point in life – I’m game!
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