Remember last week where I had that day of agony as my teeth moved? Turns out there was a little more going on with that. To begin where I left off:
What I neglected to share here is that I suspected I might be growing a new set of wisdom teeth. But that doesn't happen, right? Silly Dainty. The area had become dreadfully inflamed while all this was going on, and I woke the next day to find the inflammation gone but two hard bumps remaining directly behind my teeth and some very sorry feeling gums stretched beyond their comfort zone.
It can't be.
Days pass and I begin to want to clamp down my teeth, craving the pressure on my jaw that a good bite brings about. Problem is, I have remnants of plastic bumps still glued to my teeth from an unsuccessful stint with Invisalign braces back in my "partially healthy" days, and these "bumps" prevent my molars from making full contact. The past few weeks I've been more and more restless to have them removed and an appointment was already scheduled, but after that day of intense tooth pain my body was done with any pretense of patience. I began clenching my teeth almost involuntarily as my body strove to move the bones it wanted to, and my lower jaw began to bend under the pressure. Ouch. Okay, that option is out. Guess there's nothing to do but wait...one day, one hour at a time...
Then about 28 hours ago I was examining the bumps in the mirror when something further back caught my eye.
The outline of my lower wisdom teeth preparing to break surface glared back, challenging me to deny them now.
A part of me is thrilled. I'd secretly wanted to keep my wisdom teeth and felt disappointed when they were removed. And while the upper teeth are coming in even straighter than their predescessors, here's the problem: the lower ones are impacted in exactly the same manner as the previous set was, which means at this rate they would emerge partially inside my cheeks creating a continuous wound that cannot be cleaned. It's a guaranteed infection, and that's why last time I had no choice but to take the procedure despite the significant risk posed by my severe MCS. By the time surgery happened the infection was notably advanced and no other resolution was possible.
Unless I find a way to move these teeth before they break through the surface, it is going to happen again.
The good news is that I've made progress in the past 24 hours. With some trial and error I discovered that pressing straight down on my molars brought relief, and with frequent application I soon felt pressure building for my mischievous underground teeth to get in line. Nothing like bossy older teeth to put them in their place. Heat felt good so I used that too, and a few hours later the right side of my jaw suddenly swelled up like a chipmunk. I wasn't expecting that! Closing my mouth became unfeasible and talking was a joke. I could have brought it down with arnica, ice, or a quadrapolar magnet, but I sensed that the response was beneficial so I let it be and drifted off into an exhausted slumber.
Now both sides are only a little bit swollen, and I have continuous pressure and pain in the area as these teeth move. Will it be accomplished in time? I hope so. I'm stunned that they've formed this quickly. An old family friend who happens to be a dentist has managed to fit me in on Thursday to have the plastic bumps removed so that should help with my bite, and I expect to hear back from my osteopath today about further recommendations. In the meantime I continue to work on my teeth, careful to avoid forcing anything.
I just hope it's not too late.
What I neglected to share here is that I suspected I might be growing a new set of wisdom teeth. But that doesn't happen, right? Silly Dainty. The area had become dreadfully inflamed while all this was going on, and I woke the next day to find the inflammation gone but two hard bumps remaining directly behind my teeth and some very sorry feeling gums stretched beyond their comfort zone.
It can't be.
Days pass and I begin to want to clamp down my teeth, craving the pressure on my jaw that a good bite brings about. Problem is, I have remnants of plastic bumps still glued to my teeth from an unsuccessful stint with Invisalign braces back in my "partially healthy" days, and these "bumps" prevent my molars from making full contact. The past few weeks I've been more and more restless to have them removed and an appointment was already scheduled, but after that day of intense tooth pain my body was done with any pretense of patience. I began clenching my teeth almost involuntarily as my body strove to move the bones it wanted to, and my lower jaw began to bend under the pressure. Ouch. Okay, that option is out. Guess there's nothing to do but wait...one day, one hour at a time...
Then about 28 hours ago I was examining the bumps in the mirror when something further back caught my eye.
No way.
The outline of my lower wisdom teeth preparing to break surface glared back, challenging me to deny them now.
A part of me is thrilled. I'd secretly wanted to keep my wisdom teeth and felt disappointed when they were removed. And while the upper teeth are coming in even straighter than their predescessors, here's the problem: the lower ones are impacted in exactly the same manner as the previous set was, which means at this rate they would emerge partially inside my cheeks creating a continuous wound that cannot be cleaned. It's a guaranteed infection, and that's why last time I had no choice but to take the procedure despite the significant risk posed by my severe MCS. By the time surgery happened the infection was notably advanced and no other resolution was possible.
Unless I find a way to move these teeth before they break through the surface, it is going to happen again.
The good news is that I've made progress in the past 24 hours. With some trial and error I discovered that pressing straight down on my molars brought relief, and with frequent application I soon felt pressure building for my mischievous underground teeth to get in line. Nothing like bossy older teeth to put them in their place. Heat felt good so I used that too, and a few hours later the right side of my jaw suddenly swelled up like a chipmunk. I wasn't expecting that! Closing my mouth became unfeasible and talking was a joke. I could have brought it down with arnica, ice, or a quadrapolar magnet, but I sensed that the response was beneficial so I let it be and drifted off into an exhausted slumber.
Now both sides are only a little bit swollen, and I have continuous pressure and pain in the area as these teeth move. Will it be accomplished in time? I hope so. I'm stunned that they've formed this quickly. An old family friend who happens to be a dentist has managed to fit me in on Thursday to have the plastic bumps removed so that should help with my bite, and I expect to hear back from my osteopath today about further recommendations. In the meantime I continue to work on my teeth, careful to avoid forcing anything.
I just hope it's not too late.
