Teeth are something one usually doesn’t give much thought to unless something goes wrong. Before I turn off the lights at bedtime, I realize that one of the many things I am grateful for is having my teeth rest comfortably in my mouth and not having throbbing pain. At least a great majority of the time.

Not having good enamel, coupled with my lifelong love of baking and sweets, has landed me in the dental chair at a very young age. Fortunately, I have always had access to dental care. Whenever I experience tooth pain, I call the dentist and usually get an appointment in a reasonable amount of time. I sit in the waiting room with relief, sometimes reading a copy of A Consumer's Guide to Dentistry by Gordon J. Christensen, trusting that whatever is causing my pain will be taken care of. When the dentist injects novocaine into my gums and begins working, it is not much fun, but it is bearable. As I watch the dentist and dental assistant, I often think about how grateful I am for modern dentistry. Without it, I would probably be in constant pain, missing most of my teeth, or even dead.

I have met people who did not have access to regular dental care or who were afraid of the dentist. Due to my own bouts of tooth pain, I deeply empathize with the constant pain many are forced to endure. Recently, I came across Mary Otto’s book Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America and it struck a nerve.

Mary Otto is a health care journalist who wrote articles on oral health for the Washington Post and articles such as this one for The Atlantic. In her book, she describes the deeply disturbing plights of those who don’t have access to routine dental care. She recounts their feelings of shame in a society that prizes the perfect smile. These people often feel the effects of the stigma that comes with having missing teeth or other mouth issues, in the form of feeling like they have fewer job and social opportunities.

Living With Constant Tooth & Mouth Pain

There is also the issue of pain. Otto describes the silent epidemic of oral disease in America that, when left untreated, becomes an increasingly stabbing and throbbing pain that many are forced to live with—at least until they can’t anymore. Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died from complications resulting from an untreated dental abscess in Maryland. A California father who worked as a long distance trucker did not have health insurance, and passed away because of an untreated mouth infection that spread to his blood and his lungs. In her book, Otto describes the possible causes behind this situation, including some political reasons that are described similarly in this Washington Post article.

Relief for the Suffering

Fortunately, the nonprofit organization Remote Area Medical (RAM), which Otto describes in the second chapter of her book, operates mobile medical clinics that go around the country, acting as weekend hospitals serving the unemployed, and laid-off, those at low-wage jobs (waitresses, housekeepers, gardeners, retail store workers), those without insurance, and more. RAM is staffed by about 120,000  licensed dental, vision, medical, and veterinary professionals, and one doesn’t have to be a healthcare professional to volunteer, there are also general support volunteer positions available. You can read more about RAM in The Guardian, this Newsweek article, and by watching this video.

Dental Information

If you would like advice on all things dental, here is a helpful list:

• Consumer Reports magazine article on dental insurance
• NYC Health page to find a low-cost dental provider within the five boroughs
• The American Dental Association website, specifically their health literacy page
• Mouth Healthy, a website created by the American Dental Association with the consumer in mind, including information on choosing and visiting dentists, a symptom checker, and the effects of different life stages on teeth
• The Oral Health page on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website
• Oral health information on the Families USA website

If you are curious about exploring dental history, there are even dental museums including the National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Virtual Dental Museum, where you can learn about Saint Apollonia, the saint of dentistry.

Still want to learn more about dental health, history, chemistry, politics, and other surrounding issues? There are many books available for children to teach them about dental care and the importance of brushing their teeth, some for young adults, and study guides for those who wish to become dentists.

Here are some books and ebooks with the general adult in mind:

Basic Guide to Dental Procedures (e-book) by Carole Hollins

Provides information about dental procedures, and how and why they are carried out. Has before-and-after color photographs of different procedures. Although it was written with the dental office team in mind, it contains helpful information for the layperson.






 

A Consumer's Guide to Dentistry by Gordon J. Christensen

Created with the dental patient in mind. Contains information about dental health problems and treatment options, and advice on how to keep your mouth healthy. Good for reading at the dentist office.






Cure Tooth Decay: Heal & Prevent Cavities With Nutrition by Ramiel Nagiel

Provides information on alternative ways to heal cavities and tooth decay besides drilling, filling, and other invasive dental solutions. Proposes the idea of changing dietary habits to re-mineralize dentin and tooth cavities, eliminate tooth sensitivity, cure tooth infections and only use dental treatments when medically necessary.

Evolution's Bite: A Story of Teeth, Diet, and Human Origins by Peter S. Ungar

Paleoanthropologist Peter Ungar describes teeth as "living fossils" that can be compared to those of our ancestors throughout the world. He examines the shape and chemical composition of teeth, and touches upon the differences regarding their wear and tear throughout history and the effects of different diets. Ungar also describes how environmental changes in the past, along with people going from foragers to farmers, has affected the development of teeth. (Also, check out Ungar's TEDed Talk video on the subject.

Holistic Dental Care : The Complete Guide To Healthy Teeth and Gums by Nadine Artemis (e-book also available)

A complete guide to do-it-yourself, natural oral care that focuses on preventative care based on a "whole body approach". Dental health expert Nadine Artemis elucidates on the ecology of the mouth and describes the inner workings of teeth, bacteria, and decay. She talks about the chemicals used in toothpastes, mouthwashes, and fillings, provides information on how to prevent decay, acidic saliva, plaque build-up, gum bleeding, and inflammation. Common reasons for illnesses are also provided. Contains color photos and illustrations. 

The Mouth-Body Connection : A 28-Day Program to Create a Healthy Mouth, Reduce Inflammation, and Prevent Disease Throughout the Body by Gerald P. Curatola (e-book also available)

Dr. Gerry Curatola believes the health of the mouth reflects the state of the health of the rest of the body. He relates "chronic low-grade oral disease" as a source of inflammation throughout the body, which could lead to other health conditions including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and premature birth. He proposes a diet program along with exercise, stress reduction, and supplements.
  

The Smile Stealers: The Fine + Foul Art of Dentistry by Richard Barnett

Medical historian Richard Barnett describes the development of dentistry throughout the world, from the Bronze Age to the present, and discusses the societal attitudes towards dentistry at different points in history. His book covers everything from from early, painful procedures to the norms of cosmetic dentistry and fluoridated water of today. Contains color photos and illustrations displaying the gorgeous and the gruesome, from the world’s first dentures to eighteenth century "smile revolution" portraits. Barnett is the cofounder of the Morbid Anatomy Museum in Brooklyn

Teeth : A Very Short Introduction by Peter S. Ungar  and Jay W. Friedman

All things teeth-related are covered, including how teeth are made, how they work, and how they act as records of a person’s dietary, nutritional, and health history.

Teeth : The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and The Struggle For Oral Health in America by Mary Otto

Healthcare journalist Mary Otto provides a gripping and poignant account of the inequality of access to dental services in America, and the effects this has on the great many that don’t have it—namely those who earn too much to be on Medicare or Medicaid, but can't afford health insurance, or those who have Medicare or Medicaid but can't find providers that will take them. (This includes the working poor, children, the elderly, and people of color.)

Otto describes the silent epidemic of oral disease in America and the excruciating pain that many are forced to endure as a normal part of their daily lives. She describes the rise in intricate cosmetic dentistry, including gum sculpting, among the elite, goes into the development of the historical separation of dentistry from medicine, and talks about other social and political barriers to care.

To Rise Again At A Decent Hour: A Novel by Joshua Ferris (ebook and e-audiobook also available)

In this novel about a dentist, main character Paul O’Rourke describes the way he feels about his profession and the state of his clients' teeth, watching Red Sox games in his spare time and trying to figure out life while dealing with someone stealing his identity. This novel was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and was a National Book Award Finalist.

Outpatients : The Astonishing New World of Medical Tourism by Sasha Issenberg

Because of the exorbitant costs of healthcare, many are going abroad for medical care, called "medical tourism". This book documents the rise of medical tourism to India, Korea, Brazil, and Costa Rica. Dental tourism is a part of this, and Hungary seems to be its hotspot. Issenburg makes a journey to Eastern Europe to explore this.

Appreciate Your Dentists & Dental Assistants

If you are lucky enough to have access to regular dental care, let’s appreciate the dental professionals that enable us to eat, sleep, and work with minimal (or zero) pain or discomfort. Dentist’s Day is March 6 of each year, and dental assistants have their own Dental Assistants Recognition Week in March as well. If you have children in your life, you can do some of the “Fun Activity Sheets for Kids” on the website during National Children's Dental Health Month in February.