Back from the dentist (like, twelve hours ago). Got an abscess above one of my teeth ("upper left three") which needs a root canal (because the previous filling didn't take enough out?).

I asked why I'm getting new infections after taking two courses of anti biotics in the last month(ish), got some kind of garbled response that I'm parsing as a shrug. I'm a little annoyed, this all started about a year also when I went in with an infection, send came out with a bunch of fillings and a mild sense of shame.

For something like thirty years (from early teens to mid-forties) I didn't brush my teeth, and I had approximately zero problems during that time (maybe an infection or two over the years, but no fillings or other work). However, a couple of years back I started drinking cola for the caffeine, and eating boiled sweets for the stim/sugar, and that combination seems to have seriously damaged my teeth.

Last autumn, dentist said I had to start brushing regularly or they wouldn't do any work (and I was only in for toothache). They stuck in a big of fillings in January, a few more over summer, and I've got more work scheduled in a couple of weeks.

And I'm just passed off, yeah? My teeth were fine for actual decades without any real maintenance, and now I've got fillings (which react very badly if i touch them with a metal teaspoon), and regular tooth infections,b and I'm still brushing my teeth twice a day.

I know it's paranoid/stupid/wrong, but I can't help seeing the conflict of interest between people who are paid when my teeth just, and people who recommend teeth maintaince plans.