Although I don't post a lot, I think about it often.
Especially in the car on the way to work. I write great articles! But by the time I get there, the moment is lost, and I never actually write them down...
Also when I get to work I usually get stuck into working, and I don't get sidetracked since I started taking the long acting medication. I take it before I walk out the door in the morning, and it kicks in just before I get to work, and I am good for the rest of the work day. Even after it has worn off, if I am absorbed in my task at 430 when technically the medication is starting to no longer have an effect, I can roll on with the concentration for another couple hours because I am already in 'the zone'.
Anyway, that's not what this is about. Preamble over.
Today I am talking about.... TEETH!!
And potential side-effects of medication taking.
You've maybe heard of meth-mouth? If not before maybe you looked it up after watching Orange is the New Black, as explanation as to why Pensatucky's teeth are so bad. In actual fact, taking meth does not effect teeth directly, but rather the drug takers lifestyle of not brushing teeth is more the problem. Although drugs like meth and speed can also cause *teeth grinding and jaw clenching, which would also have an effect.
There have been links to ADD and teeth problems and it's a two-fold cause:
* People with ADD suffer from anxiety, and often involuntarily grind and clench their teeth[1].
* ADD medications can cause jaw clenching and teeth grinding as a side effect. [I have no official source for this without searching more, but people on ADD/ADHD forums report this frequently. And also I'm telling you it's totally a thing.]
My point?
My tooth exploded yesterday! Well ok, the side came off. I have perfect teeth. I don't eat a lot of sugar, and I have only ever had one filling. Yesterday I was enjoying my steak dinner when suddenly I was crunching on a bone bit, then I realised when my mouth felt funny, I was crunching on my own tooth! It's pretty scary, having part of your tooth fall out for no reason.
I went to the dentist today and he filled the hole with the white stuff, it was a pretty fast and cheap procedure, no injections or anything.
Dentist didn't really have any explanation for why this could have happened except for that's where my bite puts the pressure. I know though. I clench my teeth a lot. Especially when I have finished work, but my medication hasn't worm off yet, like driving home from work. Some days I grind the crap out of them.
I really like my perfect teeth and it scares me that something might compromise them. But at the same time I can't do my job without the medication, I'd need to find a new career. Not to mention living my life, forgetting work, paying bills, washing clothes, etc. So for now, I'm hoping this is an isolated incident, and I'm going to try hard not to clench my teeth in the future, because it turns out eventually they crack!
It's always just when you think you are getting ahead these things happen eh? Last week I had $1500 in my savings account, this week I paid my rego, got my electricity bill, broke a tooth, then broke my phone (another story!) and plummeted to a $0 bank balance in less than 24 hours!
Tooth and I are doing well, though. Looking forward to chomping another steak in the near future.
1. http://www.everydayhealth.com/adhd/tooth-grinding-poor-memory-and-more-surprising-facts-about-adhd.aspx
* The teeth grinding at night thing is called Bruxism. Experts believe it's caused by a slow-moving brainwave, but I feel like it's probably the stress of feeling like you are letting people down all the time... (no scientific source, just my opinion!)
