why isn't improved dental care a priority for presidential candidates?

[grasswire]

Go look at this page of desperate stories from people who can't afford dental care and tell me why in the hell there isn't a drumbeat of insistence for universal access to dental care?

It isn't cosmetic. Sometime's it's a matter of life itself. And there surely is much misery to those afflicted with caries and infections.

..........

Submitted by Fel in Dallas, TX at 2010-05-12 13:01:16
OMGosh, I thought I was going to die. ( Found the Solution) I had a tooth ache from u kno were last week. I thought all my teeth on one side was aching thats how bad I hurt. I didnt think i was going to make it, I wanted to do some crazy stuff i felt so bad. I could Not think right. I cried like a baby my mouth hurt so bad. No Money, No Insurance. I tried the ADVIL until it didnt work anymore, Packed tooth with DenTek once I completely cleaned the tooth that keeps the junk out but dont heal pain, I tried BAKING SODA until it didnt work any more, WATER until it didnt work anymore, COLGATE ORABASE MAXIMUM PAIN RELIEF until it didnt work anymore, CLOVE OIL which helped for a few minutes but made my mouth raw. The whole time crying like a baby.

I started reading this when I ran across an insert and I dont remember who but they saved my soul. They said I needed Amoxicillin 500mg and I remembered I had some from a cold years ago for infection and I ran across some Etoloac 400mg from an accident many years back for pain (I hate Taking Meds) and at the mercy i took my chances and it worked and it made since, of course Im no doctor. My tooth/ gum was infected and was aggravating the nerves like a mutha F*****.

You will need some pain killers to make you rest and relax until those nerves calm down. a week later I still feel the throbbing but no pain its like the medicine is masking it until all the infection is gone, I need some more Amoxicillin which i order rush online from a pet store another name is (FIX MOX) which is the same I understand. I tried calling around and many stores was forced to stop carrying them without prescriptions. So keep this on the Low so when people are in agony they can find a non expensive solution.

Just remember to relax. Try to get antibiotics to kill infection before you exhaust the benefits of your pain killer because the nerves will become immune to the pain medicine and you are then left to run about the streets naked with no shame. I swore up and down that I was going to the doctor when I got better but I havent thought of it, its one of my goals for the future as things financially get better. Hope This Helps. Dont Sell Your Soul as You are Going Through This, Stay Strong. Remember this helped me and may not help everyone. Good Luck!!!! Fel from Dallas, TX

rating: 6 (13 votes)

Submitted by Amber at 2010-08-16 20:58:14
My whole left side of my mouth felt like it was broken from a toothache I had. Like most, I found this site in the middle of the night desperately searching for a remedy just to get to sleep. After trying tea bags, salt water, and vanilla and not getting any relief, I tried putting icy hot outside on my cheek where it hurt. This got me to sleep for about an hour, which I was VERY grateful for. The next day I went to Walgreens and got the Red Cross toothache relief and the toothache gum. The red cross soothed it for about a minute, but the gum was a gift from God. Thank you for the help.

I saw that most of the people posting in this were people without dental coverage. I was at my wits end with the toothache as it kept coming back. I don't have dental either, but I called 800 dentist and found a dentist willing to take payments. Definitely worth it.
rating: 6 (9 votes)

Submitted by -C. at 2010-01-05 03:51:12
Brushed my teeth, flossed, rinsed with hydrogen peroxide, rinsed with water, rinsed with mouthwash, said a prayer, and took three aspirin.

It dosen't hurt now. I can sleep.

I have no insurance and have had severe tooth pain for six months now. I feel for everyone in real pain on this web site - wish you the best in solving the pain problem.
rating: 6 (4 votes)

Submitted at 2010-08-15 20:31:14
Tooth pain seems to come only on the weekends! Had severe pain starting on Sat.; by Sun. afternoon desperately searching for relief. Read about using tea bag on the abcess. Never heard of this but sounded harmless. Was amazed that within an hr. of doing this, the abcess had 'burst', drained and I was pain free! Maybe just a coincidence but I'm happy to be pain free. Used 'green' tea bag. My sympathy to all with mouth/tooth pain.
rating: 6 (11 votes)

Submitted by Kim at 2010-05-23 00:31:45
I had two teeth pulled 12 days ago and now i have two more hurting! It has drove me crazy with the pain! Pain killers only work for so long! Here is what i did and it really works! I brushed my teeth with Sensodyne and with a mint mouthwash i rinsed for as long as i could stand it! I then applied denture adhesive to the area where the nerve was showing! OMg it really worked for me! Let me know if it helps anyone!!
rating: 6 (7 votes)

Submitted by Patricia at 2004-10-21 00:38:25
The best thing I have found to use for tooth ache pain is Hurricaine gel. It is a topical anestetic, just like the dentist use just before giving you a novocain shot. Best of all you do not have to use a lot of the gel to kill the pain and it lasts for hours. This can be purchased at any pharmacy without a RX. Hurricaine Gel comes in different flavors, however I have found that the original without flavor is better and does not taste bad at all. The anesthesia is accomplished within 15-30 seconds. Now that is fast!! Hurricaine Gel can also be used for Cold Sores, cuts in gums due to braces, loose teeth, etc.
rating: 6 (199 votes)

Submitted by Josh Passmore at 2009-01-28 13:53:13
Today I am without toothache pain. I went to the Walgreens to get some Red Cross that others have talked about but they were sold out. So I ended up getting Ambesol xtra strength, Sensodyne toothpaste and some Dent's Toothache gum. I used the Ambesol in the parking lot, it worked for about 3 minutes, waste of money. Got home took 2 200mg ibuprofen, then brushed my teeth with Sensodyne and put on some of the Toothache Gum on my affected tooth and hoped for the best before I went to bed. After about 20 minutes or so after the ibuprofen and my nerves were settled down I slept all night long without pain. Woke up without pain. Hopefully this will last long enough for me to get an appointment to see a dentist.
rating: 6 (3 votes)

Submitted by Nicole at 2010-03-22 01:04:36
I have been having bad teeth since I had my second child. Not taking enough calcuim and lack of care put my teeth in pretty bad shape. I have over 4 bad teeth and have no coverage for a dentist. I save enough money to see one so hopefully I get some tooth love. Some of the tricks on this webpage has help out alot not just with the treatments. Yet knowing I am not alone with this(that by itself ease some of the the pain I feel).Yet I do have a trick up my sleeve. Now this help for a good hour before you have to do it again. First you swish your mouth with mouthwash. Do it till it burns or you can't stand it no more.This will make sure that your mouth is clean. Then you get a piece of foil and a crush asprain and a little bit of salt. Then mix the crush asprain with the salt and dab of water to get a paste. Then you put the paste on the foil then on the tooth that hurt. It start to work in one minute and last for an hour aleast it did for me. I also add a dab mucle rub on the side of my face that in pain. Then I cover my face with a scarve to get area very warm. The pain stop and I start to feel better. I hope this help and one more thing I know this is hard thing to do but try to RELAX if you don't it just makes the pain worse. Mind over matter is a very powerful thing. If you try everthing on this page and still in pain. Go for a walk read a very good book , Watch a good movie. Do anything and everthing to forget about the pain. Cause as long you think about it the more it will hurt....SAD BUT TRUE!!!!.....And about sleep time don't force it. It will come time your body will crave sleep more then worry about pain you will pass out(belive me I went two days with out sleep because of my tooth. I finally pass out and went to sleep for six hours...lucky for me I am a stay at home mom and my husband was on vaction.) There is a sad but posite side to this you end up for a high tolarece for pain :)
rating: 6 (24 votes)

Submitted by Josh daniels at 2010-07-25 03:33:34
Ok I'm not a dentist but I'm a curious chemist I can give you a simple solution that'll get rid of dry socket pain that I came up with and use for toothaches and dry sockets orlgel liquid mixed with clove oil and a drop of hot water mix it and apply it is sinthetic novacane 1-2 drops and the pain is gone instintly for up to 5 hours pending on person everyone is different any medical questions email me [e-mail] my name is josh that's mine and my girls account if this helps let me know I know it will I promise
rating: 6 (9 votes)

Submitted by b0b0 at 2006-06-21 16:25:12
This sounds crazy but nothing else was working for me anymore - peanut butter! I think it must have something to do with the oils in it. I put a dab on the gum by the tooth and almost right away the pressure and pain stopped.
rating: 6 (324 votes)

Submitted by Megan at 2010-07-13 17:03:43
I've had toothache for the past few days, and its been ridiculously painful tonight, I've just dabbed some vodka on the gum and top of the tooth where it needs a filling and it immediately numbed. I'm so pleased as I've tried everything! Hope this helps! :)
rating: 6 (14 votes)

Submitted by Shana at 2005-03-17 22:41:25
To get rid of a tooth ache almost instantly, mix two table spoons of baking soda in a glass of water.leave in your mouth for a couple seconds then spit out.Do this until all the mixture is gone.
rating: 6 (520 votes)

Submitted by Azia at 2007-02-14 15:46:39
Oregano. I woke up this morning with the worst ache from a back tooth cavity ever!! I also tried to get some sleep but couldnt, since it hurt so bad. So, I tried placing some Oregano flakes on my tooth like I did last year, and I feel NOTHING right now. Last time I tried it, I was able to eat and drink for FIVE DAYS with NO PAIN!! I also mixed warm water, salt and Oregano in a cup and swished that, It helps for about the same length of time as well. Hope this helps. Believe me, if no one knows how worse that cavity pain is, I do. *smile*
rating: 6 (235 votes)

Submitted by Rowland at 2009-01-10 18:09:05
Try a Black Tea Bag... I used English Breakfast. Directions: Put hot water soaked tea bag directly on and around tooth and gums. Brief story... my wife's tooth was KILLING her... tried to go to a minute clinic on a Saturday for pain killers... CLOSED! Remembered hearing about the tea bag remedy... got home, grabbed a tea bag, soaked it briefly in heated water and gave it to her. In 'SECONDS' she said 'what's happening? It's gone!' I had heard that Tannin in the tea bag soothes tooth aches. She said it DEFINITLY minimized the pain to almost gone. At least it's temp. relief! Hope it works. Now I have a happy wife! At least temporarily. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!! :)
rating: 6 (5 votes)

Submitted by Gale at 2010-11-08 21:59:59
Dry tea bag. I totally swear by this. Tonight I was in pain every 5 minutes from a bad tooth ache. Too early to take more meds. The only thing that was working was gargling with mouthwash every 5 min. But the pain kept coming back. Then I remembered I read the home remedies for tooth ache mentioned tea bags. One said use a dry tea bag. I had previously tried a warm wet one. The dry one worked much better. A minute after I had placed it in my mouth and wrapped it around the tooth and gums that was hurting, the pain subsided. I kept it in for 15 minutes with NO PAIN. After I removed it, I had no pain either and it's going on a half hour. One thing I noticed, when I kept spitting out the wet tea, was a couple of tiny drops of blood. I believe the tea bag pulled that out. I was thinking why do tea bags work? It must draw out the infection I thought. I looked it up and sure enough, I found an article that said it does just that. You can use it on cold sores as well and other minor injuries. It's been four hours since I last took meds (advil and tylenol) and I am in no pain. This is a miracle!
rating: 6 (13 votes)

Submitted at 2007-08-14 09:22:17
I was in such agony last night from my back wisdom tooth, I couldn't sit still! I came online to look up ANYTHING to help me. I saw a couple of entries for Vanilla Extract, so thought what the hell! I ran to cupboard, scrambled to find it and I first poured a capful and swished it around my back tooth. Then I swabbed it with the extract to make sure it was ON tooth. All I can say is WOW. It cut my pain down about 80%! I took 3 ibuprofen too, and I was finally able to go to sleep and feel like I was in control again.
Thank you to those who write these remedies down. This was a life saver for me.
rating: 6 (235 votes)

Submitted by tbay82 at 2010-07-19 02:36:03
I have been up for almost 2days in the worse pain you could ever imagine! and i dont have the money to see the dentist for a week! i have been browsing everyones remedies on tooth pain wisdom teeth pain etc... i had been taking pain pills given to my from the ER and Tylenol and penicillin vk,NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK EVEN THE PAIN PILLS HAD STOPPED WORKING ALL THE WAY!! if you have ever watched sanford and son! and seen the things he mixes together when he isnt feeling well lol! makes you wonder maybe theres somethin in my kitchen that could ease the pain!!! SO HERE IT IS...I KNOW IT SOUNDS BAD BUT IF YOUR AS IN MUCH PAIN AS I HAVE BEEN YOU WILL GIVE IT A TRY AND YOU WILL BE SHOCKED! I CREATED THIS MYSELF BY SIMPLY TAKING THINGS FROM OTHERS THAT THEY USED TO TAKE THERE PAIN AWAY!! YOU WILL NEED 2 COFFEE FILTERS AND SOMETHING TO TIE THE BAG UP WITH SO THAT ALL THE CONTENTS IN THE BAG WILL BE IN A BALL THAT YOU WILL SLIDE INTO YOUR MOUTH WHERE YOUR PAIN IS! YOU WILL NEED A TEASPOON OF SALT,A TEASPOON OF NUTMEG, GREEN TEA=CUT IT OUT OF THE BAG AND PLACE A TEASPOON INTO THE FILTER,MINCED GARLIC! 4SHAKES OF BLACK PEPPER!! MUSH IT ALL TOGETHER THE SMELL IS HORRIBLE I KNOW!! AFTER YOU HAVE MIXED ITTIE THE BAG UP TO WHERE THE COFFEE FILTER HAS A BALL AT THE END WITH ALL THE THINGS IN IT!!(DO NOT SWALLOW) LET THIS SIT IN YOUR MOUTH FOR 10 MIN! OR LONGER IF YOU'D LIKE!! AND WAHLAH!! TAKE IT OUT RINSE MOUTH OUT JUST A LITTLE!! AND I PROMISE YOU THE PAIN IS GONE!!!(I PROMISE) THIS HAS WORKED FOR ME! MY TEARS ARE GONE AND IM AT MY COMPUTER SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU!! AND YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS ACTUALLY WORKS!! I THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!! AND GOD BLESS YOU!
rating: 6 (17 votes)

Submitted by Shari at 2010-11-04 05:05:33
If you are missing a filling or have a cracked tooth the pain is the WORST. Here's my remedy that works great (until you get to the dentist). Go to a Hallmark store, they sell packages of these little soft wax 'dots' (they are used to secure taper candles in a candle holder). Dry the sore tooth as much as possible. Warm up a little chunk of a dot in your hand (it's already nice and pliable) and gently (duh) press it into that area. It stops air from reaching the nerve. No air-no pain! Do not try this with regular candle wax when in desperation mode! You'll just make the pain worse (I know from experience). But really, these candle dots are a true miracle! I've shared a few with friends in pain and I've became their hero. Replace as needed. Good luck!
rating: 6 (4 votes)
..............

What kind of a country is this?? People using wads of Hallmark candle wax, all manner of potions and "fixes" to temper extreme pain? At least third-world countries have witch doctors and voodoo to distract people from pain. Where is the will to help the working poor with dental care? Is there no lobby for this?

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/static/tooth-ache-pain.html

[woo me with science]

1. Because they already have perfect teeth.

and the means to fix them if something goes wrong.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. It's pathetic. There are so many here at DU with horror stories...

So many that I searched for information to try to find help, and posted this same information here at DU a couple of weeks ago. It's easier to copy from my blog post in its entirety than to find that thread.

In case anyone reading is in need, here is some information which may help:


Free Dental and Vision Clinics (hearing resources, too)!!!
November 16, 2010

I’ve been envisioning a free clinic tour focused on dental, vision and hearing needs. We’ve seen firsthand how many in our own community have gone without dental care, with often devastating results for one’s physical and emotional health.

Well, look what I just found via The Google:

DENTISTRY FROM THE HEART

Dentistry From The Heart (DFTH) is a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing free dental care to those who need it. Every year, individual dentists and practices across the country donate their time and resources to host their own DFTH events. In support our of DFTH partners, the organization serves to recruit, unify, and promote events on a national level.

http://dentistryfromtheheart.org /

UNITE FOR SIGHT

Free clinics provide free and low-cost health services to the medically underserved and uninsured. Unite For Sight compiles information about free clinics located throughout the United States. Included are the locations of free clinics in addition to phone numbers and a list of free services provided. This list is provided as a resource only, and the free clinics listed have no affiliation or relationship with Unite For Sight.

http://www.uniteforsight.org/freeclinics.php

HEARING AIDS AND OTHER ASSISTIVE DEVICES; WHERE TO GET ASSISTANCE

http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/Clerc_Center/Informati…



http://wishadoo.com/wp-free-dental-and-vision-clinics-hearing-resources-too

[doc03]

3. We lost the House because of the HCR bill, now

do you really want to pursue dental care?

[muffin1]

35. We lost the House for myriad reasons.

There is not enough time in my day to go into how President Obama and the Dems screwed up HCR. But that certainly doesn't mean we don't need REAL reform. It is nothing short of tragedy that forty thousand people die every year because they don't have access to health care.

Yes, I WOULD like our President to pursue a dental program that would help the millions suffering from agonizing pain and tooth loss simply because they are poor.

[HockeyMom]

4. Dental discount plans better than dental insurance

I opted out of mine (expensive) to go with a discount plan. What would have cost $6,500 will cost $2,500 and NOBODY saying, "we don't approve it".

[LiberalArkie]

5. What kind of dental discount Plan. I have good dental at work and it pays so little.

[Vinca]

6. What a horrible post. It's inhumane, pure and simple, for people to suffer with this kind of pain.

Once you've had a real toothache and had to wait a day or 2 to get to a dentist, you appreciate what a dire situation this is. In addition to the horror, dental infection can migrate to other parts of the body. You could end up with endocarditis or worse. It also contributes to the chronic inflammation that causes plaque build up in arteries. Sometimes it seems average people are the very last priority in this country.

[pmorlan1]

7. Great post!

I agree totally!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. People can DIE from a tooth infection.

If it gets in their blood stream they can die from blood poisoning which is a massive infection.

I remember reading here some months ago about a poor black kid who had an abscessed tooth. He didn't have $75 to get it pulled. However, he got blood poisoning, went into a coma, died and the county had to pay something like $200,000 for his care before he died.

:shrug: :banghead:

[Stargazer99]

11. It is the RW's way of solving the problem of poor citizens

If they can't afford it, then die. Then the monied won't have to feel bad, because you will be told to go to the low-income dental service (if it is even available). They still charge and don't do the work to save a tooth in bad condition. When you can barely pay the rent and food and there is no money left for the luxury of dental care, then what do you do? Die quietly so the dental profession has a nice income and the RW can feign lack of being awareness? That is the present system and it is not working well for anyone but the people above low-income.

I've not seen a dentist in the food bank line and certainly equipment and materials should be coming out of a budget with the city, county or country.
No high income dentist wants to treat the poor and low-income because the problems are many and extreme due to this. Perhaps there should be a draft of dentist if the dental organizations cannot solve this problem.

the Army rejects 20% of its enrollees due to bad dental health and still the same stupid "solutions" prevail. When I look at developed Europe I get damn sick of this country.

[muffin1]

34. My best friend nearly died from a tooth infection.

He ended up having major surgery - was hospitalized for about ten days, and it took over two weeks of home recuperation for him to be ambulatory. All because he couldn't afford to have the tooth fixed. And just TRY to find a dentist who takes payments these days.


This country is seriously fucked.

[provis99]

9. because rednecks are scared of good teeth?

[arcane1]

10. Or any other candidates, for that matter

*kick*

[kas125]

12. I don't have to read it because I'm one of those people.

I had to quit my job to take care of my elderly and sick father and have no insurance and very little income of any kind. I fully expect that it will be my teeth that are the cause of my death and every day that I wake up, I consider myself lucky to have survived one more day.

[BlueJazz]

14. It's a kind and noble thing you do. I wish there were ways to help you.

[kas125]

21. Thank you. It's nice to hear kind words. I'd rather they

came from my siblings who don't help and have no clue how difficult it can be sometimes, but it's still nice to know that there are people in this world who can appreciate my situation.

[TorchTheWitch]

28. you and me both

[kas125]

30. Big hugs from me to you. It's awful to have to live this way.

Two nights ago another piece of my front tooth just fell off as I was preparing Thanksgiving dinner for my relatives who have no idea what this is like. I've reached the point where I'm embarrassed to go out in public because, just like I've heard here, people think that having bad teeth is one's own fault and makes us lesser people.

[Mimosa]

38. Are you anywhere near any Dental Schools at all, Kas?

Sometimes Dental Schools will accept patients whocan't afford to pay. It's worth a try.

[grasswire]

43. the dental school in my city only gives a 1/3 discount

...and you have to pay at time of service. They ended their low-cost services about ten years ago. This is attached to a huge medical school that receives a lot of tax money.

[kas125]

45. The only one is two hundred miles away and they still

charge more than I can afford. But on that list of free dental clinics, there is a tentative one set for a town near me. I'm going to call on Monday and inquire about that. There are also free dental services available near Indianapolis, but from what I can tell, they all say you have to be a resident of whatever county it is down there and I don't live there. This thread has made me more determined than ever to find some way to get this taken care of so I'm going to keep looking for a way.

[grasswire]

13. plus the fact that peeps are mixing painkillers, using FISH meds without rx...

...and more potentially dangerous remedies to try to get some relief.

Apparently pet stores sell various antibiotics meant for fish. Hurting people are passing the word that they can buy FISH MOX (amoxicillin) and other meds without a prescription, and dose themselves for their extreme pain.

They mix various oral painkillers and topical applications, use alcohol in various forms.

Is there a shortage of dentists? What's going on?

[TheKentuckian]

15. The shortage is in money. Even when I had decent dental, a root canal with no crown

used up my full annual benefit or close (maybe had enough for another office visit).

[TheKentuckian]

16. Class warfare. Bad teeth usually mean joining the underclass.

In this environment, you can give it up if the smile portion of the grill is jacked up. Makes "undesirables" stand out for easy rejection.

[marlakay]

17. Number one problem is it shouldn't be separated from medical

since it is a medical problem...my husband is having to have two teeth pulled and he keeps his teeth perfect but because he had radiation near his jaw bone it affected his teeth. This was done 12 yrs ago so over time got worse even though he flosses daily and such...so we are retired no dental care, lucky medical comes with our retirement. But oral surgeon said won't pull teeth from radiated bone unless husband has 2 full weeks of hyperbaric chamber first then a week after...care to think how expensive that is??...oh and add to that we live 3 hrs away in the mountains and have to pay for all the gas of going to seattle and home on the weekends, have to pay for the hotels and parking and eating out for a month almost...

but the shock came when Blue Cross okay'd to pay for the hyperbaric part, I guess because if he lost his jaw if teeth didn't get pulled they would have to pay for expensive operation...its all about $$$$.

but the rest the oral surgeon and all is all us...

[Lugnut]

23. Here's what I'd like to know.

Who decided that your mouth isn't a part of your head in terms of medical care and why did they do it? Bad teeth can affect one's overall health and often does. For some people it's deadly.

[TorchTheWitch]

29. money

dental care is hugely expensive for minor things compared to minor things for overall health and normally require more office vistis for the average person than overall health what with cavities, braces, root canals, gum disease, tooth pullings, caps, dentures, etc. More money is spent over the average person's life for dental care than overall health care until they get into old age. While the average person over their lifetime will overall be generally healthy enough to not require much of anything for overall health until older age, it is a very rare person that goes through to older age without having pretty significant expensive dental treatments, and once they DO get into older age it's a virtual certainty. Because of this, INSURANCE companies demanded that dental be split off from medical.

[grasswire]

51. yeah, I assumed this was a "for-profit" decision somewhere back in time.

The root of all evil.

[egoclothes]

40. In the early 1900's the medical men gave teeth away to

dentists. Also the eyes, ears and later the feet. (feet still get included in most plans but not always}. The docs were 'professionalizing' and gave up parts of the body. Has been like that ever since.

[egoclothes]

41. look at medical dental history at the turn of the 20th century. The

medical men did not care to have the teeth so they no longer were included as a part of the body. same with the eyes, ears and feet.

[lib_wit_it]

32. Exactly! It is just one category of medical care that should never have been excluded.

[golfguru]

18. The best thing about my childhood was that meds were available

without requiring prescriptions. My parents knew all the routine
pain killer & anti-biotics so no doctor was needed. 95% of illnesses
were routine such as flu, ear & throat infections, fevers etc.
and the other 5% needed doctor's help.

When you have a abscessed tooth, first thing you need is penicillin
or equivalent to kill the bacteria in the nerve area. Wal-Mart sells
it for less than $10 but you can't get it unless a dentist signs a
prescription. What a racket! Same thing for a routine pain killer
such as codeine.

Here in USA my daughter came down last month with an ear infection
and it cost $140 for doctor visit and $10 for generic Amoxicillin
at Wal-Mart. I already knew what she needed but can't get it without
a doctor's blessings.

Why I do not have the "freedom" to get medications without prescriptions?
I am completely willing to take the responsibility and am covered by very
good health insurance.

[grasswire]

20. well apparently the antibiotics are available at pet stores

...with no rx.

I certainly would/will take advantage of that news. I am savvy enough to know what I need, and -- like you -- I resent being held hostage by a medical-governmental association.

Eliminate the middleman.

[golfguru]

24. This is what the rotten HCR bill missed

There are no cost reductions for us consumers of healthcare.
But there are millions of guaranteed more customers for the corporations.
And there are zero restrictions on how high they can raise the premiums.

Thanks for that heads up on meds in pet stores. I will certainly check it out.

[kas125]

27. It's good to know that they are available at the pet store, so

thank you! Twice when I had abcessed teeth, I took antibiotics that were from the vet - once for my dog who had them because he was scheduled for surgery but had heart problems and had to be put to sleep before he could take them all. A year later, I was glad I'd saved them. The other was from my dad's dog who also died before she used hers up. On Halloween I had another abcess and I needed antibiotics but had no way to obtain them and just took ibuprofen and hoped the swelling and pain would go away. After a week, it finally did. Next time, I will hit up Petsmart or the internet to buy whatever animal antibiotics I can find.

[TorchTheWitch]

31. Fish Flex for fish tanks is exactly the same as Cephalexin 250mg

an antibiotic particularly good for all sorts of bacterial infections particularly for the skin. My dog is taking Cephalexin now, and the vet said that if he needed another round of it that I could get the Fish Flex a little cheaper as it is only a brand name for Cephalexin and marketed for using in fish tanks but is the exact same thing.

Fish Flex Forte is Cephalexin 500mg.

[grasswire]

44. thank you for that info

My doctor wrote a rx last week for cephalexin 500 mg for an ulcer on my foot (I am a diabetic) but I gave the pills to a family member who has an abcessed tooth and no way to take care of it until after payday next week. Now I can replace that medication. This is life in America, people.

[Hello_Kitty]

39. Thank you! Lots of things should be available OTC that aren't.

Birth control pills, for one. But no, women have to get a permission slip to have sex uh I mean get examined by a doctor before they can get access to one of the most harmless medications known.

[Milo_Bloom]

19. Because people mistakenly believe it is ALWAYS from neglect.

They think if you have a major tooth problem it is because YOU didn't brush and floss.

[golfguru]

25. 90% neglect, 10% inherited poor teeth

JMHO.

[kas125]

26. Not always. And for you to think it is, is absolutely

abhorrent. Both my parents had dentures before I was even born which was when they were 25 and 22 so I inherited bad teeth. Then, I had stomach problems all my life, which finally resulted in a partial gastrectomy, which means a lifetime of vomiting many times every day. My teeth, or what's left of them, are horrible and have been my entire life and it IS NOT my fault. That I don't have the money to get them fixed is because I had to stop working to care for an elderly parent who is deaf, has congestive heart failure and was suicidal after my mom died. How dare you say such a thing?!? You have no clue what you're talking about!

[muffin1]

36. +1,000,000

I literally feel your pain. :hug:

[golfguru]

46. Both my parents had dentures in their 30's!

I am in my mid 60's and have 31 of my original teeth. My parents never
heard of a tooth floss. They never had teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist.
At best they brushed once a day. I never saw my father without dentures, so
he may have lost his teeth in his 20's. He loved anything sweet.

I floss every time after any solid food consumption. I use those mini brushes
my dentist hands out, not the thread floss. I brush with any cheap
toothpaste on sale, twice a day, after breakfast & before bedtime. My dental
hygienist remarks every time how beautiful are my teeth. It is purely due to
my efforts in spite of any hereditary issues.

[kas125]

49. And how is your stomach? Ever had ulcers? Ever suffered

with post-gastrectomy syndromes? Ever thew up ten or twelve times a day, every day, for years and years with no doctor able to figure out why? I'm glad you have beautiful teeth, but I still think you're a judgmental ass.

[golfguru]

50. Oh yes, I have spent lots of money on Tagamet & pepcid & Prilosec

Stomach problems has been one of my very few health issues.
I was unaware that drinking coffee was the culprit since there
never was any pain for 30-45 minutes after consumption. Coffee
has something in it which kicks up my own acid production in stomach.
I ended up in hospital twice with severe stomach pain.

Eventually I figured out it was not beer, not tea, not coke or pepsi,
but it was strictly coffee that was causing my problems. After quitting
coffee my stomach problems have disappeared. Tagamet was like wonder
medicine to me since it actually cuts down acid production and thereby
helps heal ulcers.

Note that these medications were not available OTC during my problem
years, so it cost me plenty money for doctor visits.

I am sorry you had to suffer through bouts of throwing up. The stomach
acid will certainly degrade your tooth enamel. However it should not
affect the gums. And bad gums is the main reason people lose teeth.

[kas125]

53. deleted duplicate post...

[kas125]

54. If you really had ulcers, you better get your stomach checked.

I spent years taking Tagamet (and yes, it was not OTC then and I know how expensive it was) when mine hurt and I thought they'd gone away, too. My stomach only hurt if I ate donuts or watermelon so I didn't eat them. I'm not and never have been a coffee drinker. Then I started throwing up more often, would take a pill and felt better, so I didn't worry about it because I knew it was ulcers and I was already taking medication. Until I got my summer clothes out and put on my favorite shorts and discovered that I could take them off without unbuttoning them. Then I wondered what was going on but didn't see a doctor until a month or two later when I started getting sick all the time and having a few other symptoms I won't describe here in public, lol. I went to my doctor and told him that I threw up and there was recognizable food that I had eaten over a week ago. It turned out that those ulcers, which didn't hurt and didn't bother me were still there and had caused so much scar tissue that the opening from my stomach to my intestines was totally closed. They removed over half my stomach and part of my intestines and I was in the hospital for over a month. For seven years I was not hungry, not ever. I got sick every time I ate and sometimes went days without eating because I felt miserable if I did. I threw up every time I went to the bathroom, too. It was horrible, just horrible. I do feel better these days (it's been 15 years now) but I'm still not normal and still get sick frequently. Anyway, the point of all this rambling is that I thought my ulcer was gone or healed, but it wasn't. And stress, coffee, pop, beer, etc. are not the cause of ulcers - they discovered in the early 90's that they're caused by a bacteria, h-pylori. If you had it then, you probably still have it and you need biaxin plus bismuth for I believe it's a month or six weeks. Seriously, please get it checked, they do it with a breath test now.

[golfguru]

55. Ulcers

Are not exclusively caused by pylori bacteria. The snippet from the link below explains:

What causes Stomach Ulcers?
The direct cause of peptic ulcers is the destruction of the gastric or intestinal mucosal lining of the stomach by hydrochloric acid, an acid normally present in the digestive juices of the stomach. Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is thought to play an important role in causing both gastric and duodenal ulcers. Helicobacter pylori may be transmitted from person to person through contaminated food and water. Antibiotics are the most effective treatment for Helicobacter pylori peptic ulcers.

http://www.mamashealth.com/stomach.asp


Based on my symptoms and treatment and prognosis, I am convinced it was excess stomach acid
irritating and eroding intestinal mucosal lining. They did do the irradiated Barium (to best of my memory recall) drink test and did not find active ulcers.

I always have believed more in actual results than theory, and have proved to myself beyond the shadow of doubt that coffee and I do not get along. In last 25 years I have been symptom free after giving up coffee.

And you are absolutely right, that another wonder drug Biaxin is very effective against H-Pylori. I have been prescribed that drug also, but not for stomach issues. But that is another long story albeit a very interesting one which I will spare you here.

[applegrove]

22. And having bad teeth makes it hard to get a job. Being poor is a vicious cycle.

[AngryAmish]

33. In my lifetime it seemed every candidate had pretty good teeth

Jimmy Carter could have used some orthodontia in his youth but we are past that now.

[golfguru]

47. Yes, the dentistry today is just amazing!

Both my daughters have flawlessly aligned teeth due to Ortho.
I have several porcelain caps which seem to last for ever so
long as I do not try to crack walnut shells like I used to as
a young teen.

[glinda]

37. Money/profit is the reason. The dental industry makes tons of money off

of their high prices. Costs are totally unreasonable compared to many other countries. Also, Big Pharma has their hands totally in the industry as well as the Insurance Industry, which minimizes what they cover. It is like a big "loophole" to allow huge profit margins.
Our elected officials are total asses for allowing this to happen.

[golfguru]

48. Our politicians get huge campaign cash from

pharma, healthcare & dentistry.

We will continue to be screwed until all campaigns are strictly
financed by taxpayers as a percentage of their individual income.
Corporate campaign donations should be completely banned.

Obama received some of the largest campaign donations from pharma
and healthcare. No wonder the HCR bill has not hurt them one iota.
Actually helped them by adding millions of guaranteed more customers
and zero restrictions on premium hikes.

[asdjrocky]

42. They have dental care.

It's just not an issue for them because it only effects the "little people".

[area51]

52. You asked why;

probably for the same reason health care isn't a basic human right in this country. This is one fscked-up wanna-be first-world country.