while the origins of this unofficial holiday remain murky, many believe the date commemorates the feast day of the patron saint of dentists, st. apollonia, according to the museum of health care . apollonia, an elderly christian woman living in the roman empire in the third century, was captured and beaten for refusing to renounce her faith. what few teeth survived this treatment were later pulled out as a form of torture. it soon became common to honour her struggle by invoking her name against the unrelenting pain of a toothache.
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by the time the 20 th century rolled around, the three stooges were showcasing one of the most time-honoured methods of removing a tooth — tying it to a string connected to a doorknob and slamming the door. the stooges experimented with a fishing rod first, but the far more effective doorknob dentistry was here to stay.
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fast forward to today and pulling teeth is as easy as making a viral video of yourself… pulling teeth. the internet is literally littered with people showing how easy it is to pop out a pearly white but, while this may be relatively straightforward when dealing when baby teeth, the adult versions are deeply embedded and surrounded by enough nerves as to make this inadvisable.
“pulling out loose baby teeth can be a fun family activity or even a way for your child to feel more independent and in control of their own body,” healthline says . “but adult teeth are permanent. a loose tooth can be a big problem. don’t pull an adult tooth out yourself. see your dentist right away to prevent any complications or health issues that can result from tooth problems or from not pulling out a tooth properly.”
according to oral-b , tooth root sensitivity is a common reason for an ache in your tooth. gum disease causes a painful combination of dissolved bone and receding gums which exposes the root of the tooth, making it sensitive to heat and cold. while any tooth pain is worth a trip to the dentist, the american oral hygiene manufacturer has some tips to relieve the discomfort including flossing to remove food particles that could be stuck between the teeth, rinsing your mouth with warm water, taking an over-the-counter pain medication or applying a topical pain reliever to the offending tooth.
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unfortunately, covid-19 has made finding (and affording) dental care a daunting challenge, prompting many to take the pliers into their own hands . there are better ways of obtaining care, like seeing a professional. plus, it’s better than eating a caterpillar.
dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca