THE TOOTH, THE WHOLE TOOTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH

When the inimitable poet Ogden
Nash said, ‘Some tortures are physical and some are mental but the one that
is both is dental,’ he clearly didn’t have access to this book! In The Tooth,
the Whole Tooth and Nothing but the Tooth, two doctors dismantle every dental
bogey known to man and, tongue firmly in cheek, answer those questions we
were too scared to ask our dentists. After giving a quick tour of the insides
of the mouth, the authors introduce us to the sinister world of dental
caries, gum disease, tooth sensitivity, bad breath and bruxism – their nasty
symptoms and vile causes – then proceed to present painless solutions! Dread
getting your teeth scrubbed? Opt for an enjoyable clean-up with ultrasonic
scalers and get a complimentary mist of cool water! Worried about your
dragon-breath? Go easy on the radish! Grind your teeth to distraction? Here’s
a night guard! Grab the front row, as the authors offer sagacious and
startling advice (yes, cocoa can protect your teeth and wait, your mouthwash
could be hurting you!) and teach us about the ins and outs of various dental
treatment techniques – fillings, root canal treatments, extractions, gum
surgeries, tooth replacements orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry –
procedures that are far kinder than they sound! This accessible,
first-of-its-kind book in India ultimately reminds us why dental appointments
don’t have to be expensive, agonizing and prolonged and why our friendly
(yes, friendly) neighbourhood dentist deserves a full-toothed smile!