Broken tooth
Another bloody broken tooth. As much as I identify as a Queenslander first and foremost, the one really stupid thing about my home state was the resistance when I was a child to adding fluoride to the drinking water.
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I know there are some people who don’t agree with the public health initiative to add fluoride to drinking water, however, the benefits far outweigh any adverse effects of fluoridated water.
I accept that people have differing views, especially when it comes to public health initiatives, however, when the abundance of evidence points so clearly to the benefits of something, it’s inappropriate (in my opinion) to not go with the flow and accept the gains associated with the efforts. Putting fluoride in the drinking water is a relatively cheap way to prevent dental caries. Immunising people against vaccine preventable diseases isn’t as cheap as water fluoridation, but the benefits have significant health and economic advantages for populations.
I suppose that’s the crux of the matter. I tend to think about the benefits to a population rather than to an individual. The saying, “The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few. Or, the one.” comes to mind. While Spock from “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” made this saying famous, it’s a pretty well adhered to notion through the ages.
I expect many people can cite a small number of cases of adverse outcomes associated with population-based public health initiatives and some of the opponents tend to focus on conspiracies which really aren’t present. When I was four and six months old, I suffered multiple febrile convulsions after my triple antigen injections, Mum said it was freaky watching me have repeated seizures throughout the night as my fever persisted, but it didn’t put her off having me stick to the immunisation schedule of the day.
¿ I have pondered though, if I didn’t have those febrile convulsions maybe I could have been an electrical or chemical engineer rather than a medical practitioner and microbiologist. ¿
If the good people of Queensland way back when I was a boy hadn’t swayed the then government, I would not be complaining about a broken tooth.
All I was doing was eating some nuts and seeds. The molar had a big amalgam filling in it and one of the cusps fell away along with part of the filling. It’s left a sharp metal edge which is now catching on food. I’ve previously had root canal treatment to that molar so there is no significant pain, but it is annoying having food catch to the tooth.
I have an appointment to see a dentist in a few weeks. Until then I’ll be more careful when I eat. I’m guessing, an expensive crown will be required. I hate having a broken tooth.
What have I watched this week?
Master Chef Australia
I finally settled on a favourite contestant, viz., Leah, and then she was eliminated. I’ll have to find a new favourite.
Star Trek: Deep Space 9
Empok Nor
A Miles O’Brien episode which sees him lead a team to an abandoned Cardassian space station only to discover it’s not abandoned.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Dagger of the Mind
The USS Enterprise travels to the Tantalus Penal Colony whose medical people are undertaking revolutionary research on prisoners. We meet a psychiatrist, Dr Helen Noel. Wowsers.
The machine that stole a person’s memories did more damage than a broken tooth.
Star Trek: The Animated Series
More tribbles, more troubles
What a fun episode. This is one of many episodes featuring the gorgeous little tribbles. Such episodes are scattered throughout the franchise.
Farscape
PK Tech Girl
What a great episode in which we see the tension between John and Aeryn as a result of the introduction of Gilina (played by Alyssa-Jane Cook). This becomes a weird love triangle.
Stargate SG-1
The torment of Tantalus
It was a bit weird to have Tantalus mentioned this week in Star Trek: TOS and now Stargate: SG-1. This episode is basically about a mostly naked old man who left through the Stargate on Earth decades before unable to return much to the chagrin of his fiancé.
National Rugby League
The Brisbane Broncos have a bye this weekend because State of Origin is about to begin.
I’m guessing a broken tooth is a common injury in rugby league.
LAW & ORDER
Bodies
This episode is about a serial killer and explores the ethics of being a legal aid legal practitioner.
A broken tooth is the least of the worries of the characters in this episode.
What have I listened to this week?
The Medical Republic Podcast
Raiders of the lost MBS items
The highlight for me for this episode was having Felicity and Francine correctly use the noun pneumococcus rather than incorrectly using the word pneumococcal.
What have I eaten and photographed this week?
This is a gallery of photographs. Click on one image and scroll through the rest of them.
Pan-fried salmon with steamed vegetables Salmon, Cabbage, Kale, Spring onion, Red onion, Almonds, Carrot, Celery, Tomatoes, Chillies, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Vegetable stock, Cream, Iodised salt, Black pepper #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #salmon #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
Steamed vegetables with melted Coon cheese Coon cheese, Cabbage, Kale, Spring onion, Red onion, Almonds, Carrot, Celery, Tomatoes, Chillies, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Vegetable stock, Cream, Iodised salt, Black pepper #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #coon #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
Wilted spinach leaves and steamed eggs 
Yoghurt with blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries 
Pan-fried salmon with homemade Hollandaise sauce and slaw-like salad Salmon, Cabbage, Kale, Almonds, Red endive lettuce, Capsicum, Hollandaise sauce #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #salmon #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
Pan-fried salmon with homemade Hollandaise sauce and slaw-like salad Salmon, Cabbage, Kale, Almonds, Red endive lettuce, Capsicum, Hollandaise sauce #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #salmon #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
The Owl Statue on Wednesday morning 
MEATER made chicken Maryland with kale red endive cabbage slaw and homemade Hollandaise sauce Chicken, Cabbage, Kale, Red endive lettuce, Capsicum, Hollandaise sauce, Coriander, Avocado #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #meatermade #kale #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
MEATER made chicken Maryland with kale red endive cabbage slaw and homemade Hollandaise sauce Chicken, Cabbage, Kale, Red endive lettuce, Capsicum, Hollandaise sauce, Coriander, Avocado #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #meatermade #kale #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
MEATER graph 
The Owl Statue on Tuesday morning 
The Owl Statue on Thursday morning 
Mixed berries and low carb whipped cream 
Mixed berries and low carb whipped cream 
Braised pork belly with steamed red kale, red endive, and drumhead cabbage. Pork, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Celery, Carrot, Tomato, Cream, Chillies, Sesame oil, Spring onion #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #kale #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
Chicken maryland with celery and carrot 
The Owl Statue on Wednesday morning 
Crispy pork belly with steamed red kale, red endive, and drumhead cabbage. Pork, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Celery, Carrot, Tomato, Cream, Chillies, Sesame oil, Spring onion #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #kale #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
Crispy pork belly with steamed red kale, red endive, and drumhead cabbage. Pork, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Celery, Carrot, Tomato, Cream, Chillies, Sesame oil, Spring onion #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #kale #lowcarb #MasterChefAU 
Sous vide steak, celery, and carrot for pay day lunch 
Sous vide steak, celery, and carrot for pay day lunch 
The Owl Statue on Thursday morning 
Frozen mixed berries and yoghurt 
Coffee and work 
Calamari and salad 
Steamed red kale, drumhead cabbage, and endive lettuce Cream, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Celery, Carrot, Tomato, Cream, Chillies, Sesame oil, Spring onion, Almonds, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Poppy seeds, Sesame seeds #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #kale #lowcarb 
The Owl Statue on Friday morning 
The Owl Statue on Friday morning 
The Owl Statue on Friday morning 
Me on Friday night 
Leftover steamed red kale, drumhead cabbage, and endive lettuce Cream, Kale, Endive, Cabbage, Oyster sauce, Fish sauce, Celery, Carrot, Tomato, Cream, Chillies, Sesame oil, Spring onion, Almonds, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Poppy seeds, Sesame seeds, Chicken, Corned beef #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #kale #lowcarb In a frypan sauté the corned beef until it gets a little colour and the add in the leftover kale, endive, and cabbage soup. Add some more kale leaves and after the leaves wilted, add some cream and reduce. Serve everything on a plate. 
Wilted spinach and steamed eggs 
The Owl Statue on Saturday morning 
The Owl Statue on Saturday morning 
The Owl Statue on Saturday morning 
Fresh duck breasts in packaging 
Fresh duck breasts in packaging with plastic removed 
Fresh duck breasts ready for preparation 
Fresh duck breasts scored 
Fresh duck breasts scored and seasoned 
Fresh duck breasts scored, seasoned, and rubbed 
Vacuum packed fresh duck breasts 
Cauliflower in boiling turmeric water 
Cauliflower cooked in turmeric water 
Vintage cheddar cheese 
Grated Vintage cheddar cheese 
Double cream, wholegrain mustard, and vintage cheese sauce 
Seasoned cauliflower ready to be covered in cheesy creamy sauce 
Seasoned cauliflower covered in cheesy creamy sauce with extra cheese 
Sous vide cooked duck breast 
Duck breast patted dry 
Duck breast patted dry 
Duck breast seared 
Cauliflower cheese out of the oven 
Cauliflower cheese with sous vide duck breast on wilted kale Cauliflower, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Rice bran oil, Iodised salt, Black pepper, Kale, Cheese, Cream, Wholegrain mustard #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #sousvide #cauliflowercheese #duckbreast #kale The recipe will be on the blog. The cauliflower cheese is a low carb recipe. The duck breast was cooked sous vide. 
Cauliflower cheese with sous vide duck breast on wilted kale Cauliflower, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Rice bran oil, Iodised salt, Black pepper, Kale, Cheese, Cream, Wholegrain mustard #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #sousvide #cauliflowercheese #duckbreast #kale The recipe will be on the blog. The cauliflower cheese is a low carb recipe. The duck breast was cooked sous vide. 
Cauliflower cheese with sous vide duck breast on wilted kale Cauliflower, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Rice bran oil, Iodised salt, Black pepper, Kale, Cheese, Cream, Wholegrain mustard #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #sousvide #cauliflowercheese #duckbreast #kale The recipe will be on the blog. The cauliflower cheese is a low carb recipe. The duck breast was cooked sous vide. 
Cauliflower cheese with sous vide duck breast on wilted kale Cauliflower, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Coriander seeds, Rice bran oil, Iodised salt, Black pepper, Kale, Cheese, Cream, Wholegrain mustard #yummylummy #foodphotography #foldio #hypop #lowcarb #sousvide #cauliflowercheese #duckbreast #kale The recipe will be on the blog. The cauliflower cheese is a low carb recipe. The duck breast was cooked sous vide.
Yummy Lummy this week
This week I’m cooking cauliflower cheese inspired by Emma from Diabetes Diet
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Final thoughts
- Do you have good teeth? Have you ever had a broken tooth?
- Do you have many fillings?
- Are you into conspiracies about public health initiatives?
Unfortunately I have what is generally known as British teeth! They don;t look the best but they still work ok. I make sure I visit the dentist twice a year for a check. I have many fillings as a result of not looking after my teeth properly when I was a child and too many lollies.
I should probably get regular check ups with the dentist too. I’ve never enjoyed visiting the dentist.
Sorry about your chipped tooth, GZ. It sounds annoying and hopefully the dentist does a good job repairing it. Then you can be back to eating as per normal. I’ve had chipped tooths previously, and luckily they haven’t been too bad and a bit of filing did the trick to soften the sharp points.
Fortunately, it doesn’t hurt too much, but yes, it will be good to have it repaired.
Hope the tooth repair is affordable and the repair lasts a while to come.
A crown normally costs about $2000. Paid by instalment. Dentistry pays well.
That sounds really annoying having a broken tooth – glad it’s not too painful though. I grew up in Sydney in the 70s and 80s with fluoride in the water. I have no fillings and have never had a broken tooth. I do agree with public health initiatives that benefit the many.
Thanks Alex. I am envious of you and your healthy teeth 😃