What things have you had to cut out of your budget due to the recession?

I have had to cut out: breakfasts, oil changes (have not had one in 1 year and 3 months.),new clothes, new socks, house cleaners,slower internet speedm cutting out cable soon if they let me get out of my package, I alternate between phone and electricity every month so I am constantly behind on one bill. I have to have the phone because I work from home and internet for online courses. I have cut out napkins, medicines sometimes, only put $10 of gas every two weeks, I do laundry once or twice a month. I can not afford laundry detergant so I buy the small box of detergent for $.75 at the laundry mat. I had to cut out acne medication and have had troubles with acne. I use hand soap and hot water to wash my face but still get huge pimples from time to time. I have also had to cut out dental insurance and lost half a tooth. I have to make a tube of toothpaste last for months at a time. I had to stop using mouth wash that helped my gums. I could not even afford to buy software for a class I had to take and almost flunked it. I am not used to living like this but I am willing to live even worse off if it means I can pay all my bills somehow. Paying bills in full is a HUGE luxery. I love to pay bills because when one is paid I feel happy. I work 35 hours a week and I have a degree in Business; working on my degree in communications. I live in the UNITED STATES. Can you believe that: the richest country in the world? really? So how is this recession effected you?
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I'm sure it's affected me more than I first realized. I put off for a couple of years seeing an oral surgeon as I don't have dental surgery. I had one tooth at a time cut out and ended up losing a small part of the jaw bone. I have not had my teeth cleaned in several years as I could always find another use for the money. We have cut back on traveling because of the price of gas. We have also cut back on food. And I think we will be cutting back even more as this year progresses. Four years ago my hours at work was cut in half and were never restored and at this point I'm lucky to still have this job.
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I have pain under my teeth on the left side?

I have pain under my teeth on the left side of my mouth. It just started yesterday but it feels like the pain is in my gums. It just started yesterday. The pain comes and goes, but when its there, its some of the worst pain I have ever felt. I do not know what to do, I have no dental insurance so I am hesitant to go there. I've tried ibuprofen, orajel, and none of it helps for very long. Please advise.
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you probably have a cavity
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White spots on teeth?

I've had white spots on my two front teeth for as long as I can remember. I'm almost eighteen, if it helps. I've heard of a few different reasons why they're there. I believe mine is from the calcium deficiency, but I'm not quite sure. My mother also has them, but in honesty I really used to not take care of my teeth at all for a couple years. The spots haven't really bothered me too much, mostly because my teeth are already pretty crooked and two white spots are nothing compared to how my teeth look. But, after using a sample of the Crest White strips Advanced, I noticed they look a great deal brighter compared to the rest of my tooth. I've used the Crest White Strips Premium, and it didn't happen that time, so i'm wondering why the spots are even brighter. Is there a way (aside from the expensive veneers, I dont have great dental insurance) that I can lessen the brightness of these white spots? I'm now afraid to use more whitener, in case it could brighten the spots even worse than they are now.
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They could be from too much Fluoride, or they are there from a medication you may have had as a child when the teeth were developing. Whitening will continue to make them stand out more I'm afraid. Have you had braces? Sometimes the glue from the brackets can remain on the surface of the teeth. Pop in for a check so the dentist can see what it is and tell you what you can do.
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Abscessed teeth with drainage and calcification.?

I have 2 teeth that are abscessed. Doc. drained and says that the infection is so severe that the old pus that has not drained seems to have calcified. No dental insurance and having trouble getting them pulled. Is this serious? What should I do? All of the antibiotics they have given me aren't working. I have already lost a thumb to MRSA and I am scared that it could come back and get into my jaw. Any help would be wonderful!!!
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wow. try the dental schools in your area. they will do the work of a fully trained dentist for A LOT cheaper. don't worry about the people not knowing what they are doing because the classes are supervised by trained professionals. some schools even let you set up a payment plan.
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my wisdom tooth is killing me...help???

one of my wisdom teeth has just came in about half way...i have a bad headache and cant really swallow. anything to help? i just signd up for dental insurance with tricare but it doesnt start till next month...my hubbys coming home from iraq so how can i deal with this pain till next month so that im not in so much pain while hubbys home? please please help
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Take some Aleve. Then call your dentist and ask what he recommends. But explain your insurance problem. I don't think you will be able to handle that kind of pain for a whole month. I'm so sorry you feel bad.
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Dentist help Portland Oregon?

My mom need to see a dentist very very badly. she is experiencing severe pain and also has infection in at least one tooth. she doesn't have dental insurance and doesn't have the best credit ever. does anyone know what she can do? she's trying to just deal with it but i know that if that infection spreads , it could be fatal. i hate that we live in a world where someone has to risk death by tooth ache because only a select few of us have the privilege to take care of our bodies. bull **** country... anyways sorry to complain . i hope anyone with any advice will please get back to me. thanks! Sam
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bull **** country??? i hate that we live in a world where a select few of us that have the privilege to take care of our bodies have to take care of other people's bodies, too. does anyone know what she can do?
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Teeth/low self-confidence.?

When I was younger I brushed, just not as well as I should. Im 16 now. I brush my teeth 3+ times a day. When I was younger I had to get a filling in about every one of my molars. I feel so horrible. Now, even with all of my brushing I have to get a tiny cavity filled on the side of my front tooth. We dont have dental insurance, so I don't go as often as I should, but I feel as if I'm never going to get anywhere in life with my bad teeth.
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If there are any dental schools in your area, give them a call. Very often they do the work free.
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