09/04/2026
I love this Blog. I think it's so important to take some time out to look at these things, detox and reset. Thank you Kate Williams Writes for more of your words of wisdom 🥰
Holy Molars! Remove or improve?
Last week I had the joy of a trip to the dentist to have a back molar removed. I am not normally scared of visiting the dentist, but I have to admit that I worried for weeks about having this done. I dreamt about having it done at least 3 times before the actual procedure.
I tend to overthink things (understatement of the year), and my honest worries included:
What if something unusual goes wrong, or they sit me so far back in the chair that I die by swallowing my tongue?
What if I look like a pirate with my missing tooth?
What if I have to eat blended food for the rest of my life?
What if half of my face caves in once the tooth is gone?
What if a nerve is severed?
And so on and so forth! No drama here!
I needed to have an extraction because a back molar tooth was heavily filled, and the filling was close to the nerve. The roots were dying, and the tooth was decaying. This was causing bad sensitivity - drinking water was painful, and I have been eating on one side for a long time, as hot and cold food and drinks were really aggravating the tooth.
I was advised that I could either go private (and pay way over a grand for a root canal and a crown), or I could have the bad peg extracted on the NHS for just over 70 quid. After much deliberation, I decided to have it removed. I faffed about this decision for ages, as I was not at all keen on the idea of having a tooth out, but it felt like I had no choice. Especially as I’d like laminate flooring, so spending over a grand on one tooth felt a bit silly when I could have my kitchen floor sorted for that price!
The tooth extraction went ok; it wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t a painful procedure, and I was out within 25 minutes. I had a few days of a very sore gob afterwards, and eating mush on Easter weekend was not really the dream! But I’m thankful it's over, and I’m happy that no one would have a clue I’d had this done (other than the fact I’m posting it on a page!). My face has not caved in, and I don’t think I’m looking too much like Long John Silver - well, I won’t when I’ve got rid of the beard I’ve grown over Easter anyway.
‘Hump Day Hope’ this week is based on my dental drama, which has made me consider the fact that when something ni**les us in life, if we have a sensitivity or something touches a nerve, we can choose to either ignore it, remove it, or improve it.
I ignored my very sensitive molar for a long time - I didn’t want the hassle of a trip to the dentist, and I was fearful of the treatment that would likely follow. I put up with it until it really started to affect me - if I was out walking in the cold, it would be very sensitive, and I couldn’t even comfortably drink a glass of water. It started to throb at night and sabotage my sleep. Once I stopped ignoring the ni**le, I had to take action and decide if I wanted to remove the tooth or improve it with further treatment. In this case, I chose removal.
Think about your life right now - what is niggling you? What is touching a nerve or causing you some sensitivity? Are you ignoring this and trying to forget about it - as I did for a long time with my damaged tooth? Are you putting up with something you know isn’t good for you, out of fear of facing up to it? I got to the point where I recognised I had to take action. I was concerned it might worsen and cause me problems when I’m away on holiday in a couple of months. I became determined to sort out my niggling tooth, however painful that process would be.
Once you’ve identified a ni**le and recognised you can't ignore it any longer, you need to decide if you want to remove or improve it. We are all so different; we face many different areas of sensitivity and struggle, and I think the decision to remove or improve something is very personal.
One thing that has ni**led me personally for many years is my dependence on sugar. In January, I decided to remove processed sugar from my diet, and other than a couple of bad days of falling off the wagon (into a pile of mini eggs), I have stuck to this commitment. It has been brilliant - my mind has been clearer, and my emotions have been significantly more stable. I certainly don’t believe that everyone should give up sugar, but for me, removal was a good choice. I’m a happier and healthier person without it.
In terms of something else that’s ni**led me, I’d have to say my dependence on my phone. I’ve become aware of how often I check it and rely on it for comfort, entertainment, or just wasting time in pointless scrolling. My phone is not something I feel I should remove, as I did with the sugar, but it’s definitely an area of my life I feel the nudge to improve in. So I’ve been leaving my phone in another room when possible for an hour or two, and I’m trying to create and stick to time away from it to reduce my propensity to sit and mindlessly scroll. I want to ensure I have control over it and use it in a way that enhances and helps me rather than being reliant on or addicted to it.
Examples of other things that may need removing or improving in our lives could be negative self-talk, addictions that we know are harming us, low self-esteem, unhealthy lifestyles, watching stuff that makes us feel rubbish or anxious, toxic relationships, or situations that cause us high levels of stress.
What is niggling you, causing sensitivity, or touching a nerve?
Are you ignoring it? What is preventing you from taking action?
Is the best course of action to remove it or to improve it?
What does that look like for you in your situation?
Is it time for some extraction action on things that are holding you back?
If you want to share any of your ni**les, let me know in the comments, or PM me if you prefer 🙂
Kate x
**le
