My left lower wisdom tooth hurts. Or more accurately, the gum around it hurts. Periodially the tooth seems to emerge from its cocoon and inflame the flesh around it. After a few days the soreness subsides.

I should have it out, of course. Some years ago I was told that all four of my wisdom teeth needed extracting. The word "impacted" was mentioned. Memories of my brother's miserable and swollen reaction when his wisdom teeth were yanked came to mind. The situation seemed serious, and a painful remedy was the only proposal.

I put it off. And put it off. I engaged a new dentist. This dentist said that I could have the teeth removed, but leaving them in posed no risk, so long as I kept the area clean. The notion of the necessity of extraction was so deeply ingrained in me that I went ahead and scheduled the oral surgery. Then I cancelled it. If the dentist is telling you that you don't need to pay a man to crack open four teeth and pick the shards out of your jaw, then you really ought to take his advice.

So my jaw aches a bit once in awhile. There are always consequences.