...that men know so little of other men

I know so little of the world around me. 


Who knew that dental care was SO important? Really? Flossing your teeth can make that much of a difference in my health and quality of life? Ironically, I learned, it does. 


After 2 weeks in Bolivia I accepted that most people in Bolivia have an average of 6-7 teeth. 3-4 teeth is the average once you enter the Amazon. But did you know that losing your teeth also reduces your life expectancy? Bacteria and infection can travel quickly through rotten teeth and infected gums; your blood acts as a highway and takes them right to where it counts - your heart. 


We took about 80 toothbrushes and about 50 mini toothpaste into the village of Asuncion de Quiquibey, a small sustenance community in the Amazon. Courtney, another trip leader, is passionate about dental care and has been supplementing the main event: water filters with teaching kids how to brush their teeth. In order to arrive, we went up river 2 hours from the town of Rurrenabaque. 

Rio Quiquibey and the community boat

On the night of our presentation about the water filters, we asked the children to line up by grade level. Our team distributed the toothbrushes to every student in line - and had extra for some parents, too. We gave a toothpaste for each family to share. Courtney led the way and we taught all the kids at once - 5 years old up to 13 years old - how to brush their teeth in circles. No water is used at all - because the water is contaminated. They also are encouraged to brush their teeth with such a tiny amount of toothpaste - and also told that when there is no more paste left, you still brush your teeth with a toothbrush. Twice a day. In circles. 


Before I left for the trip to Bolivia, I had a dentist appointment for a cleaning. During that appointment, I learned that I had a fracture in my back molar that needed to be fixed. While in Bolivia, I experienced discomfort and wanted it to feel better. After a few days of working at the clinic and feeling discomfort, I went to our dentist and he found that I had a gum infection. I took an antibiotic for a few days and it cleared up. 


The tragedy in this is that I was able to see the dentist for FREE and get an antibiotic within 2 minutes but the people of this town, Rurre, and its surrounding communities do not have consistent access to basic health care because of distance and transportation, and cost. Here I am, an American volunteer, and my tooth hurts so I get it checked. 

the travel clinic sets up in a school

God really wanted me to listen that day at the travel clinic. Rachel, a student on the trip, and I sat down at the dentist check-in table. The table featured in the photo above is where families who wanted to visit the dentist checked in with us. In the far left of the photo, you see a man leaning over. He is standing with his child as he sits with the dentist. The dentist pulls out the rotten teeth that he can. Right there. He has sterilized equipment and some local anesthetic and takes out the rotted teeth. Rotted teeth are brown, the edges of a tooth are left but the middle is hollowed out. Sometimes, the nerve in the tooth dies. The dentist, Roberto, pulled out more than 25 teeth that day. 


I know so little of the world. My small amount of tooth pain was a consequence of my brand new onlay being too high. Basically, my bite was too high and was causing pain and some headache. But I didn't have to get my tooth pulled out with the town watching. Did I mention these kids sat there, and barely flinched in discomfort or pain? 


The standard of living in Bolivia is far, far, far lower than what we see in the United States. 


A mom asked me, "how are your teeth so good?"


Me, "I brush them two times a day." 






“Herein lies the tragedy of the age:
Not that men are poor, - all men know something of poverty.
Not that men are wicked, - who is good?
Not that men are ignorant, - what is truth?
Nay, but that men know so little of men.” 
- W.E.B. DuBois