Whoa, mule

Faerie Tarot, Hertz

I've been seeing these TV ads for years, featuring glamorous models whose eyes bleed when they apply eyeliner, and a voiceover saying something like, 'If your eyes were bleeding you wouldn't ignore it. Bleeding gums when you brush your teeth is not normal.' It's an ad for a product called Corsodyl. After my tooth breaking on Saturday, I found myself paying attention to this ad, and made a note to buy this stuff on Sunday, which I did.

I followed the directions on the back of the bottle. Swill in the mouth for 1 minute and spit out. While I was swilling, I was a bit alarmed to read on the bottle that it said to avoid contact with bleached clothing. What the what?? And the stuff was burning like fire, too. I dutifully waited one minute to spit it out.

Ten minutes later my tongue felt like I'd scalded it in boiling water, so I started googling this product. I went to the NHS website and other reputable-looking sources of information. Turns out the active ingredient can cause allergic reactions, such as swelling of the salivary glands. It can cause intense burning sensations. If you get it on bleached fabrics, it can stain them brown (the bottle of course never mentioned brown). It can also STAIN THE TEETH BROWN, and after a course of treatment you may have to go to the dentist to have them cleaned. You what?? No way. I went and poured the rubbish down the sink and continued to read. I felt like an idiot for buying something based on an advertisement. I never do that.

I'll call the dentist today from work (since he's finally OPEN) and when I go to see him to get this pesky tooth fixed, I will ask him about spitting blood when brushing teeth as well. I've had a bit of blood in my spit for years...I mean YEARS. But it's just a bit and some days there isn't any, so you know, you just ignore it. Until something happens.

The Knight of Swords can throw himself rather headlong into things, particularly things which he considers a righteous cause. However, his impulsiveness can cause him to commit errors, create more problems for himself, if he's not careful. Which is exactly what I did. I'm just glad I didn't remain Knight of Swordsy about it and carry on valiantly in the face of burning sensations, charging forward in the face of pain and instincts of retreat. The Knight of Swords on this card seems more to be picking his way through the snow on a decidedly reluctant-looking steed (giving his rider a backward glance that is full of 'what the heck are we doing out here' attitude) than charging off the side of a cliff. Good good.