DS2 (18) has, I think, some tooth decay I've not seen in his mouth but his breath smells like decay.
He's never needed any dentist treatment before, visited dentist every 6 months with a clean bill of health but he started Uni last September, living away, drinking, being up late not brushing his teeth before bed (or probably in the morning/afternoon!). He missed his 6 monthly which should have been October as he was away and he was going to go in April with the rest of us when he was home from Uni and then adjust his 6 month cycle to fit in better with his uni dates. Obviously we've missed that too.
So, he doesn't have toothache, he says he's had a little bit of bleeding, I've told him to brush properly and use floss which he says he has, but he is still stinking.
He obviously won't be a priority even when dentists do open and we are in Scotland so who knows when that will be.
What can we do in the meantime - mouthwash maybe?
He also had a really bad dose of tonsillitis in January (to the point we were told to go directly to A&E if the high dose antibiotics didn't help) and he was stinking with infection then but this smells more like decay but could it be related to that instead? He feels fine, he came home in March and smell has got worse as time has gone on.
I do have quite a sensitive nose but I can smell him from about 4 feet away, even when he says he's just brushed.
Any suggestions please?
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General health
Any dentistry help?
WaxOnFeckOff · 11/06/2020 23:12
he usually uses sensitive toothpaste and I've suggested he uses a non sensitive one to see if that helps - he also doesn't like anything too minty 
and wont eat or drink anything until the toothpaste flavour has gone.
I'll definitely suggest that though thanks. We also have some of those little interdental brushes and I've said since he is doing bugger all else, that he could devote some time tomorrow to trying to sort out his teeth.
You can't really smell decay like that. When drilling into the tooth yes you can and it bloody stinks. He has poor oral hygiene. He needs to brush thoroughly and use a soft brush on his gums. Mouthwash doesn't take away gingivitis but good oral hygiene can. He needs to floss daily and brush his teeth at least two times a day before it turns into a periodontal disease which he won't be able to come back from.
He probably has a build up of plaque. You should change toothbrushes or toothbrush heads every 3 months. Also, he needs to make sure he is brushing his tongue.
Not brushing your tongue is like not wiping your bum after you go for a number 2 
well in my eyes anyway.
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