I’m a dental hygienist... go on then ask away..

[Heatherjayne1972]

Been a hygienist over 20 years
In lots of different practices

Oh and what toothpaste do
You use?

Oh and I think I had tonsil stones as a child but no longer get them - is this common ? Do kids grow out if it?

@Heatherjayne1972 op my dh has horrendous breath. Like absolutely disgusting. He brushes twice a day, flosses, uses mouth wash. He goes to the dentist every six months and they always say his teeth are great and he's cleaning well. He's been checked for tonsil stones. What else can he do? It's really awful. I'm always reminding him to have mints or chewing gum at work so he's not 'the guy with the foul breath' that no one will sit near.

I love my hygienist and see her every four months! I only see the dentist for X Rays every couple of years as my teeth are great but my gums need that extra care as unless I’m scrupulous I’m prone to gingivitis particularly around a front crown.

I floss every evening after brushing and then do a quick brush again to remove any debris. I like the Corsodyl expanding floss and also use a water irrigation machine around 3 times a week. I’m prone to tartar around my bottom teeth as they are packed right. I find those floss sticks really helpful as they get the angle needed to remove the plaque.

Now for my questions;

1. what are your thoughts on Gingigel products? I really love the gel and started using it a few times a day every day a couple of months ago and feel like it’s starting to make a difference on the areas of gum that had thinned slightly in areas. It’s supposedly totally natural as it has hyaluronic acid as it’s active ingredient, but I’m slightly scared I’m doing something wrong by using it every day 😬

2. I’ve lost some of the interdental papilla between some teeth due to poor brushing technique in my youth. I’ve blunted the tips of it if that makes sense and I know there’s not much that can be done. However recently I’ve been reading that a technique where they inject the gum with hyaluronic acid (ie a branded product like Juvaderm) is being used by some dentists to treat this issue. Have you heard of it and do you think it could cause problems?

The little bottle brushes are amazing. They are very satisfying. I only see a hygienist now as it’s comes free with my insurance but I’m glad I do. She’s lovely and my teeth feel cleaner now.

@marmite @pambeasley. most halitosis comes from poor oral hygiene.- so yes more floss is always good and your daughter may well need a good ‘clean up’. After that drink plenty of water (plain not fizzy/ flavoured ). Rarely stomach or nasal issues can cause bad breath. Some food can make you smell too garlic/ spices etc

@sleepfree. I don’t know very much about gengigel/ hyaluronic acid
Only that it’s natural and has potential as treatment. Not something we recommend- but I’m onky in a general dental practice. Some of the gum specialists might suggest it
Always do what the package tells you if it says daily/weekly or whatever that’s what you should do

@antibi
As long as you stick to the major brands of toothpaste and you like the taste and the price you can’t go too far wrong
I use whatever’s on offer! Usually just a basic boring non fancy one

This is horrifying I'm not even going to ask for no judgement.

I have a 13yr old disabled son, he has advanced stage lung disease and is on 30+ treatments including corrosive enzyme and saline treatments as well as whole heap of antibiotics.

He has such a severe fear of dentists and brushing that I only ever got him through the door once. 😳
DH is brushing for him now (by force) and he's screaming and crying. He can't vocalise why there's such a phobia there but I expect he's in a lot of oral pain from having shocking teeth for so long that it's crossed over to that being a reason rather that the fear. I have booked so many dentist appointments only to have to cancel them because he won't get through the door.

I don't know what to do about it but his teeth are a state, orange and full of holes and his gums are swollen, god knows how they haven't fallen out yet!

Any advice?

I'll just add that the other 5 people in our home have great, healthy oral hygiene and strong, clean teeth.

@TitsalinaBumSquash sorry to derail. But would you mind if I ask you a question? My son has lung disease.

@shinyshoes Maybe your daughter needs someone to check her technique although so many people struggle with wisdom teeth
There is a special type of toothbrush available it’s on a slender handle like a regular brush but the end is a small tuft of bristles We call them single tufted brushes or sometimes they’re called interspace brushes
Maybe ask at your practice if they have them

Hi!
I’m currently seeing the hygienist every 3 months for bleeding/receding gums. Do I need to go and see a dentist as well? I had a message the other week to say I’m due an appointment but do I need to see the dentist while I’m seeing the hygienist so often? Will the dentist be looking for different things?
Thanks!

Have asked dentist about bad breath for years and all he does is a scale and polish. My friend had her gums flushed years ago but dentist has never heard of this, is this a thing that could help bad breath or could u suggest a treatment?

titsalina

yy to the community dentist - mine even used to come and do home visits.your poor son - he may be getting dental pain from infections which can be treated.ring your local health centre.
good luck.

I was going to ask about bad breath too....if one of your patients had it would you tell them? I've told my dentist I think I have it at one appointment and all he did was check how old my filling were. Nothing else was mentioned and I'm too embarrassed to mention it again.

I had a horrible experience with a dentist 3 years ago and have never been back. I've never been to a hygienist either. I'm gearing myself up to reregister with a new practice but have a question - should I book to see a hygienist before seeing the dentist?

I did neglect my teeth for years until 3 years ago when the pain was too much. Money was a factor in this.
I found a lovely dental practice, with lovely staff, who didn't make fun when I cried the first few times I was there.
So I adore the hygienist and related staff, see them every 3 months because of the gum disease, which is improving vastly.
I lost two back teeth to the disease so am working hard to not lose any more.
Anyway onto the questions, where the disease has taken some gum, my teeth are yellow, is that dentine?
Can the yellow be whitened to match the rest?
My two front teeth are some sort of crown from the 70s, metal rod into the bone, fake teeth attached somehow. The gum has receded a fair bit and its really ugly, can I get new 'fakes' to cover up the ugly bit. I hate smiling.

Great thread and fab advice

My questions;

Do any whitening toothpastes/home treatments make any difference at all?

Years ago a dental hygienist used dental tape between by teeth and the tape was AMAZING. Minty and kind of gritty? Do you know what I mean and can I buy it anywhere? I’ve searched for it to no avail.

TIA

@pambeasley - please ask away or pm me if you'd prefer.

@TitsalinaBumSquash I'm on my phone so I don't think I can pm? Thanks for responding. Im just wondering how you know your ds's lung disease became advanced? Through ct scan or did infection become very hard to avoid? So far my ds has had infections twice this year.

@pambeasley - DS has Cystic Fibrosis, he has severe bronchiectasis, resistant to the 'regular' antibiotics and annual reviews are full of drs telling us that this is the the nature of the decline when we can no longer get him 'well' again.

@musicalstatues
Yes you need to carry on seeing the dentist as he/she will be looking fir decay or other oral issues outside the hygienist remit
@paddysmarket
I probably wouldn’t say it outright but yesid mention it in context of what I thought could the problem and the solution. I try to tread carefully as people can be sensitive
@floofloof I’m sure there’s lots that can be done to improve your smile
It depends on your budget and your expectations however nothing wrong with talking it through with your dentist

@piggery
That tape is called an ‘abrasive strip’
I have no idea if you can buy it commercially- it’s very abrasive so I don’t think so as it could damage
the teeth if used too much
As for whitening toothpaste I’m not convinced although some people think it helps
The only way to lighten teeth is to bleach but they can’t put bleach in ordinary toothpaste
However some have particles in that breakdown stain ( oral b pro expert for eg) and make teeth look whiter
Some are abrasive and scrub stain off- but that can damage the enamel