How much effort do you make with dental health?

[Singingtherapy]

I had a bit of a lecture from the dentist last week! Only needed one filling but I was close to losing the tooth as there was lots of decay. Other teeth are showing some decay on xray but don't need treatment. Thing is he made me feel like I'd never heard of toothpaste. I know I could do better and fully intend to make more of an effort. I have always brushed my teeth twice a day, don't use mouthwash, floss when I think of it, not a daily habit. I eat small amounts of sugary foods 3 of 4 times a week. I'd have thought this was normal and the decay was just bad luck and not uncommon at my age (50s). Do other people do much more?

Maybe you're not brushing effectively. Do you use an electric toothbrush and toothpaste with fluoride?

That’s all I do - and I only just last month went to the dentists for the first time in about 12 years, my teeth were fine. But I guess some people have more sensitive teeth than others - it could be that yours just need more maintenance than others, which is mean luck but you have to then adjust how you care for them accordingly. Did your dentist advise you on what to do differently?

Yes, electric toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. He's given me a prescription for a toothpaste with higher fluoride content. Also told me to completely stop eating sweets which I'll do. Probably once a month or so I'll fancy buying a packet of boiled sweets to keep in the car and eat them over a few days. Will try not to eat sugar unless I'm in a position to clean my teeth soon after.

Or chew sugar free chewing gum afterwards as that will help too.

I'm T2 diabetic, and have really suffered with sensitive teeth over the last year so I'm a bit obsessive about dental hygiene now.........

I use Biomin F toothpaste after a recommendation on here and that's made a huge difference. I've also just bought an Oral B iO electric toothbrush and that's really helped.

Yes I use an electric toothbrush, interdental brushes and flossing tape regularly. I also see a hygienist twice a year for a scale and polish. It sounds like you've not been to the dentist for a while OP and that is as much part of your dental routine as brushing is.

Hygienist 2x a year/Dentist 1x
Daily flossing
Brushing with a Sonicare toothbrush

I see the dentist and hygienist every 6 months.
Use an electric toothbrush.
Brush twice a day, floss once a day (I use interdens) and use mouthwash.
I had my amalgam fillings replaced with white about 30 years ago and that was the last time I had/needed any dental 'work'.
My weakness is sugar too - I can't resist boiled sweets (pear drops, sherbet lemons etc.) and eat them quite often.

I sometimes think dentists/hygienists feel they ought to be giving advice even when there are no problems. Last time I saw the hygienist the only thing she could think of to tell me was to change my toothbrush head every 3 months - I'm in my 60's, I can figure that out for myself, thanks 🙄

I think your teeth sound great for 50. My teeth were at the point yours are now by the time I was 30.

@Singingtherapy

Yes, electric toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. He's given me a prescription for a toothpaste with higher fluoride content. Also told me to completely stop eating sweets which I'll do. Probably once a month or so I'll fancy buying a packet of boiled sweets to keep in the car and eat them over a few days. Will try not to eat sugar unless I'm in a position to clean my teeth soon after.

Advice is to wait 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth. 60 minutes if you're eating especially acidic food (fruit). The acid softens enamel and you risk eroding it further. Some people definitely have weaker teeth than others. Interdental brushing is probably better than floss .

Buy an Emmi Dent Ultrasound toothbrush. They come from Germany, but will ship here no problem. These aren't like other electric toothbrushes. You'll feel like you've seen the dental hygienist every day.

Get a water flosser. Any one is fine.

Use this Toothpaste - buy online, I can't find it in the shops. It's brilliant and absolutely works.

bertieandminnie.co.uk/products/colgate-white-teeth-toothpaste-100ml?variant=39295648202913&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gclid=CjwKCAjwyvaJBhBpEiwA8d38vD-2RPwgncyPzLzMaPmEuM8g0iAfas9F9GnzXuQsFVBg3aHyU2HOKBoC-2QQAvD_BwE

I buy mine on ebay. Colgate does other whitening pastes, but it has to be this exact one.

I promise you your teeth and gums will be transformed by these products.

I pay my teeth a hell of a lot of attention but they’re ungrateful little bastards and give me no end of grief.

In my teens my dentist warned me I have weak teeth and that no matter what I do I’m going to have problems.

I’ve always done everything right and my mother is fanatical about dental hygiene so they’ve been cared for since day dot, it’s just sheer bad luck.

I have very weak teeth, it’s genetic, I have already lost three. I have three monthly Periodondist deep clean, always floss and use interdental brushes plus mouthwash. It’s so incredibly depressing to lose teeth at a young (ish) age.

My mum doesn't do half the stuff she probably should uses normal toothbrush and paste. That's it. Doenst even have yearly checkup or get them cleaned at the dentists.

She has sugar too, obviously not excessive.

I just put it down to her just being lucky, me on the other didnt inherit her teeth genes and do more to take care of them and I still end up having to need fillings etc.

Going to look into those products Artemisia thanks. And will try to make interdental brushing a daily habit.

My dentist always lectures me because my gums have always got tartar. I don't seem to be able to help it. I brush with an electronic toothbrush twice a day. And I'm 32 and never had a filling - and I went to the dentist last month so thats still an up to date statement - so how can I be brushing ineffectively if I haven't got any caveties? But because of my gums I agree, they make you feel like you're secretly going to bed without brushing every night

I make a lot of effort - I see the hygienist three times a year with regular check ups with my dentist in between. Daily I use an electric toothbrush, floss then use tepe brushes and a mouthwash. This really helps to prevent build up of plaque if you do it everyday. I have quite overcrowded teeth so it's absolutely essential to get right in between with the brushes.
I've never had a filling - I had one wisdom tooth out 9 years ago and that's it.

I make a huge effort....61 and last had a filling when I was 20. However my back teeth are filled due to poor hygiene as a child. I go to dentist twice a year and hygienist 4 times due to some gum issues which thankfully have got better.
I have a water flosser and electric toothbrush.
I get complimented on my teeth...they're very straight and fairly white.

I’m pretty obsessive about dental hygiene.
I use Wisdom fresh burst floss which I can only find on Amazon (Morrison’s sometimes has it) - It’s the best floss in my opinion.
I also use listenine mouthwash twice a day.
I brush twice, and sometimes three times a day (if I’ve had salad at lunch with lemon juice on as it’s acidic). When I brush, I use a normal toothbrush and then finish off with an electric one. I’m 40 and so far have pretty healthy teeth, aside from a bit of staining from tea, but my dentist gives them a proper clean every 6 months, scraping off stains.
My husband does not have great teeth and hasn’t taken care of them - I’ve seen the agony he’s been in over the years so I think this has made me even more obsessive with my own (and my poor children 😂).

I brush twice a day (electric toothbrush), and sometimes a third time if I'm going out. I do occasionally use a manual one. I floss every other day or so, and have some Teepee brushes, although I'm being a bit cautious with those since I sliced into my gum with one when my hand slipped! I go to the dentist for a checkup every 6-9 months too.

Annoyingly, I'm going to have to pay quite a bit at some point in the not too distant future to have a bridge re-done. It's expensive, and a nuisance to have moulds made and sent off etc, and have to have a gap for a few days. It seems a bit unfair really — the adult teeth never grew so I feel like it isn't really my fault!