So scared - gum disease

[bluebells34]

I have a deep rooted fear of dentists as I gag when anything is n my mouth - even chewing gum. So not had a check up for a long time plus couldnt when covid hit. I noticed a gap developing in my front lower teeth and could literally feel the enamel coming away. I managed to register with a NHS dentist as it was on the news that people were having to pay private.
I was too scared to let the dentist do an x ray incase I gagged. She was really unsympathetic - looked in my mouth and said "you have gum disease your teeth ate loose and you are more than likely to loose them" I need a back tooth extracting and she recommended I see the hygenist
I also have an underbite which has worsened my front teeth are literally under my lower set
I have googled everything and so scared
Made an appointment with my GP as it advises there could be an underlying medical issue such as cancer, diabetes or a heart condition
I am a single mum and can not afford this - stupid me thinking NHS dentist would be free for treatment but so far I have paid £99 to see a hygenist and £65 for tooth extraction
I am so scared because if I go down there is no one to pay the mortgage or bills and I feel I have failed my beautiful daughter
Spent years self neglecting myself to save money

There's info online about how they grade severity of gum disease, might be helpful to look.

So is there bone loss or not?

I thought if there was a medical need ,rather than cosmetic,then cleaning came under one of the NHS bands? I'm sure it used to be, has it changed?

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/what-is-included-in-each-nhs-dental-band-charge/

My hygienist is £65 (south east London). Most of my friends pay this amount.

Hygenists are always private I think?

well done for starting your dental health journey 💪🏼

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor if you have a clean undertaken by the dentist then it comes under band 2 treatment but if they refer you to a hygienist then they are normally a private charge .

My dentist suggested I saw the hygienist because I didn't want my whole mouth done in one go - as previously I have had to have local anaesthetic and I don't like to have more than a quarter of my mouth numbed at one time.

Previously I have had referral to dental hospital for peridental treatment - this was free .

@bluebells34 I am glad you got on OK with your appointment this morning and you feel calmer and more reassured .

Regarding your relationship - I'm pretty sure that gum disease isn't catching! And sometimes you can be doing everything right in terms of cleaning teeth, flossing and mouth wash but some people are more susceptible than others.

I went to a dentist and hygienist who was horrible she was actually tutting when cleaning my teeth. Said I had gum disease and my teeth would all fall out. I was devastated. I went to a different dentist who said I did have a bit of gum disease but almost everyone has some degree of it. I bought a water pic which is basically a power washer for your gums! I use interdental sticks, there's good you tube videos on how to use them. Try not to worry about what might happen all you can do is look after your teeth the best you can from today. Get a second opinion it might not be as bad as they say

I’m surprised she didn’t walk you through a proper cleaning technique with a mirror.

she has probably done a good deep clean but it would be so much more helpful to show you how to do the upkeep properly, gutted for you. Is there anyone else at the practice?

if you are paying private prices could you ask a pal for a recommendation? Glad you got through it okay though, a big step you took today. It all improves from here 😊

Having had time to absorb all of this I feel somewhat unsettled. There are no other dentists in this practice so what happens when she is off sick/holiday. There is no price list for private work/hygienist
She wears her dentist hat then changes into her hygienist hat
She did a thorough job cleaning the teeth, recommended some mouthwash and said I need size 3/4 interndental brushes and not to floss as gaps too big but I can't even get the brush through my teeth and feel I am creating trauma to the gum and teeth - completely confused- watched videos and my understanding is you do push the brush all the ways through ? so no wiser to be honest

No not all the way through - on some teeth only the point will go in, and that's a good thing I would have thought as it means you don't have massive gaps?

I may be wrong, see here:

www.tepe.com/uk/tips-and-advice/your-teeth/how-to-use-interdental-brushes/

So maybe you (and I!) need smaller brushes??

I hope a dental professional will appear here shortly and clarify! I'll certainly be asking my hygienist next time.

All so confusing - this is what got me into this mess - hygienist yesterday said don't floss, previous ones told me not to use mouth wash - just so fed up of all of the conflicting advise

Has anyone had laser treatment for gum disease - researched this and it is very expensive but desperate now,

Following

It depends if its 'advanced periodontal disease' which I had, but I still have most of own teeth and it is managed. I had to attend a large number of appointments at a hospital in Bham, I'd say approx 15 in total over the course of 1 year where I had deep cleans under the gums of each tooth and A LOT of injections💉 😢 but...it's manageable now. I was also told I'd lose all my teeth and was in complete shock/tears...yet here I am 10 years later with all my own!

Ask them to refer you to a dental hospital. I saw a perio specialist. All on the NHS. They will be far better equipped to guide you with any treatment u might need. Don't wait though. Catch this early!!!

@pyjamafashionista that is reassuring but sounds very painful. Worried about taking a lot of time off work also. The more I use mouthwash and the brushes the worst my mouth feels
Will ask the dentist to refer me to the hospital as she keeps saying it is severe but not giving me any options

To me it’s a hospital appointment like any other. You have something which needs medical treatment. They would be bloody harsh if they denied that, but if they did could you do some flexi to make up hours over a year or so?

I hate the brushes and use floss. She probably suggested a medicated mouthwash rather than a bog standard fresh breath normal one that dentists usually say don't use straight after brushing.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor sticking wire brushes between teeth is like a form of torture. I no longer enjoy eating - just want to get a meal out of the way as I know I have to do this procedure every night. It has taken over my life - used to love cooking and relaxing with a glass of wine but nothing is enjoyable with this worry. Dentist recommended gengigel mouth wash but it is alcohol based where as corsydol is non alcohol based. I was considering coconut oil pulling but read alarming side affects of this - liquid pneumonia - so confused

Check where the closest dental hospital is near to you, definitely get referred. In fairness, if you had advanced periodontal disease its highly likely you will need a large number of visits. I had a lot of afternoons off work - but they can't refuse if on medical grounds!
The sooner you get treated the better and you need to see a periodontal specialist. Mine is under control and zero issues all these years later and 2 dentists told me I'd need a full mouth clearance, I was mortified!! You will be fine - be really up on cleaning and use the little interdental brushes every single day between your teeth (you can buy them in Boots)

Another thing you can do to help for the longer term, OP, is to make sure you are getting plenty of vitamin C. It's crucial to teeth and gum health (according to my dentist).

And don't split with your boyfriend. He doesn't need to know, you're entitled to a private life! He can't 'catch it', but your breath will start to smell very very badly if you don't get it treated it's one of the early signs. My dentist ignored my pleas of bad breath and wobbly teeth and I ended up with a dental law suit against them (which I won)
I was exactly the same as you, anxious crying, stressing, thinking all my teeth would fall out - deep breath - all you need is to see a periodontal specialist, have a deep clean and get on top of things going forward.

I have ended the relationship as I feel ashamed and dirty to have this disease. I told him last week I had gum disease and he could not get out of the door quick enough. He just wants a trophy girlfriend and lets face it gum disease is not the most attractive thing to have so I can't blame him. The nightmares when I sleep are awful and when I do wake I have the worst panic attack. But thank you for your advise - this dentist claims she does periodontal work plus being the hygienist but I would feel more re assured to see a specialist at the maxifacial department in the hospital

You don't want to be a trophy GF, OP. He sounds delightful.....

But you have NO NEED to feel ashamed and dirty. Do you think it might help to talk to a counsellor, you do seem really really affected emotionally by this?