Severe gum disease/ can it be fixed

[userhjf67]

I’m 43 and my teeth are awful, had loads removed over the years ( only have 3 molars) when I was 18 a dentist told me I had scurvy my gum disappeared at the bottom by my two front teeth and they have always been loose, dentist have told me to leave them not to have them cleaned as they would fall out etc.

Went to dentist today (new one in practice) and he was great said I have really advanced serve gum disease probably had since my teens and had booked me in for intense cleaning with hygienist over two days, he can’t believe it’s never been looked at or treated in the past and that’s it’s been left to get this bad.

Chances are I am now going to loose my front two bottom teeth sooner rather than later

I’m so upset, I’ve always hated my teeth, there awful, I don’t smile or show them

I have no idea how I’m going to pay to get implants etc (single parent on universal)

Can I fix this at all ? Can I save the teeth I have left and improve their appearance or is it to late?

It depends how bad are the remaining teeth? If they are rotting or wobbly then no. If they need crowns/fillings then yes.

P.s dentures aren't as bad as you think if you go down that route. You could always have a bridge on where your bottom two are. Don't worry.

Sorry I've no idea, but wanted to say you're not the only one. I hate mine too and know I have a problem with my front bottom 2 teeth. I think mine is hereditary as my parents both had awful problems with theirs. I'm so grateful to have found a dentist who doesn't just lecture me.

Yes mine is hereditary my older sister has been having treatment for years at a specialist dentist in London

I really want to get on top of this as best as possible and improve it as much as I can, I have ordered specialist toothpaste and mouthwash to start using once I have had the treatment from hygienist (2 weeks) dentist said not to bother until this is done

Thank you will also do research into bridges and crowns

Although I’m a lot older than you, I also have gum disease and you have my sympathy.
I’ve always gone to the dentist and for the last 30 years paid for private treatment. Like you, the advice and treatment I’ve been given was rubbish and sometimes wrong! For example taking out a perfectly good tooth!
Going to the dentist depresses me, but I persevere. The dentist that I’ve got now seems to be understanding and we are working together to delay the day when false teeth are needed. Unfortunately, in my case gum disease means that implants are not an option, due to lack of bone.
It is impossible to tell whether a dentist is giving good advice or treatment until it is too late.

I used to dream about my teeth falling out 😔 (sadly the sex dream about Jose Mourinho has yet to come true!)

While it can't be reversed, it can definitely be stopped with good hygienist treatment and careful cleaning. Ask your hygienist to show you the best way to clean your teeth to prevent more damage.

I have the same problem (also hereditary) and now have partial dentures and have got my smile back. Very happy with them and, unlike implants, they haven't broken the bank 🙂

You could be me!! I also have advanced chronic periodontitis, most of my teeth are receding and look awful. Just before covid my regular dentist flippantly told me that I would at some point lose all my teeth - I had no idea I had periodontitis, I just thought my gums were receding. His harsh words have caused me extreme anxiety not just about my teeth but in all aspects of my life and I am now terrified to go back to the dentist. Literally my every waking hour I spend worrying about my teeth - I just can’t bear to lose them and I am so scared. I have no advice just wanted to say you are not alone and hoping I can find a bit of advice myself on here. I feel so depressed as I used to always have such a beautiful smile.

I feel for you! I see the hygienist three times a year and four would be better. Cleaning professionally plus Curasept mouthwash and gel are my go tos. I use interdental brushes twice a day along with mouthwash.

It's heartbreaking. I have similar hereditary gum disease and all my life dentists have been quick to put it down to poor dental hygiene. In pregnancy it got worse and now at 43 I feel my teeth would have been in a better place had I been advised/educated about hereditary gum disease and how best to manage the condition. Instead, every, single dentist has always bleated on about oral hygiene without even considering any other possibility. My DCs were both born with low birth weight (IUGR) and as a result have underdeveloped enamel. When I take them to the dentist I still get the 'good dental hygiene is so important, you need to brush their teeth for them etc...' despite the fact that I meticulously clean their teeth and mine and we have a relatively healthy diet. Until I point out that it's due to low birth weight and hereditary dentists will keep telling you it's because your doing it all wrong. I've finally found a good dentists who understands what we are going through. The vast majority of dentists don't seem to have a clue about hereditary gum disease even though it's actually quite common.

I too have hereditary gum disease and had no idea until about a year ago when I realised my 4 front lower teeth were mobile. I have always been religious about dental visits and honestly had no clue.

I've had 2 Deep cleaning treatments that went under the gun line (ouch) with a hygienist but future appts were cancelled and then I lost my nerve. I too am worried if I don't too much they will just get looser even though the previous treatments stabilised (but did nt fix) 2 teeth.

I hate dentists and find them to always be patronising or just interested in the money. I go private and for a referral to a specialist it's a £1000!

I am pretty worried about loosing my teeth and can only hope U can delay it as long as possible.

It might be worth seeing a gum specialist to see what your options are. You might be able to have gum grafts for example.

Fellow suffer here. If you have advance gum disease it can thing the bone and make implants difficult so they might not be possible.

I've had and extraction and bone graft three weeks ago and am having an implant and a gum graft

Which tooth paste and mouthwash do you have.

Also recommend a waterpik flosser or similar from Amazon. Have a floss if you back teeth and see if the floss smell (yes gross ) but the try the water flosser and the smell disappears. Also te pe brushes. You said money is tight so try an Amazon water flosser for £20. Not as effective as actual floss or tepe but better than not and they is a special head for below the gum line .

Also use and electric oral b toothbrush. I recently got a new kne and got and io4 and it's better than the 2000 but io series is very expensive and I got the entry level model and it doesn't do what I hoped it would and tell you how well you covered your mouth. But the clean feels amazing. I got a boots voucher for Christmas and used that.

Mincepiepie i have brought the corsodyl tooth paste and wash, dentist said to wait until I have had the cleaning treatment (in two weeks) then to start using.

I'm definitely interested in the water flosser and will give the Amazon one a ago

CharlotteStreetW1 thank you, how was it with dentures? Do they take alot of time to get used to, I would worry about them failing out

OP if you have some of your own teeth remaining then dentures stay in well. It's even you have no teeth left on an arch that you might have issues. My mum is clinging on to her last few teeth for this very reason.

I have it too. I'm 50 and had two loose back teeth for years. I go for local anaesthetic and deep clean two or three times a year and the dentist measures the depths of my gum pockets.
My gums are receding and there's no way I could tolerate the water flosser, the dentist tried without the local and I newly shot through the roof with the nerve pain.
My front bottom teeth are crowded and it's impossible to get the interdental brushes through. Don't know what the answer is , I try not to think about it too often.

I saw a crap dentist years ago. If you have teeth removed you start to lose bone density making it very difficult for implants to be fitted as there is nothing to hold them in place if you have lost bone density. For some they may be able to do a bone graft, I believe.

The crap dentist neglected to tell me.

Fast forward a few years and I am unable to have implants despite now being in a financial position to do so.

Just thought I would warn you.

They're fine although I use adhesive for reassurance more than anything else.

Another sufferer here.

It really is a constant challenge and your gums are like a barometer to your overall health, so if you are run down or have a cold or even stressed, it has impact on your gums.

I use a Waterpik flosser twice daily, I have really large pockets, so they need flushing and also use curasept toothpaste and go to the hygienist 4 times a year and even with all that it is a uphill battle.

Can I just say though that the toothpaste you bought - corsodyl - it is not advised to use that long term as it can cause staining to teeth. So I would just check on that.

Good luck with it all though, with good work you could stop the situation getting worse.