Anybody with gum disease or receding gums want to chat - feel like I’m the only person in the world with this awful disease

[Shootingstarsparkle]

Hi, exactly what the title says basically - I have chronic periodontitis and severely receding gums. I’m so scared and my every waking moment I worry about losing my teeth. It’s affecting my whole life. Just wanted someone to chat to about it all really and wondering if anyone else is in the same position

I have gum disease. My issue is I'm so scared of the dentist my hygienist can't do the deep clean she wants to do to get rid of the plaque under the gum line so my pockets aren't getting smaller. I need to see a specialist but it's taken me years to find a dentist and hygienist that I can go to. I also have a massive immunity to local anesthetic it seems, I get numbed every hygienist visit but am never fully numb.

I worry constantly about my teeth but I have panic attacks in the dentist chair.

I'm really grateful for all the advice and stories on this thread.

True - when the periodontist gave me my quote my heart sank. My husband’s facial reaction when I told him was quite amusing.

Thankfully a family member is lending me the money otherwise I wouldn’t be able to get it done.

This is exactly how health inequality shows itself and why the the gap between the health of the rich and the health of the poor (to use sociological terms, not mine) will continue to widen.

I was very upset during our Consultation and a good part of that was because of the cost and the worry that I had no idea how I would afford it.

Oh that’s so tough 😢

Have you asked if you could have any form of sedation prior to having your deep clean?

@WantingToEducate I was referred from my nhs dentist to a specialist periodontist (although it was a specialist hygienist that did the actual deep clean) and because it was an nhs referral I paid £65 which covered initial exam, 3 x sessions for deep cleaning and the follow up with the periodontist. I was honestly amazed.

I hope that doesn’t sound like I’m bragging but just want to mention it in case you’re eve able to find a way of getting a different referral

What is included in each NHS dental band charge? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If your NHS dentist advises you need any treatment, including:

• 'treatment for severe gum disease – such as root planing (cleaning bacteria from the roots of your teeth), deep scaling and a polish, or a gingivectomy (removal of gum tissue)'

Then you are entitled to pay the NHS charge band 2, £70ish, and can request to be referred through the NHS, if you are an NHS patient.

'If, within 2 calendar months of completing a course of treatment, you need more treatment from the same or lower charge band, such as another filling, you do not have to pay anything extra.If the additional treatment needed is in a higher band, you'll have to pay for the new NHS course of treatment'.

You won't nee to pay if any of the following apply:
Who is entitled to free NHS dental treatment in England? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If you are refused, then you can complain:
How do I complain about my dental treatment? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

I hope this might help someone.

I use an electric toothbrush and tepe brushes, my hygienist told me only to use the tepe brush once a day at night so I have been following the advice. Interesting to know the what the numbers they
say mean as I always thought it was it’s position on your mouth!

@Tacocatgoatcheesepizza did it hurt x

@Deedoo I won’t lie, it wasn’t pleasant. It didn’t hurt as such because of the anaesthetic but it’s so uncomfortable to have them bashing around in your mouth for so long. I also got a shock about how much blood was in my mouth afterwards when I had to try and rinse it out - always fun when you have zero control over your mouth!!
I was uncomfortable for a day or so afterwards and then it was mostly fine.

It was not nearly as bad as I’d built it up in my head to be though, and if it became necessary to have it done again I’d not be worried about it. It made a huge improvement to my gums so it was absolutely worth it. I actually have the dentist soon so I hope it’s all still ok!!!

Hi, oh I could have written the title of this post. I feel exactly the same, like I'm the only person with this and everyone else has perfectly healthy teeth 😭. I know it's not true but do feel very alone. I also feel
ashamed and very Disappointed in myself that this has happened. I think it's a combination of mostly poor oral care but I think recent stress (teeth clenching), peri-menopause and awful sickness throughout my pregnancy (13 years ago) have also contributed. Finding it hard to cope. It's (mostly) all I can think about 😭😭

I’m in. Just marking my place. Will have a proper read later.

I was just about to come and post in here actually to write down what happened with my first appointment with the Orthodontist yesterday.

Well I had my initial appointment with him two months ago where he had a general look and I have some X-rays taken and we spoke about the possible causes of my gum disease, but my appointment yesterday was my first “treatment” appointment as such.

I was there for an hour and it started off with him doing a really extensive mapping of my gums in term of the pocket sizes but also charting which areas of my gums were bleeding and where specifically in relation to each tooth. Apparently 40% of my gums bled when touched when it should only be 10%. He then gently hit each tooth gently with a
metal tool so they could chart what the tooth’s level of mobility was, I.e was it loose at all.

I then had to have an X-ray of my full jaw and all teeth, and then three smaller ones of specific areas of my mouth.

I also had to have two moulds taken of my lower jaw as I need to wear a night guard as he thinks I’m grinding my teeth which isn’t helping matters.

Hw then made me chew one of those purple tablets that you can in order to spot residual plaque on your teeth and that was quite entertaining. He didn’t tell me what the tablet was for and told me to put it in my mouth and chew and before I knew it my teeth, tongue and lips were bright purple 😂

He said in general my oral health is fine and I have no cavities or problems with the teeth themselves, it’s purely the gums.

So my next appointment is in March where I’ve got to have an hour appointment in the morning to have my lower gums deep cleaned, and then go back in the afternoon for another hour to have my upper gums done. He said it will 5 injections per appointment 😬 I don’t fancy the idea of 10 injections in one day but heh-ho. The dentist said it’s going to be a really horrible day 😢

He said he will review all my x-rays before my next appointment and we’ll be able to have a discussion about the prognosis and any further problems I may come across with potential tooth loss or the needing of gum surgery. He didn’t seem overly concerned though.

So it went much better than I hoped, it was far less frightening than I thought it would be and the guy was really nice and friendly.

So now I’ve got two months to mentally prepare myself for the next stage 😬

I know this thread has died a little but posting as I’ve recently found out I have peridonitis. I’m 31 weeks pregnant and so anxious about adverse affects on my pregnancy.

Also worried about future health with heart disease, strokes etc and also my fertility.

Booked in for deep cleaning in Jan & praying that helps get it under control

We were at an Xmas Market over the weekend and DH took a selfie of us and the DC. My teeth just have that horrible "black triangle" - even those without pockets. I'm going to lose another molar - probably next year sometime. My hygienist is amazed with the bone loss it's still in place.

marking place intresting thread

Has anyone had a gum graft

has anyone gotten pregnant since gum disease diagnosis? I’d love another baby after this one but read so much about it having a negative impact on fertility

I am prone to this too .Hereditary unfortunately. I do understand your fears though as I have had horrible nightmares of losing teeth. My advice would be to just do as much as possible to improve your oral hygiene.
i have just had an IO electric toothbrush and am impressed already. I also use a manual toothbrush.
use a corsodyl mouthwash if notice bleeding.
Get at least two scale and polishes a year.
floss or dental sticks if you can
limit sugary ,chewy snacks
Make sure you are getting enough Vitamin C .
Then stop worrying you are doing all you can!

I got a small filling on both teeth to fill a big triangle. It looks amazing and I'm really pleased with it. Need to be sure to use teepees in the smaller gap though

Had a deep clean 2 weeks ago and my gums have started bleeding again in some areas.

Feel so disheartened I really hoped the clean would stabilise my gums

I’ve over brushed as a young un, had very low vitamin D after pregnancy and never used to floss, so this has been a shock. Thanks for all the good tips on the thread I had no idea about a link to probiotics.

I’m really sorry to hear that. It is disheartening. Your experience has benefited me though. I was contemplating having it done, despite being scared and reluctant to spend so much money. I won’t bother now.

Does it hurt

@BIossomtoes dont get me wrong it has helped. I currently only have bleeding in 2 areas and had more before but I’m just feeling very disheartened