Periodontitis disease- anyone have this and manage it?

[beck1976]

I am basically panicking as my dentist said I have periodontal disease, and I am scared as I’ve never had any dental problems before and my teeth have always been good.
I have had a gum shield for the last few years that I have to wear at night as I have bruxism, and he has me booked in for a deep clean next month to see if that helps my gums.
i feel so alone and constantly worried about it and ashamed, and feel like I can’t enjoy eating anymore. I can’t bear having to live with this for the rest of my life.
Has anyone got experiment of having this and has it improved over time?

@XenoBitch pus draining from the gum needs antibiotics. I’m not sure what to suggest if your GP or dentist isn’t helpful, what an awful situation.

Did you say that there’s no recession but bone loss on X-ray? That’s intriguing as I understood that the recession is caused by the gum inflammation healing and shrinking effectively to the new bone profile, revealing more tooth. Would a walk in centre be a possibility? Am I no expert at all but the pus is worrying.

I had aggressive periodontitis in my late teens and early twenties. Dentist dismissed by bleeding gums as said I was brushing too hard. I have 30% bone loss but the (different) dentist managed to save my teeth. It’s shit and confidence sapping but my gums and teeth are now healthy. I religious at cleaning my teeth and go to the dentist and hygienist every 6 months. I’m 43 now.

Apologies for terrible grammar.

Well I’ve just bought my waterpik flosser so will be nervously trying it tomorrow night once it’s been charged, and my COQ10 capsules arrived today too so have started taking them alongside my vitamin D, C, Zinc and B vitamins. Really really hoping by the time I have my next dental appointments appointment on the 10th March, that there will be a slight improvement.

Start with it on the lowest setting then work your way up!

Thanks @BillStickersIsInnocent
GP wont touch it as it is dental, and I no longer have a dentist. There are no NHS ones where I live at all now. Whole families are being booted from their books and invited back as private.
It is a scandal.

Yep, I was told I had "significant" bone loss, and I overheard the dentist tell the nurse I had a shadow in my jaw too. But I was just told to floss etc, and come back in 6 months. Covid happened then... and I was kicked off their books. The place that has a shadow is where my tooth is now sticking out at a weird angle. I am too scared to smile or talk in front of people. I am aware of it all the time on my lip

My friend had a shadow, and is now having extensive investigations under GA on the NHS, and they have said cancer is a possibility. That is what scares me... that I can't access any treatment or investigations at all.

am also not sure how I would manage to use floss or water pick, as I would most likely faint doing it. I panic about pulling my teeth out or getting the floss stuck. I would really like to be able to do it though if it helps but not sure how.

Flossing and brushing in between your teeth with Tee-pee brushes is an essential part of gum health, though. Are you not doing this?

I just had my first try with the water pik, no idea how i'm meant to get used to that, I had to switch it off after every tooth and how do you see what you are doing with your mouth closed and not drown?

I lean right forwards over the sink and have my mouth slightly open, its very messy.

I do the same as Thelnebriati - over the sink mouth open. I'm always fascinated with how much actually gets flushed out! It might be an idea to stand naked in and before a shower to start with and then it doesn't matter where the water goes.

Following as I have this too. Trying to avoid expensive perio treatment. I'm used to the pik now, but intrigued by the white oak bark suggestion and might give that a try.

Started using my waterpik, and found it wasn’t too bad, just messy, but it made my gums bleed again. Should it be doing this?

I think it says in the instructions - at least mine does that there might be some bleeding at first, I've been using mine for a few days and its very messy but does seem to be easier for me than the traditional flossing. I'm also using the teepees twice a day and really hoping that I'll see an improvement - unfortunately I need to save up and have peridontal treatment privately as it seems impossible on the nhs here and my dental hygienist has done all she can.

Yes they might do when you first start. Make sure it's on the lowest setting though as the higher setting is too strong a flow.

Thanks, I make sure I use it on the lowest setting and will get used to it.
I’m worrying like mad as on Friday I have a dental appointment for a deep clean and it’s scaring me so much.

@beck1976 how are you now? My dentist told me today I have this and it has freaked me out a bit.

@Elle54321 so they told you that you had bone loss but not why? I have been told I have bone loss (up to 50%) so I'm wondering if it can be maintained at that level or will continue to lose bone :(

@XenoBitch did the max facial pick up the jaw infection

I’ve always thought that Mother Nature/God made a real design fault regarding us humans. Wouldn’t have been so much better if we grew a third set of teeth in middle age, once we’d learned how important it is to look after them, instead of getting our final set in junior school with the lure of the local toffee shop for our pocket money. 🙄

Rejoining thread with update that might help someone: I'm now seeing hygienist every 12 weeks for a full on clean and my dentist thinks this is helping

My friend's usual private dentist picked up on it, and referred her to another dentist, who then referred her to NHS max facs. She has since had her op. The shadow in her jaw turned out to be a cyst.

@ladygindiva did you have painful gums that hurt