Calling all fellow dentally challenged mumsnetters.

[Tolkienista]

Not sure why I'm writing this but I'm at a low edge with my very strict dental cleaning regime. I'm 66 years old, under a periodontist since 2002, a dentist and four monthly appointments with a hygienist.
I use an electric toothbrush, interdental brushes & dental tape at night.
Do I enjoy it ? No.
I find that each night I'm dragging myself through it, but I know with gum disease, it's an ongoing battle and I have to see it through. There's no half way measures, it is what it is & has to be done properly.

So I guess that I'm looking for fellow dentally challenged mumsnetters who get where I'm at and why I feel that enough is never enough & that there's always more to do.
Please share your thoughts, experiences and anything that can lift me out of this temporary dip that I'm currently feeling.
Thank you.

Snap. I was devastated at first but couldn't care less now!

Very useful thread, thanks @Tolkienista Based on helpful comments here, I've just ordered some Xylitol mints to give that a go, plus decided to take advantage of a deal and buy a new toothbrush.

Thanks @Souredgrapes for your comments, I was considering them and thinking how much dental care has improved over the course of my lifetime. In particular your comments about the importance of interdental cleaning - I am sure in my childhood / adolescence / young adult years, this never got talked about and I didn't know anyone who did it.

@PotOfTulips . You are right about interdentally cleaning and growing up . I remember as a young teen believing only Americans did it. 😆
If you are considering a new tooth brush and you don’t mind me butting on , look at Oral B iO . It doesn’t need to be top of the range . Series 3 and 4 offer the best value.

@StMarie4me love your frankness & honesty.
I wish I was more like you.
The only thing I'll say in my defence, is that since I've started my cleaning regime I've never had an infection or dental pain, so maybe it is paying off.

Can I ask what interdental brushes people recommend?

I've never flossed my teeth. I did have teeth removed when I was young - because of overcrowding (small mouth, large teeth) - and I've had two wisdom teeth removed, 47 years apart. I'm 65 btw.

I'm not advocating not flossing, I just don't think it's as essential as promoted.

I like piksters but tepe are probably the most common

@fivebyfivebuffy , came on here to say picksters as I do love them but you are right , tepes seem to be the go to brand . picksters to me feel smoother and fluffier. I think they may use less plastic in there design but that’s me eyeballing them .

I use Tepe.

Red for very fine gaps
Yellow for medium gaps
Green for wider gaps.

I've started on the xylitol mints, can only manage a couple a day or I end up with " digestive distress", ie. Copious gas. They also have a laxative effect.

Wondering if anyone has had sedation for dental treatment ? I have not had this and wonder if it would be beneficial. I've just had the normal local anaesthetic, and even though I do trust my dentist is doing a good job thoroughly, I do find the whole experience pretty stressful when they are doing major work (e.g. root canal, tooth extraction, big fillings etc).

coconut oil pulling when in the shower (swish a half teaspoon around your mouth for a few mins then rinse), and probiotic supplements containing lactobaccilus. Also coenzyme q10 supplements.

Hello everyone
My mouth is full of rubbish teeth, currently waiting for 3 fillings, but until I save £750 it won't be happening soon. Considering seeing if I can find a cheaper dentist to have the work done at but not sure if that's even a thing to do.

Those who use the tepe brushes do you put toothpaste on them and are they one use only?

No toothpaste on the tepes or other interdentals - they are for shoving through the gaps between the teeth. Unless anyone knows better as appreciate everyone seems to have a slightly different cleaning routine !

Where did you buy the mints from please? Seems a great idea

I bought these (after reading PP posts) - promise I am not on commission !
https://peppersmith.co.uk/

I told my hygienist that whilst I appreciate the work she is doing for me, and respect her expertise, but I didn’t want her to discuss my routine or the state of my teeth/gums each time I saw her. The last 2 apts have been silent, and afaiac so much better.

I know my dental hygiene routine could be better. I also know that lecturing and disapproval means I am reluctant to come in for frequent cleans, and I am unable for reasons of adhd, poor mental health and dyspraxia to brush better/more so attending frequently- to my private appointments- is pretty key to keeping a healthy mouth .

NB for the Xylitol you can buy a bag (it's like sugar) from Holland and Barrett. I keep a little bag in the bathroom with a tiny spoon in it. Once or twice a day when I go into the bathroom I put a small amount from the spoon in my mouth and swill it round for a few mins as I go about my day until I spit it out. No need for expensive mints (even if they are a bit nicer) and the bag lasts for ages.

I think I bought a bag of this to use in baking instead of sugar when dd was struggling with her teeth. It was called total sweet

Can I just add that Xylitol is poisonous to pets. Even a small amount can kill so it’s important to make sure they can’t steal it and don’t give any cake or biscuits or whatever you bake to your dog.
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/dog/xylitol-poisoning-in-dogs#:~:text=Xylitol%20(sometimes%20called%20wood%20sugar,'%20or%20sugar%2Dfree%20products.

I just buy Smints which are often sold next to chewing gum so easy to find in most corner shops.
Unfortunately any of the natural sweetener of that type make me so windy I have to limit them to occasional use.

Ho boy.

Nearly 65. Very tight teeth, in spite of cosmetic extractions coupled with braces as a kid. No retainers in those days of course - at least not on the NHS. [My mum: Oh, I hoped you'd get your dad's lovely pearly white teeth. Instead you've got mine - teeth like tombstones!]

Periodontist 10 yrs ago. Hygienist every 6 months. Electric toothbrush. Dental tape. Wee brushes (yellow) for some spaces. Can't get brushes between the rest at all. Single-tuft brush and Corsodyl for the gum line.

The teeth that show on the top have all been crowned or veneered - apart from the one implant. (My front two teeth were broken when they were just coming in, courtesy of a rock thrown by the youngest child of the feral family in our block.)

i guess that once I become too gaga to do it all for myself, my gums will just inflame and recede, but by then I won't care.

Dental floss and tape was unheard of when I was a child in the '60s.

I thought I'd lost my teeth during lockdown: DH died and it took me all my time to make myself brush them once a day. it seems that I got away with it, but I got back to my proper routine after a year or so.

Hello people, while teeth are fairly strong ; Ive got some fillings from when I was a teenager but nothing as an adult, I’m an ex smoker, my gums are a mess and I have bone loss and one loose tooth. I grind badly too and am on a wait list for Botox with NHS, I broke my mouth guard that cost over 150£ in a couple of weeks and was not impressed.

My regime; teepee brushes first (with toothpaste) then brush for 2 mins. Half an hour later floss and mouthwash and going into the huge hole I have in my gum with a Red teepee dipped in mouthwash. I have a water pick but don’t use it as much as I used too.
I see the hygienist every 4 months and dentist every 8 months at the moment but the pain in my jaw and around the exposed nerve in the gum hole is not fun. Is it possible to take it out, kill the nerve and have a bridge ? Or just a gap ? dentist wants to keep it,