I hate having shit teeth!!

[CouchSpud]

Just a rant really, as I’m feeling very sorry for myself.

I feel like I haven’t done anything different to most people. The dentist even said that i probably clean my teeth more stringently than most.

I came from a poor background, so dental hygiene wasn’t a priority when I was younger… which was carried on in to adulthood as it was all I’ve known growing up. Yes I cleaned my teeth daily, but in my 20s I didn’t visit the dentist regularly… perhaps twice in the space of 10 years.

I have advanced periodontitis with considerable bone loss and deep pockets. I’m 41 😭

I’ve had 7 hygienist appointments in the past year to get on top of it but I’ve now been referred to a specialist. They’re still bleeding… not as much, but still enough that the bone loss is still happening. I use and electric tooth brush, a pocket brush and interdentals. My gums have receded and I have such and unsightly smile with long teeth and gaps in between.

I saw specialist today for a consultation (£165!!) and she was lovely but I came away with having to think about losing a couple of teeth in the next few years. And eventually having dentures.

It makes me so sad and never-ending!

She’s booked me in for a treatment plan totalling £595 😭… I’m so so broke, but I know I need to spend this money!

You might be okay. I was referred to a specialist and had a 'deep clean' under the gum with numbing injections and since then, all is good. I see the hygienist every 4 months and floss, use brushes etc every day. I still have all my teeth and I'm nearly 60. 😃

Thank you!… I’ve had a deep clean under local from my regular hygienist, but the specialist wants to do it again as she has different tools which can go deeper. She even talked about peeling the gum back in some places and then stitching back up.

I really hope this will help me keep my teeth!

I’ve come to terms with my smile now. I just want to keep my teeth now

Great that the specialist has some new tools that might do a better job! Fingers crossed for you OP. Just do everything they say and I really think there's a good chance it will be okay.

I have shite gums too. Im late 50's and for the last 10 years I go to the hygienist every 3 months - I have a monthly plan to include this.

BUT - in the 10 years I have managed to keep on top of it. It is a constant to keep on top of it. BUT so worth it. I have lost a wisdom tooth in that time, but have slowed any further progress of it all.

I use a water flosser and I find that really flushes out my deep pockets that no way could I do with a floss brush.

I also use a 'special' toothpaste from the dentist to help stifle things - https://curaprox.co.uk/toothpaste/specialized-toothpaste-mouthwash/perioplus-support-gel-p269

It might be worth discussing products with the dentist/hygienist to help you going forward.

The procedure you describe sounds like gum grafts, but sounds like they know what is the best way to help you.

@Furball your post is hopeful! Thank you x

I will try to buy some of that toothpaste! Anything that will help!

The work it takes at home to keep on top of it is relentless! I have pocket brushes in the car 🙈

I would say if you have pockets (they go vertically down the side of the tooth) then a water flosser is a good way of washing them out.

I know now when I get food in them - one in particular, and will go and flush it straight after a meal if I can feel it. Its VERY annoying but I had to learn that doesn't feel 'my mouth normal' and act on it.

I am amazed every time I use the water flosser how much food and bits actually comes out. I have a nothing fancy one - £20 ish pounds or so on amazon.

Thank you. I do have a water flosser but don’t use it as I felt the sensation was weird… like all of my teeth were falling out!

I’ll give in another go!

Also use the flosser BEFORE brushing as the teeth like the flouride and stuff in i toothpaste on your teeth so don't rinse after brushing.

Did any of the dentists you consulted mention the possibility of cosmetic dentistry, after the restorative treatment has been completed? I'm thinking of implants for the most seriously affected and more visible teeth.

I use my glosser in the shower, as otherwise it goes everywhere!

My dentist referred me to the Birmingham dental hospital and I had treatment from 2018 to 2022 with a break for covid. Numbed up for an hour and deep cleaned quarter by quarter, every 4 months or so until I was discharged.

I now just have my regular dentist do it every time I have a check up. Top and then a few weeks later, the bottom.

Unfortunately I'm going to have to pause treatment as I need to start treatment for osteoporosis which doesn't bode well for teeth or my jaw.

My friend had to have a deep clean under her gums at 33 and that that was about 5 years ago now. Things seem to be fine

Oh I get it, my teeth constantly bother me and I hate eating as a result. It's just miserable. I dream of getting mine all taken out - just to get rid of the constant nagging pains and niggles. I over brushed when young. Always looked after them. On the flip side my brother barely touched his. And his are okay/better than mine!

She chatted through the options of dentures, implants and vaneers. She said that due to bone loss vaneers wouldn’t work, and implants will not solve the problem as there would still be pockets to maintain.

Dentures was my best, and most cost effective bet

Yes I also have shit teeth.

Multiple fillings before I was six. Braces. Really bad vomiting when pregnant which seriously weakened the tooth enamel.

Three wisdom teeth out so far and one to go.

It's not fun.

Not fun and very expensive

Stupid question but do you smoke or did you smoke?

I had to see a perio specialist. It was expensive (£1200 all in), have to go back this week for my final check up, hoping the pain in my gum is caused by over brushing and poking my gum with the Tepe brush, and the fact my tooth brush head kept coming off, and not anything else.

I always cleaned twice a day, hygienist regularly, but my pockets weren't getting any better. So frustrating.

I feel your pain, I also have this awful disease - it is literally all I think about all day every day and if even wakes me up in the night so I must be thinking about it in my sleep. It he S been a few years since I last went to the dentist as last time I went the dentist scared me so much as he was so horrible. My teeth are quite healthy but my gums are absolutely shit with deep recession around most teeth. I wish in didn't have this disease as it is wrecking my life

@serendipity70 - Sorry to hear you also suffer with shite gums.

I would advise you to at least see a hygienist and get some deep cleaning under the gum line underway. They will then be able to help and advise you going forward for the problem not to get worse.

I too have had a 'curt' dentist so empathise - I then changed dentist to one that I wholly trust and has a much nicer bedside manner. - Could that be an option? Unfortunately mine is now not NHS, but that change has ultimately helped me save my teeth.

If you are having treatment for osteoporosis it is really important that you teeth and gums are really healthy as if you need teeth out and are taking medications for osteoporosis called bisphosphonates then it can lead to some very nasty complications.
It is good practice to remove any dubious teeth before starting bisphosphonates so , if you haven’t already, you need to speak to your dentist and consultant before you start treatment.

@serendipity70 change your dentist. Ask around for local recommendations of one who is a really nice. If you have good teeth then all you need to sort are the gums. Honestly, it will be worth doing so that you don't lose your good teeth!

Change as soon as possible, then tell the new dentist that you want to start treatment for your gums. You'll be so pleased once it's done.

I did when i was younger. Haven’t for 15yrs now. It is likely that this is part of the reason though

It is very frustrating! My dentist said that I’ll only slow it down

I felt like you, and still do too since extent! But the best thing I did was go to the hygienist as I now feel like I have some sort of control over it.

Thanks all for your responses xx