RE: Worried about my teeth / general health link

[Dweet1259]

I'm in my early 30s and every time I seem to go to the dentist I need some work doing. Recently part of a tooth snapped off and it had to be crowned. I've also already got a couple root canals and 5 crowns in total. I did drink lots of fizzy drinks in my teens and 20s by generally my diet is good and I've got a healthy bmi etc. I no longer indulge in too much sugar and haven't touched a fizzy drink for a few years. I'm just getting in a real tiz about whether all this dental work will have an impact on my health generally, I've read about links between root canals and cancer and i'm also starting to panic about what happens when these crowns eventually fail - will my teeth start needing to be extracted? AIBU to be this worried about it all??

The link between root canals and cancer is on par with linking TV sets with cancer so don’t go worrying about that.

I think what worries me is not the direct link, but the fact that they cause inflammation in your body and your immune system is constantly battling it, therefore suppressing it if that makes sense?

Bump - anyone medical on here with any knowledge about this??

You are fine

There is a very weak link, you’ll be fine.

Is there any chance you grind your teeth in your sleep? That could account for part of a tooth snapping off.

It's possible you just have naturally weaker enamel. Some people (I am one!), no matter now healthily they eat and drink, are just prone to dental decay. It's frustrating. Are you brushing & flossing correctly and getting teeth cleaned every 6 months?

I think what might concern me a little is weak teeth might indicate your bone density is poor. I'm not in any way medical though but this could be something you might ask your dentist about.

There is NO plausible link between root canal treatment and cancer. I'm a dentist that's rubbish.
Plenty of links between poor gum health and heart disease, so please keep attending the dentist. Especially as you are prone to decay.
Great that you have cut down on fizzy drinks. Take a good hard look at the frequency of sugar daily (natural and added), not the amount. Ie what u eat and drink between meals.
The crowns should last a long time if they are well taken care of.

I'm a dentist, that is rubbish (information). Lol.
... God I hope not

I have crowns too due to breaking my top front teeth in an accident when I was 9. I'm 29 now and had them replaced early last year and hope they'll last for a long time, but am terrified of damaging them so I bite on the side of my mouth, and I have no idea what I'll do when they inevitably fail. Implants probably if I can afford them.

It sucks OP, dental shit is horrible.

Thanks for the replies! I don’t think I grind my teeth? I don’t know how you’d know? I’ve started taking calcium supplements in case it is a bone density issue, I’ve had two pregnancies and my teeth seem to have gone downhill even more quickly after those. I brush twice a day with an expensive oral b electric toothbrush, floss after every meal, use mouthwash and chew dental gum!! My dentist said my gums are impeccable ha ha!! At least that’s one thing!! I try not to snack throughout the day and eat anything sugary (fruit etc) with my meals. I’ve become a bit obsessed and done a lot of reading so hopefully my crowns will now last a while!! It just seems so unfair when colleagues seem to graze all day on chocolate, biscuits etc and drink coke and yet have no fillings?!!