To think dental health isn’t made a priority?

[Basketofkittens]

I’ve recently started seeing a dental hygienist and private dentist. There are no NHS dentists taking on patients in an 80 mile radius. I had to have a filling done and they were VERY insistent that I start using interdental brushes and floss and told me I should brush my teeth after every meal.

I’ve always had an NHS dentist from childhood. One appointment a year, a quick scale and polish and check up. Told to brush teeth twice a day. Nothing on keeping my gums clean.

Now I’m being told I have early gum disease so I’m looking after my mouth.

I’ve never really been told I need to floss etc. Do most people just not look after their dental health? I’ve got to 30 with no dental problems and never really paid much attention to my teeth other than brushing.

I think teenagers should be seeing a hygienist regularly. I’m not sure how early but it’s something I plan to be paying for as part of my kids dental plan when they’re older. I wasn’t told the importance of gun health until much later, probably the same age as you OP, and buy then I already had some recession.

• gum

@Waveysnail isn't that what Denplan is?

Do you really need a dentist to tell you to floss? Surely it is just common sense to clean in between your teeth as well as the fronts of them

It depends on your dentist, for mine a routine appointment is every six months and they routinely discuss flossing etc and do a scale if necessary.

Prevention is so much better than cure, I am 39 and have never had a filling, my appointments cost nothing at all. My DH has needed loads of work and he has probably spent over £1000 on it, he just didn't look after his teeth growing up.

I use a private dentist; I have a check up every 2 years (£30) and see the hygeinist every 6 months (£26).

I brush twice a day with an electronic toothbrush and floss twice a day with brushes and an electronic waterfloss. I don't drink fizzy drinks or sugary food.

I paid £4000 for braces to fix my very crooked teeth so I take huge pleasure now in taking care of my teeth and gums, I realise I'm probably in the minority though.

I've been going to the same dentist every 6 months for about 10 years. I've never been told of any issues, but my old dentist left and at my first check up with the new dentist I was told I had severe periodontitus and most of my teeth are at risk. It's not got that bad in 6 months, so I feel a bit pissed off about that.

Superstupid that’s crazy cheap for a hygienist!!!! I pay £45 nhs, £65 private!!

There are loads of NHS dentists taking patients round south London. Three within my borough!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-dentist-appointments-tooth-decay-sugar-oral-health-a8759546.html%3famp

More than a million people in England cannot register with an NHS dentist, with many “left in pain” and paying the price for ministers’ “indifference”, dental leaders warned.

But... not being able to see a dentist doesn't make you eat sugar or stop cleaning your teeth.

Most food has some form of sugar in, even fruit.

Even if you take excellent care of your teeth and gums at home, you still need to see a dentist regularly. Your dentist can check for problems that you may not see or feel. Many dental problems don't become visible or cause pain until they are in more advanced stages. Examples include cavities, gum disease and oral cancer. Regular visits allow your dentist to find early signs of disease. Problems can be treated at a manageable stage.

People with certain diseases and pregnant women may need more frequent visits.

I stopped going after a root canal which was incredibly painful and the filling fell out after a week, the tooth then broke in half before I was able to get back. I was told it was their fault but even so I would have to pay £1200 to have it fixed! I complained and was struck off their list of patients that was almost 3 years ago haven't seen a dentist since.

I am a qualified dentist OP. MN is no different to RL, people refuse to take responsibility for themselves.

Stopping practising was genuinely the next decision I've ever made. The first was probably choosing to be a dentist in the first place.

Not everyone needs a scale and polish every 6 months though. I'm a dentist and I very rarely need one, I've had about 2 in my life. Maybe if your dentist didn't give you one you didn't need one.

I tell all my patients to floss, but do you know how soul destroying this is? Everyday "do you floss" "no" "start flossing" 6mnths later....(obviously this is a very paraphrased version of the conversation)

We know we are supposed to floss we just don't do it. In the same way we know sugar is bad for our teeth, yet we still eat it, alcohol is bad for our liver but we still drink it. Ime if I think someone needs to floss, they will only start flossing when they have gum disease.

I agree dental health isn't prioritised but you can't blame dentists. Just like you cant blame drs for your diabetes or whatever. Its still you who didnt prioritise it. There's very little other self care you have to go to a healthcare professional to tell you to do.

I thought the evidence for flossing being beneficial was shaky anyway?

I stopped going to the dentist when I was a student. Couldn't afford it privately and the nhs dentists weren't taking new patients or 2-3 year waiting lists so if have moved by the time I was accepted. My teeth and sensitive, have been all through childhood and all the dentists I'd seen just say there's nothing really to do. I cant let anything fridge-cold touch my teeth. It means that the suction tool they use is agonisingly painful. Now I just keep putting it off signing up locally because I cannot face the pain even though I have basic insurance for appointments and hygienists.

What is a scale and polish? I don't think I've ever had one! Current dentist cleans my teeth when I have a check up, I think with a water spray? Is that the same thing?

Feeling very clueless!

I'm a dental nurse and unfortunately oral health is a problem in a lot of people.
It's good that you're maintaining your gums now as gingivitis is reversible, unfortunately the next stage acute periodontal disease and chronic periodontal disease aren't reversible ☹️.

I think the issue is the NHS really only offer the most basic dental care, anything more than that you need to go private.

@LoopyLu2019 - have you tried using Sensodyne toothpaste for your sensitive teeth? I have a similar problem. It really works (using it twice a day, the effect builds up). If you use it, don't rinse and spit after brushing.

My NHS dentist does scale and polish every 6 month checkup visit for me and did it once for ds(15) last month because he had a little bit of tartar build up on the inside of his bottom front teeth (he also got a lecture/lesson on proper brushing technique!). If I have bleeding gums I go to the hygienist every 3 months until they clear up.

They are always telling me to use the inter-dental brushes or floss, but my teeth are so overcrowded (which wasn't sorted in my youth 40 years ago and I am too scared to even think about it now!) even floss doesn't fit in between most of them.

@longearedbat yep on sensodyne, that is what takes me from any air over my teeth hurting to being able to lick ice cream as long as it's not anywhere near my teeth (doesn't let me bite fridge foods or drink drinks with ice), even dosed up on pain killers I cannot face biting ice cream or the dentist sucker thing.

I have a lifelong hatred and fear of dentists due to experiences in my childhood. I was always the one who got told off, had to see the hygienist every visit, those horrible disclosing tablets...whereas my brother was always in and out. I hate going and dread it in the lead up but I am.too scared not to go so always go every 6 months. I've just been and while I dont have any more cavities (this time), he said my gums are very soft again and I am too young for this (I'm 39). I assume he means gum disease. I have booked in to see the hygienist again as I went last year or maybe year before and it wasnt as bad as I was expecting. Question is, what am.i doing wrong? I cant get on with the interdental brushes as my teeth are tightly packed, especially at the back where I think my problems are.ive got a waterpick thing but still getting used to it. What else can I do? I have tried cutting back on sugar and have got into the habit of rinsing with water after meals. I am feeling sorry for myself! I know people my age who drink and smoke and have either no fillings or one, same age as me! Is any of it hereditary? My late mum wore a plate for as long as I remember but I put that done to a generational thing, dentists not being as good in the 50s etc. I just can't seem to get this right. I've already lost a tooth to a failed root canal.