To ask you to help me come up with a plan for my teeth

[vidalbaboon]

I am worried about needing the dentist during COVID. I am in the clinically vulnerable category and my dentist will only see people in extreme emergencies.

I think I have already lost a filling. I used to have great teeth a long time ago but I grind my teeth at night and I have lost a lot of enamel they are now in a pretty poor condition.

I also have acid reflux.

What I am already doing

Brushing my teeth morning and night
Flossing after dinner

Should I add the following?

Is it worth me buying an electric toothbrush?

Is there any particular toothpaste I should use? I have very sensitive teeth from lack of enamel.

Is there a mouthwash I should try? is there an antibacterial mouthwash? should I try hydrogen peroxide?

I need to take Gaviscon Advance at night for my acid reflux - can I brush my teeth after doing this or will that ruin the effect on my stomach?

Can you recommend a filling repair kit to tide me over?

Thanks everyone

Electric toothbrush is a great idea.
Ideally, floss twice a day and especially before bed.
Use a sensitive toothpaste.
Brush gently and always make brushing teeth the last thing you do, so after the Gaviscon if the Gaviscon is in liquid form.
Can you speak to your dentist about a mouth guard for grinding teeth?

Can you speak to your dentist about using a higher fluoride toothpaste?

Eat cheese or drink milk after meals and don’t brush for 30 mins after eating.

Brush in small circles (if brushing manually) not the way we were taught in the 70s of going in different directions.

I was at the dentist this morning, it's all very sterile and I felt very safe. On their advice earlier in the year I bought a water flosser and it's been really effective. Also for bruxism, you can buy silicone guards on amazon that you mould to your teeth yourself just by putting them in hot water. It's helped my TMD and pain from clenching

Have you tried colgate sensitive pro relief tooth paste?

I should have mentioned I already wear a guard on the bottom side of my teeth thank you for all the suggestions I will reply more fully later

@Beetlewing

I was at the dentist this morning, it's all very sterile and I felt very safe. On their advice earlier in the year I bought a water flosser and it's been really effective. Also for bruxism, you can buy silicone guards on amazon that you mould to your teeth yourself just by putting them in hot water. It's helped my TMD and pain from clenching

Thank you for your reply - can I ask with your Dentist wearing a plastic shield when he treated you?

Put some sensodyne enamel repair in your mouth guard over night. It's what our dentist recommended.

Use normal toothpaste the rest of the time, our dentist stresses not to only use sensodyne on a long term basis it's not for long term use.

@Completelyfrozen

Electric toothbrush is a great idea. Ideally, floss twice a day and especially before bed. Use a sensitive toothpaste. Brush gently and always make brushing teeth the last thing you do, so after the Gaviscon if the Gaviscon is in liquid form. Can you speak to your dentist about a mouth guard for grinding teeth?

Okay so brush after the Gaviscon - That is good I was a bit worried about the liquid as it seems very therapy and thought "this cannot be good for my teeth".

I must look at the electric toothbrush

@Twinkie01

Put some sensodyne enamel repair in your mouth guard over night. It's what our dentist recommended.

Use normal toothpaste the rest of the time, our dentist stresses not to only use sensodyne on a long term basis it's not for long term use.

That is a really interesting tip! can I do that every night or just every so often?

Good filling kits at the pharmacist although if u explain your predicament to your dentist he/she will probably give you a little kit. Mine did in first Lockdown.

I've been being treated at the dentist since August (and have an emergency appointment tomorrow). I'm in the medium vulnerable group. The dentist wears a mask, and I only take mine off when I'm actually having treatment (not just in the chair). I am given glasses too when I'm having treatment. I have my temp taken on arrival, lots of hand cleaning, and we don't take in any possessions. It's possibly the safest place I've been to. If you are worried there are private places open that will see you even if your usual dentist won't. Maybe even just a hygienist would help. Good luck! I'm off to nurse my broken implant now.

I’ve been needing a filling since the first day of lockdown. My nhs dentist isn’t doing fillings yet. (Scotland).

So I went to another dentist privately. It’s £30 dearer for the filling than the nhs would have been and I’m getting it done tomorrow! Can’t wait. Seemed safe. Only me and two staff in the whole place.

He’s given me a prescription for my sensitive teeth. Stronger than sensodyne apparently. Called sodium fluoride toothpaste 1.1% dpf. I’ve to blob on my teeth at night after brushing and use sensodyne in the morning when I brush.

Have you been to your gp re the acid reflux? That can cause other issues like oesophageal problems so it would be good if you could work out what’s causing that and sort it out.

I came off wheat bread after lunchtime so it didn’t cause issues coming back on me later and no fizzy drinks. I noticed mine got a lot better then. I made my pillows higher too but hated it!

My teeth and gums have improved tremendously since I got a water jet flosser. They’re not cheap but really great at getting between the teeth clean.
Also get an electric tooth brush.

Take a worming tablet. As it also a sign of grinding of teeth

You should already be wearing a bite guard at night. Botox in your masseters would also be a good idea

My dentist is private. I've just checked his website and so would need to call to see what he says. I'm in Scotland

@SuzieQQQ

You should already be wearing a bite guard at night. Botox in your masseters would also be a good idea

I heard about Botox a while ago - I must look into that

@spashy

Take a worming tablet. As it also a sign of grinding of teeth

This made me laugh!

I must look into it though.

I've been a lifelong grinder, along with bad dreams, talking in my sleep etc. Stress bunny!

@Beebumble2

My teeth and gums have improved tremendously since I got a water jet flosser. They’re not cheap but really great at getting between the teeth clean. Also get an electric tooth brush.

I'll look into that thanks. Some of my teeth seem very close together and the floss often get trapped.

I had some major dental work done during lockdown and felt very safe, they were only having one patient at a time in the practice, I had my temp checked on arrival and then had to wash my face and do two mouthwashes, the dentist and the nurses wore normal masks and face shields during the consultation and then bigger masks, that looked a bit like gas masks while they were actually doing the procedure.

@Skigal86

I had some major dental work done during lockdown and felt very safe, they were only having one patient at a time in the practice, I had my temp checked on arrival and then had to wash my face and do two mouthwashes, the dentist and the nurses wore normal masks and face shields during the consultation and then bigger masks, that looked a bit like gas masks while they were actually doing the procedure.

Wow that sounds so safe! Very reassuring.

@Elieza

I’ve been needing a filling since the first day of lockdown. My nhs dentist isn’t doing fillings yet. (Scotland).

So I went to another dentist privately. It’s £30 dearer for the filling than the nhs would have been and I’m getting it done tomorrow! Can’t wait. Seemed safe. Only me and two staff in the whole place.

He’s given me a prescription for my sensitive teeth. Stronger than sensodyne apparently. Called sodium fluoride toothpaste 1.1% dpf. I’ve to blob on my teeth at night after brushing and use sensodyne in the morning when I brush.

Have you been to your gp re the acid reflux? That can cause other issues like oesophageal problems so it would be good if you could work out what’s causing that and sort it out.

I came off wheat bread after lunchtime so it didn’t cause issues coming back on me later and no fizzy drinks. I noticed mine got a lot better then. I made my pillows higher too but hated it!

That is interesting about the special toothpaste - Thank you.

I am on 10 mg of omeprazole first thing in the morning and I take Gaviscon advance at night. My GP says my problems are caused by the medications I am on. I have given up coffee except for one cup a day and citrus fruits and tomatoes and nothing spicy.

Interesting what you say about wheat I have heard that before About acid reflux - that will be a tough one to break but it is worth a try! I did give up wheat many moons ago For six months for an anticandida diet and I did feel good and lost a lot of weight. I do not need to lose weight anymore but I am sure I can build the calories up with another food

@Lurkingforawhile

I've been being treated at the dentist since August (and have an emergency appointment tomorrow). I'm in the medium vulnerable group. The dentist wears a mask, and I only take mine off when I'm actually having treatment (not just in the chair). I am given glasses too when I'm having treatment. I have my temp taken on arrival, lots of hand cleaning, and we don't take in any possessions. It's possibly the safest place I've been to. If you are worried there are private places open that will see you even if your usual dentist won't. Maybe even just a hygienist would help. Good luck! I'm off to nurse my broken implant now.

Thank you for your reassuring reply

I hope everything goes well for you at the dentist. Sorry to hear about your broken implant 🌺

Thanks @vidalbaboon!

Make sure to drink some unfiltered tap water you'll need the fluoride I stopped and only had Brita water and my teeth definitely needed it.