Horrible teeth!

[Rainydaysdontlast]

I don’t know what is going wrong with my teeth. I’m really upset at it all because I can’t make sense of it.

I went through the first 16/17 years of my life without any sort of filling, decay or problems, and then I hit my late teens and it all went wrong but I don’t understand why. My eating habits didnt change (if anything they’ve got better in adulthood! But even as a child I didn’t really eat sweets or soft drinks anyway) but suddenly as a late teenager I needed several fillings, I think I had something like 10 over the space of 2 years. Since then I’ve also had root canals and some of my teeth have got decayed/infected/rotten. I think I’ll need another root canal on a different tooth, I can recognise the signs starting already and I can tell it’s infected too. I visit the dentist every 6 months, I have an NHS dentist and a private dentist so I go to them both twice a year, and I brush with an electric toothbrush, floss and use mouthwash. I never ever skip any of it.

my dentist was confused at the change in my teeth because they used to be so healthy and now they’re not, yet he said he can see my oral hygiene is good. My teeth are as white as they can be naturally but they’re all going wrong now.

I know dentists must hear excuses ALL the time, but honestly, I don’t have a diet high in sugary sweets, drinks, fruit, fried fruit, alcohol, smoking, etc. Sure, I eat chocolate very occasionally (less than the average intake), and I’ll have a soft drink if out for dinner or lunch. But not often and 9/10 I only drink water, and any sweet treats are limited as an occasional treat. I eat some fruit but generally eat vegetables. I never brush straight after eating either.

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I even made a food diary in case I was eating unhealthy foods without realising and I was in denial but I’m not. Nothing has changed over the last 8 years and yet my teeth are all committing suicide now.

has anyone else experienced this?

Genetics. One of my parents and I are in the same position as you. I try my best of course but I end up with needing root canals etc. more than others. I think 10 cavities and rotting teeth is pretty extreme though, I would think you may have an underlying health condition.

Genetics is also a cause of premature tooth decay. You could have congenitally thin tooth enamel and instead of lasting a lifetime, it’s worn through after a decade or so (for example). Or your teeth may have deep grooves in them, but at least these can be sealed.
How are the teeth of your family? That’s a usually a clue if everyone’s in dentures by age 50 that a genetic condition runs in the family.

Do you have any autoimmune conditions? Things like Corliss for example can affect enamel and teeth quality.

Sorry, things like coeliac

You could try a hydroxyapatite toothpaste, it’s a remineralising toothpaste. We seem to be quite limited here in the U.K. and it’s very expensive. I’ve seen a few people recommending Boka toothpaste as one of the best but it’s £££. Risewell was a less popular one, they said it isn’t as good but it’s still ££ so I can only assume the less £ ones aren’t even as good as that.

edition.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/health-fitness/what-is-hydroxyapatite

Have you got wear on your teeth from acid erosion or grinding? I had that (mainly while pregnant for erosion and stressed for grinding). With the wear teeth do become more susceptible to decay

My dentist has prescribed high flouride toothpaste as well. Might be worth looking into.

Have you seen your GP? There are some vitamin deficiencies than can affect your teeth. A blood test sounds sensible at this point.

i actually had a blood test recently for something else but it was all clear. I wonder if maybe something to do with genetics, I don’t actually know if my parents have fillings or RCT but I’ll ask them.

it’s so frustrating because im doing everything we’re supposed to do for our teeth and yet they are all going bad😞

Are you eating enough calcium?
Dairy sources are by far the best.

Are you taking any medicarions? I had 2 teeth break while on a painkiller, that is also used to aid people with anxiety

A lot of people who have ‘naturally’ nice teeth tend to eat or drink dairy products and drink tap water / use flouride toothpaste.

You need to be prescribed a high fluoride toothpaste by one of your dentists and use that twice daily instead of your regular toothpaste.
Are you mouthwashing immediately after finishing toothbrushing OP?

Genetically crap teeth here, and adversely affected by childhood medications. So not quite your story, but I sympathise entirely. It’s so miserable. I’ve had to have several teeth removed. I need a new bridge to fill some gaps but can’t afford it, and I’ve been on waiting lists for an NHS dentist for 6 years, in three counties.

I had this but later in life. No issues, not a filling before 35, and no effort with that.

I’ve significantly improved my diet and oral care but after a sudden need for a root canal at 35 I’ve lost 4 teeth. it’s so depressing, I still don’t even need fillings as have none in my other teeth. It’s just they suddenly rot and break between visits where they were fine.

This sounds like grinding or clenching. I do that and apparently I have very deep grooves in molars. So I clench my teeth and get micro cracks, which then can lead to breaks. My dentist is happy with my hygiene, but gets on me about the clenching. I’ll probably start wearing a bite guard at night soon.

I am getting better, 3 crowns due to breaks and one root canal I’ve been okay for the past few years.