Is it just me with terrible teeth?

[Lemonnhoney]

Long story short I have been for a checkup and all my back teeth are decaying and I need 10 fillings.

I sobbed when I left. How has this happened to me?! I last went start of 2021, I do love chocolate/sweet treats but not excessively! I don't drink mostly water (no juice, fizzy drinks, sugar in tea or coffee), and brush my teeth twice a day.

I feel so embarrassed and ashamed.I'm only in my 20's. I have just had my third baby though. Does pregnancy fuck up your teeth?

I admit to liking sugary food but I feel like I don't eat more than the average person! And I always see people drinking fizzy drinks ect. Do others suffer with bad dental health??!

I’m the same!!

My dentist says 3 meals per day and water in between. Doesn't care what you eat but from a dental point of view grazing is the worst for tooth health.

Get a second opinion….dentists views seem to differ wildly!! £££

Definitely get a secomd opinion.

Tooth decay takes years. Like 5 plus. There's not that big a chance your teeth have gone from completely fine, to decayed to the point of needing fillings, in under 2 years. If they were headed downhill at the start of 2021 your dentist should have been offering you fluoride paint, duraphat toothpaste etc.

Dentists can't survive on check-ups alone, there are plenty of unscrupulous ones who will overfill teeth that do not need it. My mother's dentist told her the previous dentist had massively overtreated her with fillings that were not required.

Fillings weaken teeth and long term lead to you needing more and more work. If they paid dentists more for prevention than for treatment, you can bet there'd be far less fillings done. If we all have good teeth dentists go out of business so they don't have an incentive to look after your teeth.

Get a second opinion
This - my dentist told me I needed fillings in all my back teeth. I went to another dentist and ended up having just two. Thirty years later they're still the only fillings I have.

I've always looked after my teeth, but they've always been shit. I don't have dairy and I think that has a lot to do with it.

Teeth used to be lovely and white until a few years ago when they suddenly started discolouring and are now a slightly yellowed colour 😑.

During pregnancy they definitely got more painful and I've needed more work done.

I think you’ve answered your own question - you love sugary treats.

Teeth health is definitely largely related to genetics. I know people who’ve always eaten crap and not had one filling and vice versa. Obviously if you’ve got weak teeth, sugar will make them worse but don’t beat yourself up. Do get a second opinion though, I’ve had a couple of dentists tell me I need more fillings than it turned out I needed.

Have you just changed dentists?

Are you telling me everyone who eats sugary treats needs 10 fillings in their 20s? It’s obviously not that simple.

It's not just you. I thought I did everything I should to look after them but three babies and they were so brittle. I also later was diagnosed with Coeliac disease and my consultant said he sees lots of people with bad teeth at diagnosis. I am saving up for decent dentures/implants but it will cost thousands 😭

yes, pregnancy can have an effect on teeth. mainly gums though (hormone weakened connective tissue).

second pp - get a second opinion. and make use of the materinty exemption if you can.

I feel like this, went for a check up today, thought all should be fine, nope another filling. I hate my teeth.

I suspect your pregnancy has a lot yo do with it. My mother always used to say her teeth were strong until she had children!

Yep I'm going to another dentists.

I'm still registered with an NHS dentist in my hometown (100 miles away) so I can get it for free there with maternity exemption! Which I'm grateful for.

I went to a local one because I had toothache and wanted not to travel and wanted a more urgent appointment.

I already have a fair few fillings so it's nothing new to me but 10 at once. Like someone said. There was no mention of this just over a year ago.

Devastated!

When did you last have an X-ray on your teeth?? Do not be having those 10 fillings OP.

I have very good teeth and I also eat sweet things daily.

I think I would see another dentist. Have you got pain? You surely would get a shock when your chewing if you needed 10 fillings.

I’m a chocolate monster, I’m terrible for it. Older than the OP and not a single filling.

Definitely get a second opinion OP.

I also have awful teeth that I have spent a lot of money on over the years. I eat lots of sweets and chocolate and snack a lot. I do clean my teeth a lot but apparently that's bad too. I have a new pain that started last week that I hope is going to go away on its own....I hate the dentist.

Do you get acid reflux? Just wondering as it’s your back teeth.

Me too 😥 I feel so embarrassed in their and it gives me major anxiety waiting/making an appointment and being there!!

I had an x-ray in April 2021 and he said all was fine.

This is what I mean! I admit to eating sugary stuff but no more than the normal person. I'm healthy weight ect.

My teeth are just a big weakness. I've had fillings all my life. They always say oh you need to not eat sugar but I feel like it can't just be that!

Nope

ask your dentist if flouride treatment or sealing of molar surfaces is an option for you.

Another one here with coeliac and terrible teeth. I had to have two pulled after lock down after they crumbled and lack of treatment meant there were no other options by the time I could have them seen to.

I never have any treatment at the dentist during routine appointments, have never had to see the hygienist etc. but my teeth end up crumbling.