Dental Chronicles

[Mrsmorton]

I have noticed a number all of the dental related questions on MN get repeated once a month or so; this may be entirely unwelcome but what I intend to do is to make a series of detailed posts answering the most common questions so that I can signpost posters to an answer. Often they disappear in chat and then resurface.

I am a dentist (that's no secret on here) but I have no way of proving my qualifications and neither do I feel the need to. I hope that this will be of some assistance to someone at some point!!

I hope you can get some sleep Masterchuff and that it heals soon

My teenager has some decalcification due to braces. This has been flagged up by both the orthodontist and dentist but no advice given. Is there anything we can do to help protect these teeth from further damage? Thank you for this thread it's made interesting reading.

tea yes yes yes. If I were you I would ask your dentist (or ortho) for some prescription toothpaste (5000ppm fluoride) and go to the chemist and buy some Gluoriguard mouthwash to use after every meal.

I find it sad when I see upung adults with nicely aligned teeth but decay or decalcification because of their fucking braces. It's somethig orthodontists don't seem to have grasped yet...

Basically, plaque sticking around the brackets causes it. Extra cleaning and extra fluoride helps to prevent it.
OP, what additional cleaning aids does he use? Interdental brushes etc? It's really important so pls get the mouthwash and ask for the toothpaste.

Sorry the mouthwash is Fluoriguard. Made by Colgate. You can get it on prescription or OTC. The toothpaste is prescription only.

Mrs Morton, can I pick your brain? I was seen as an emergency this morning at my dentist, after 2 nights of solid pain in my partially erupted wisdom tooth. The pain was/is so bad it has me sobbing and biting the bedsheets. The diagnosis was pericoronitis, and a whacking case of it to boot.

I've got metro somthing or other as an antibiotic, soluble paracetamol (can't take ibuprofen), corsodyl mouthwash and gel and have been washing out with salt water. I'm not lasting the four hours between paracetamol doses and will effectively run out of doses this evening before bed. I can't swallow very well, and feel a lump in my mouth that's stopping me opening my mouth.
What else can I do? How quickly should this resolve with antibiotics? Thanks in advance

Having some pain in upper left teeth area (can't narrow it down). Had the last molar out last month after failed root canal, finally free of pain but after a month has started to hurt though not in same area. Got checked out and extraction site ok, x ray shows small line on next molar possibly a crack. Do I just have to suffer until whatever it is is really obvious? Does a crack hurt and if it is will I lose the tooth as well? Can I eat without 2 adjoining molars???

Metro usually gets to work quite quickly so, 24 hours maybe to feel better. There's not a huge amount you can do to speed things up I'm afraid. Get the Fucker pulled ASAP!!

tabby yes you will manage with a gap there. Cracks do hurt, usually when you eat something like granary bread. Typically painful on the releasen of the bite. It can be hard to see cracks but we can usually find them (I use something called a tooth slooth).

Thanks, dentist seemed reluctant to take any action without more evidence but will be returning soon I think. Typical that teeth have been fine for years and then 2 decide to pack it in.

Hi MrsM
My lovely dentist has given me a moulded mouthguard to wear overnight as I clench my teeth in my sleep and he thinks it's causing my receding gums. The mouthguard is my nemesis. I hate it. It feels like it's too tight and I can't get a good nights sleep if I use it. Is there anything available that's softer or more pliable? Also what is the best way to clean it?

Clean it with a toothbrush and soap. Leave it to dry out during the day.

Soft ones don't really work very well so that's probably why you've got a hard one. It can be adjusted if it's too tight. Have you asked your dentist?

I need to replace my mouth guard, cracking teeth partially as brittle (tetracyclines in huge amounts as a child so they look horrid too) but also lots of tooth grinding here. I don't have the£75 for a dentist supplied one, will a cheaper version help or hinder? I have two crowns, root canals, due primarily to cracked teeth, I have very visible cracks in my front teeth and considrable low grade toothache on one side.

Hi MrsM - what a great thread!

I've just noticed that my toddler DS (19 months) has some white spots on several of his 9 teeth. He was born very prematurely weighing under 3lbs, so I'm pretty sure it's enamel hypoplasia and connected to his prematurity. I brush his teeth twice daily. I recently stopped using toothpaste, as I think it was causing bad eczema around his mouth, so I don't know whether I should try again. He has very little processed sugar and no juice in his diet, though he does have raisins and whole fruit. He's still breastfed a few times a day, so I don't know whether that might have contributed.

Is there anything I can do to help prevent further decay? I obviously need to take him to a dentist. Can I just go to any dentist, or do I need some kind of paediatric dentist (we're not in the UK, I should add)?

Also, do you have any great teeth-brushing tips? He hates it and closes his mouth while shaking his head. I do my best while singing, giving him a brush, pretending to brush doll's teeth/my teeth, etc. but it's a bit of an uphill struggle some days :(

fuckit I think you have some more complex issues that fall outside the general advice/resource I was hoping to provide on this thread. I'd advise you to make an appointment to see your dentist ASAP.

untamed it could be hypoplasia, you really need to be using toothpaste though, have you asked your dentist? A toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulphate in might help.

If there's decay in the deciduous teeth (I'm not sure from your post if there is or not) then there are treatment regimes for when the adult teeth start to arrive and so its a good idea for DS to be seeing the dentist now to get him used to things...

Any dentist is fine BTW but a paediatric one would be best if you've access to one.

I'm not a mum sadly so no tips but there was a long thead on tooth brushing for reluctant toddlers recently, have a search!!

Yes we had all the proper brushes etc. Was only given one extra fluoride treatment while the braces were on. I think it's more on one side mostly back teeth as that's where both were looking, I will get the mouthwash this week and speak to the dentist again about the toothpaste. Thank you very much

Thank you MrsM, appreciate the advice. Currently finding relief in a frozen cup insert (you know the bits you pop in the freezer, then screw them into drinks cups to keep them cool longer?) rollered over my cheeks. Very soothing.

Ty Mrs M
Yes I spoke to the dentist but he said I need to get used to it. I'll ask again next time I see him because I have given it a good try.

Thanks for taking the time to answer, MrsM - I really appreciate it! I don't suppose you could recommend a toothpaste without SLS but with fluoride? No decay yet, thankfully, but I'd like to give DS the best chance of avoiding it if at all possible.

Thanks MrsM.

I will try and put some money aside next month. I know I need to replace the mouth guard asap. Just hoping I could do it somewhat less expensively!

booksandchoc ...my ds had a worse gap than your dd did and now aged nearly 11 it has closed up without any input

in his case it was caused by a lip tie; the frenulum going from gum to upper lip was v wide and low set, going through his two front teeth

Is there an actual reason why my teeth are shit?
Usually goes like this, need a small filling, then tooth & filling crumble, get a bigger filling, then end up with root canal then whole thing ends up crumbling away then need tooth out. Aaahhhhh!
Same prob with a silver crown, like the post under it crumbled then had a big infection then whole thing needed taken out.
I always have tooth ache, nerve pain, degrees of severity vary between coping and banging head of wall & crying.
I look after my teeth, clean 3 or 4 times a day, floss etc, never out the dentist. I actually get freebies at this stage as there so often.

Any suggestions at all would be much appreciated.

Thank you so much for this thread, Mrs Morton! A quick question . . . where might I find a list of treatments available on the NHS?

Background: A few years ago, I had root canal treatment on the UL7 (regular dentist referred me to NHS dental clinic for this). The UL6 now needs similar treatment, but my dentist says "it's no longer available on NHS" although she can arrange for it to be done privately. I'd like to confirm this for myself!

Mrs M thank you for this thread