Periodontal disease... Stage 4. Anyone able to recover from this?!

[Nickname1980]

Just that really. As I've posted on a couple of other threads, my periodontal disease is pretty bad. And I am getting a tooth extracted next week. And have the four quadrant cleanings booked with antibiotic injections.

Are my teeth screwed always?! Anyone recover from it?!

The dentist said they'll look ugly after as the gum shrinks and I'll get the "black triangles". I used to have a good smile! I'm totally gutted.

I didn't see this coming at all! Have been busy producing kids though. I'm so diligent at cleaning my teeth. Dentist reckoned it could be genetic.

I really want to reassure you that this can be stabilised.

Is your dentist planning to refer you to an NHS perio or a private one? I had no option but to go private and so I self referred. Is that a possibility for you? If so, you could see a perio asap rather than waiting for your dentist to refer you. The waiting is the worst. I know once I'd seen a perio I felt much more reassured that we could get control over the disease.

I too have been in this position but thankfully things looking better a year down the road. Things that I think help:
Water flossing after meals
Interdental & flossing every day
Using an interspace brush on the gum line every day
Using SLS free toothpaste
Coconut oil pulling
Xylitol mints after every drink/ food
Various supplements.

Probs the most important thing is to really focus on technique when brushing/ flossing etc to check you’re doing it right. When your teeth are clean they feel really shiny and smooth. If they don’t then they need another brush!

@Missy7419 I am not sure why but my dentist says she wants to have another appointment with me in 3 months - but I can't see why. If it was beginning when I first saw her a year ago and now she says it is severe stage 4, then I can't see why i need to see her again before she will refer me to a perio. Surely if it's 4 then it will only get worse in the next 3 months. I am thinking I will self refer. I did call one place and they said they can see me and the fee for a consultation will be £170 (yikes) Is there a away to be seen as an NHS patent rather than private? I never really understood why that works with dentist and perios? I have seen that treatments cost a lot- so would rather go NHS if it means that I can save some money. Thats another thing to freak out about (amongst the many others), what if I can't afford the work they say I need done... on man.. the stress! I have only said to my OH that my gums are bad - I can even bring myself to tell him what the diagnosis is.

@Querty123456 sadly, I think we all wish we had been more diligent before it came to this. It really is true that you only appreciate your health once it is gone.

I just wish that I had pushed my old dentist harder, I went to her when I was pregnant and my teeth seemed to be shifting and she said it was all fine and just pregnancy. I could have prevented the worst of this and I just want to go back in time!

This is exactly what happened to me during my third pregnancy. It has all been very stressful. I am 10 years on now. I have one black triangle on the lower front teeth but I am managing to keep on top of things with 3 monthly cleaning. They still flare up from time to time though and are a constant worry.

I can understand your anxiety. I feel my previous dentist was young and inexperienced and tbh had poor English so our communication over this period wasn't good at all.

The price for the perio sounds about right. I think some people can get referred to an NHS dental hospital but everything in the NHS is so dire at the moment I'm not sure if that's a possibility. I'm also not sure why, if your dentist says it's stage 4, she's waiting another 3 months.

My treatment was root scaling and planing and I think it cost around £800.

Are you seeing a hygienist at the moment? They will probably know more about your gums than the dentist.

I had the root planing and scaling done. I really procrastinated over it, thinking it would be a massive deal - I really regret that, it was actually not very different than a normal clean but with local anaesthetic. It really made a huge difference though, would defo recommend it.

@Missy7419 I have been in touch with my dentist and asked them (again) to refer me to a periodontist. They have done that now and sent a letter to the local dental hospital.. however they may not accept me. I'm not sure how it works but I am worried they will say no. If they do, I will for sure just have to pay for a private one somewhere. I am just worried as the dental hospital said that it may take 5 weeks to get an appointment and to me, every day is so stressful not having any control over this! I know they may not have any better news for me but at least it will feel like something is happening with this - as since I saw the dentist they just said 'you have sever gum disease - ok byeee' If the dental hospital does turn me down, I at least hope they tell me sooner so I can start to find another place to go. I still can't believe I have this and it has potentially ruined / shortened my life! I keep thinking about the links to strokes and heart disease and it's making me so sick thinking about it all. I can't enjoy food as to me, it's just a cause of anxiety. God hope they find a cure as I can't imagine life having to be like this forever! So scary :(

@Nickname1980
As the original poster of this thread - how are you doing now? I have been diagnosed and I am freaking out. I have ruined my life.

Try not to panic, saying that I’ve been panicking about it for a couple of years now but things definitely feel better now. You need to push for the root planing asap but I waited nearly a year for mine due to covid and I’ve still got all my teeth! It’s a very slow progressing condition according to my hygienist. I’m your situation there’s a lot you can do yourself to improve the condition of your gums whilst you wait for the periodontal appointment. What’s your current routine?

@Querty123456 Thanks for the message. How old are you f you don't mind me asking. I'm 39.
I have just made a self referral to a perio. I have now been referred by my dentist to the teaching hospital (after begging her to do so), but I cant wait that long.. I may not even be accepted. So I will go see the perio I have booked for the 25th. Not too long to wait but every day is so stressful waiting. I'm not sure if it will make me feel better or worse - but the way I feel right now I need to do something! I just cant believe that I have ruined my life by having poor gums!! I hate myself for doing this to myself and to my husband - I have been googling non stop and only now realise what a terrible thing gum disease is. I have shortened my life and it's all my fault. I cant even bring myself to tell my OH the full extent of it. I brush my teeth and interdental first thing at 7am, then have breakfast at work and after I try to mouthwash - 9am. Lunch then quick brush or mouthwash, the dinner at 7pm and brush at around 9pm then mouthwash just before I go to bed at 10:30pm I have been waking up with yellow tongue, so I dont know if I am making it worse will all the cleaning,.. my gums are still red and not the nice pink they should be. I have a really dry mouth too which is not helping. I saw someone say to use Gengigel which I have been using but it has alcohol and I've seen conflicting info about that. I feel like the more I try the worse it gets. I really am so worried about this - I'd do anything to be rid of it but it seems to be a lost cause. I feel so guilty that I have ruined both our lives now.

@Lexielou123 May I ask how you are getting on now? I have just been diagnosed with severe gum disease and I am not coping well.

Hey, I’m a similar age to you. Don’t get despondent, it will get better it’s just a slow road and you won’t see improvements straight away. One thing that I really think helped me was water flossing after every meal. Also string flossing before bed seemed to improve things. It might be worth trying xylitol mints tp try to counteract the dry mouth plus drink more water? I went through the same phase of having a sore mouth and I too felt it was from using lots of quite aggressive products.

@Querty123456 my tongue is really yellow and furry now - it wasn't before... oh it's hard. worrying if I am making it better or worse. I am wondering if it has been worse recently as I believe I am peri-menopausal (well, having some symptoms anyway). Whatever the reason, I am beyond gutted. I jut want to her good news from the perio when I go on the 25th - but I am also worried they will tell me worse news. I have been watching Embarrassing Bodies teeth episodes and some people have awful teeth and no gum disease - it feels so unfair. I know health related things are never 'fair' but I am just so gutted. Thanks for your kind words Querty, it's nice top know there are others out there who have been through this. You say you had a stressful time with this a couple of years ago, but feel better now. can i ask what has made you feel better?

@Chasingclouds100
@Lexielou123
@Nickname1980
Any updates with your gum health? I have an appointment with a periodontist in 2 weeks and I know it will be bad news - just wondering did you get your GD under control? How are you all doing?

I have stage 4 gum disease.

4 wobbly front teeth (now 3 sometimes 2 depending on the day) and severe bone loss in this area.

I was mortified and very scared. I have been religious about dental appts and hygienist visits until covid so had no idea things were that bad until I brushed my teeth last summer and saw them move! I have great teeth, no fillings but dentist reckons a combo of genetics, pregnancies and now a very quick early menopause have had a dramatic effect. I'm 42.

I have deep cleans every 3 months which has helped somewhat but my gum pockets are pretty high and my gums have started to bleed again this week after months of not doing so, so feeling quite frustrated. I expect I'll lose teeth eventually.

@Evilpixie41 it's so so scary! I'm 39. My teeth themselves look nice.. so I don't want to lose them! I also don't want a dirty disease in my mouth for the rest of my life and all the related health issues. I am a huge stresser, so I think that has been a factor in my gums. as well as having a bereavement. I have recently joined a 'dentures at a young age' fb group - and part of me is comforted that there are lots of young people with full dentures - BUT I really don't want to be one of them!

I definitely think there is a auto immune/ peri menopausal thing going on. It would be interesting to know if things improve with HRT?

@Querty123456 I had bloods done last week and apparently, no sign of post menopause (even tho I specifically asked to be tested for peri) so I'm not sure of that would have shown up or not.. my docs are only doing calls, no in person appointments so it's hard to get a grip of what they tested for. with the night sweats I've been having I was 100% convinced it was peri. now I don't know what to think. This cant be just bad oral hygiene as my teeth are fine. So strange. its deffo getting worse and I attribute that to the stress its causing. Vicious circle.

I have periodontal disease too. I don't know which stage. Can I ask what type of toothbrush were you all recommended? My old dentist said to use an electric toothbrush and brush vigorously. My new one says a soft non-electric toothbrush.

Has anyone had any other treatment other than deep cleans/ root planing? I have read good things about the laser treatment (LANAP). I’m at a private dentist and happy to pay for treatment. My gums actually look really good, it’s the bone loss I worry about.

I'm so glad i found this thread as I'm actually sick with worry. I started getting bone loss in my teeth 7 years ago and it was never mentioned to me about periodontal disease so didnt know this was what I had. I was reffered by my nhs dentist to a private dentist who took xrays and showed me to floss and charged me £150. I was miserable with the bone loss it effected my everyday life i just didnt want anyone to look at me or go out with friends. 3 years ago i went to a dentist and got the gaps filled in with composite bonding but its recently started to fall apart. Recently i've noticed that round my four front top teeth my gums look swollen and red and tye gums receded on one could this be the periodontal disease? I rang my dentist and they dont have a hygentist and i asked could i see the dentist for advice and i have to wait a month. I'm wondering should i just go to a hygenist at another practice cause i'm not sure how quickly it could get worse. I cant eat or sleep, my anxietys through the roof and i have a 2 year old to look after. Hows everyone else keeping?

@Help2022 Oh it's all consuming isnt it! Sorry to hear you are dealing with this too. I was told by my dentist that I had to floss better and that my gums were inflamed - next thing I know I have full gum disease and a lot of bone loss! I had no idea that once you have it thats it - forever! It's terrifying. I am on a waiting list for the dental hospital but the wait is long and the anxiety is killing me. So i paid for a private periodontist and had a consultation. I have a very deep clean booked for the end of the month. I hope it can get my gums in better shape; although i am very worried that they will recede lots after but I have to do something. I'm only 39 and feel like my life is ruined now.

@Boofy82 thanks for replying. Today has been one of my worst days, i keep looking in the mirror and freaking myself out and i googled and saw all the pics and its awful. I dont know if i should book an appointment with a hygenist in another dentist as mine doesnt have one and i have to wait a month just to see my dentist and see what they say. I'm 42 and i dont want 2 lose my teeth, dont think i'm gonna get much sleep tonight.

Also @Boofy82 can i also ask how you got on with your appointment at the periodontist please did they give you any tips on what to do while your waiting on your deep clean? I brush twice a day but dont use mouthwash as my dentist told me years ago not to as it stains your teeth, i also use interdental brushes only on my back teeth and i use 2 floss my front which i thought made my bone loss worse but since i got the white fillings in my gaps 3 years ago i'm scared to floss incase i make it worse. Think i'll just make an appointment with a hygenist then take it from there. Sorry for the long posts.