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.

Oh chippenden don't worry, I just think it's fantastic what they can do.

I do know about the teeth looking long, mine are like that because of receeding gums. Once you are referred, you can find out your options and that will make you feel better.

Sorry Nickname... I seem to have hijacked this thread a bit

Merry Christmas one and all

Thank you :-) you have made me feel a bit better again. I keep swinging from being optimistic and then getting really down about it. I'm driving myself crazy!

I am amazed at how much dentists seem able to do with the dreaded inherited gum disease (and how fortunate you young ones all are to have these treatments available to you (and afford them))
As one of the so-called so lucky elderly people - when I was growing up bad teeth (even if first teeth) were yanked out without anaesthetic, teeth were brutally filled with mercury black fillings and if it was loose, wobbly or gums swollen it was taken out.
Count your blessings - I would sincerely like to go back and have all those treatments available to my younger teeth. Unfortunately it is too late now.
OP good luck with the dentist - bad teeth are one of the curses of hereditary and not the fault of the individual.

Hi Chippenden, my gums are a mess. After my root scaling and planing this week a tooth at the front, which had slight mobility has tightened up - no mobility now from what I can feel. They think they can even save a wisdom tooth that's hanging by a thread. The hygienist, who did my treatment, said that she's had people who have been diagnosed with periodontitis in ther 40's (my age) and they've still got their teeth in their 70's. Please don't worry - it's amazing what they can do now. I think there are more of us out there with this than we realise.

Also it's brilliant you'all be referred to a dental hospital for free. I wish my dentist would have done that for me.

Thanks so much for replying to me. It's great news that your mobile tooth has stabilised and about your wisdom tooth too. I am in my mid 30s which they said is a bit young to have these problems. It was the dentist at the hospital who has asked my regular dentist to refer me. I am pleased that my lump is nothing to worry about though. (sorry for hijacking the thread).

I am going to try not to worry for the next few days at least!

(rousette- no you haven't! And I love all these replies so please don't apologise!)

missy - haha to saying these people will become your new best friends! Me too! The rootectomy sounds interesting.

So now that my perio said he could save my tooth, I saw a root canal specialised yesterday and he's going to give me a root canal on that tooth. At least it gets to stay a little longer! The things that used to fill me with dread... I now feel relieved are possible!

rousette - ugh I can't believe your implant failed! My perio did talk to me about implant failure when she talked about the lifespan of my tooth. "Deep pockets" (money). Sooooo true I'm discovering💸

TheChippendenSpook - I'm so glad you found the thread and it's giving you hope! This thread has given me some hope too! I have been so spooked by this gum disease and bone loss. I'm also in my thirties.

mollie123 - yes thank goodness there are options!! It's also weirdly reassuring to know it's not my "fault" as I clean, clean, clean my teeth!

By 3 different specialists I've been told their's a genetic link. Some people don't have great oral hygiene and they still don't get what we have.

Nickname - that's good news about the root canal. It just goes to show, in the space of a week or two, how different you feel about things.

Oh yes Missy ... so agree about people who don't have good oral hygiene and they are so lucky with no problems.

Look away now if you are a bit queasy....

My ex NDN... she told me she hadn't been to the dentist for 40 years (she was 60). The tarter on her teeth was halfway up her teeth (she didn't tell me this, it was very very visible). Yet, she never had a problem. Why why why... so unfair! I don't wish troublesome teeth on anyone but I did think... why when I spend my life cleaning, flossing, brushes in every crevice, water jet machine thing, the latest in electric toothbrush, the lot... why do I have problems yet you can do nothing to your teeth and never even get toothache!

Rant over

Happy Christmas one and all!

I just thought I'd update too. After consistent bleeding for a year I no longer have bleeding gums. For the last 4 weeks

It's been ages but I thought I'd update! Had a root canal for the tooth they thought they'd have to extract on Friday. It was uncomfortable but not painful. He had to drain some puss from an abscess that had formed . That was more painful and still is! Now don't like eating from that side of my mouth.

I've got my first clean tomorrow!

I need to take antibiotics but can't as I'm breastfeeding and allergic to penicillin (the only other one that works on gums isn't suitable when bf apparently).

I'm wondering whether or not to quit bf'ing because I keep questioning whether or not it's making the gum disease worse!

How is everyone getting on?

missy how are you after the scaling and planing a few weeks ago?

Hi Nickname! It's good to hear how you're getting on. I wish I knew the answer to your breastfeeding dilemma. Can it really make gum disease worse? Have there been any studies on it you can get hold of? I wonder if your perio can advise tomorrow? It seems like a shame that you have to stop, especially as it sounds like you want to carry on.

Good to know about your root canal being over though. I'm finding that dentistry has moved on so much in terms of it being much less painful nowadays.

I'm due to visit the lady who did my root scaling and planing on Tuesday for a check up. I'm not sure what that entails and I feel a bit nervous as to what the results are at this stage. My teeth, overall, feel firmer. The gum has definitely shrunk back though. My lip line is quite low so it's not very noticeable though.

I still feel really upset about the whole thing. I hope that will go in time and I can stop obsessing about it.

I'm another sufferer - it all came to light a couple of years ago so I've had to up my routine since then and I now go every 3 months to the hygienist.

I find it's like a 'taboo' subject

I can highly recommend a water flosser though - it has MASSIVELY improved my 'pocket' situation and I deffo couldn't live without one now, well worth every penny.

You are right furball, it is like a taboo subject. I have spoken to a couple of friends about it but not in great detail. My husband and you lot on here are the only ones that know the details! It's good to know there are a few of us having the same problems though.

Nickname, good luck with your clean tomorrow. It will be absolutely fine so don't worry. You'll feel good knowing you're starting the cleaning process. It'll be pain free as well. I even remember laughing a few times as the hygienist and dental nurse chatted and cleaned. I didn't want to leave at the end of the day.

missy, that's so great about your gums feeling firmer! Hopefully the Perio will have good news for you on Tuesday. Do report back! Have you changed your dental hygiene habits?

I am with you on still feeling gutted about it. I keep getting this pit of dread in my stomach whenever I think of it. Or even whenever I clean my teeth. It's terrifying me! Also don't talk to anyone in real life about it apart from my husband who thinks I'm freaking out too much (!). So I'm glad we have this space to chat!!

There doesn't seem to be much on whether breastfeeding makes it worse, but I do keep reading that it can be exacerbated by the pregnancy / breastfeeding hormone. I wish I knew what to do! I am going to ask my Perio today (on my way to the appointment).

So good to hear you found it painless and got on with your hygienist!

furball - how are your gums now? Do you have it under control? I have the water flosser - which attachment do you use? For a while (when I was pregnant) I was using it in place of flossing. Now I'm paranoid that I made my gum disease worse because I subbed one for the other!

Quick update - just had my first appointment with the hygienist my new brushing plan for each day. Oh wow! It's going to take over my life! But worth it. All the interfentals, another brush, plus a tongue scraper.

Got my first waterlase therapy at the beginning of next month. I wish it was tomorrow to just get it over and done with!

That's interesting about the tongue scraper. It seems we're all being advised to do something similar but different. I've been told to use my perio brushes once a day, but it has to be really thorough, and then brush afterwards. The brushing is a quite specific technique. Also I've been told not to bother with a water flosser (my old dentist told me to use it). I've also been told to get rid of my Sonicare brush and use a specific Oral B electric brush.

Nickname, next month is only a few weeks away. The time will fly.

So funny we all get similar but different advice. I was told to do this mega clean twice a day. I was advised on the specific oral b brush too - luckily the one I already have!

Anyone get antibiotic tablets to take?

Yes, I had antibiotics. Did anyone else? I don't think they're routinely given out anymore. I can't remember which ones they were but I know they treated gonorrhea as well (I haven't had it, I just checked the info on the leaflet) :-). It was 2 tablets per day for 3 days. Apparently they're quite a new type of antibiotic.

I'm thinking of upping my cleaning regime to twice a day now I know what other people are doing. I'll have to get up about 10 hours earlier if I have to do all that in the morning as well as before bed though!

I also got given a thin pokey brush thing to get between the side of the tooth and gum for times when I couldn't use a perio brush - not sure when those times will be. Also a manual toothbrush which gets between the gaps in the teeth. Never seen this sort of manual toothbrush before - it's from Sweden I think. It's actually really handy to have because I spend so long brushing with my Oral B that the battery keeps running out quickly and unexpectedly so having another option to finish off brushing is good. I really need to get into the habit of putting the electric one on charge every other day.

Ok I think I might ask again about the antibiotics. I'm getting a bit concerned about an infection rolling around my body!

I got one of those thin pokey brushes too. Just did my first regieme. It takes forever!

Also - Just tried out those tablets that show you plaque for the first time. What a great idea! Gives me confidence i'm doing it right. (There was still plaque after my regieme so I brushed again where it was.) I'd recommend if you didn't get those! They're by TePe and are called Plaq-Search.

I actually have some for the kids. I'll dig them out, we haven't used them in ages.

Massively helpful thread .

Teeth are such an emotional issue aren't they ? Loaded with guilt and so visible and necessary IYSWIM.

Quite agree about the taboo ness .And how far dentistry has come since the olden times when I was growing up .

Can I ask for details about the special oral B electric brush and alo the Swedish manual one ?

And hats off to all of you bravely going through treatment and dilgently doing your dental care .Especially with a baby ! Feel weak at the thought .

My mums had this treated too.

Her doctor discovered her vitamin D was very low and put her on extra potent tablets.

She's had a recent orthodontist appointment and he's said there has been big improvements to her bone and gums . The vitamin D appears to be working.