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.

This is a very useful thread.

ChippendenSpook - have you had full x-rays taken of your teeth? Or a pocketing chart yet?

By the way, for those who wanted to know, the manual toothbrush I've been given to use is a Curoprox 3960

Sorry, I mean CURAPROX 3960

Thanks so much for thatMIssy ,I shall be ordering .I don't have trouble with my gums ( or not that I've been told ) but they are receeding and I do like a soft dense toothbrush .
Have been using this [[https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Toothbrushes-Accessories/Colgate-105697641-Slim-Soft-Toothbrush/B00G3IBYZS]]

nickname are you ok ? Do hope you're on the mend and that abscess is diminishing /gone ....

worried not to have heard from you .

ginger - oh that's so lovely of you to worry! I have been meaning to update all day!

I called my Perio and she's going to see me on Monday. But my abscess seems to have gone (woohoo!) - my course of antibiotics finished last night and I'm so hopeful that they're working... it seems so! Gosh it's all so stressful, and I was reading about how the stress hormone makes it all worse. What a viscous cycle!

missy - that's interesting about your Perio doing your treatments for you. I might try and get mine to as well! Is s/he part of a general surgery? Or a Perio specialist surgery?

I feel a bit let down by my previous NHS dentist too. I can't remember if I said upthread, but after my toddler was born - nearly three years ago - I went to the dentist and they said my gums were fine. My Perio has told me that there's no way my gums were fine three years ago.

I was reading this yesterday which I found interesting - about xylitol. I got some of the gum! www.healthygutbugs.com/bacterial-infections-cause-tooth-decay-and-cavities/

What toothpastes do you guys all use?

I have, missy. It was the x ray that showed up the gum lump which resulted in me stressing about bone loss.

Sorry - Not ignoring you! - just been busy with life lol

I personally find the water flosser a life saver, I got so down about spending xx time with those fiddly picks and things and I'm sure I was making things worse rather than better. Now it's a quick 2 minute go twice a day easy peasy and my gums are better for it and it rinses out my pockets.

Its a bit like those pus porn threads here - I'm addicted to watching big chunks of my lunch swilling down the sink. To think all that was left behind beforehand no wonder my gums were in trouble

It only has one attachment - I have the panasonic one and I can honestly say I can't live without it.

Interestingly I am also Vit D deficient and take a supplement prescribed by my GP.

Toothpaste - I use Curasept

Nickname - YAY about the abscess! What a relief! Once less thing to worry about.

My perio isn't doing my general dentistry work. The place I go to is a perio specialist place and they have different people for different things so there's a dentist attached to it.

I've got to say if I decided to take my original dentist to court I'm not sure he'd have a leg to stand on. A couple of months ago I wasn't in the right frame of mind to think about this but as things are getting a bit more sorted with my teeth and gums I'm wondering if this is something I should pursue.

As regard to toothpaste I just use Oral B. I haven't been advised to use any special kind of toothpaste.

Hi there :) Where did you get your water flosser from please? I'd like to get one but I do have really sensative gums, it is powerful? X

sammymarie - I actually got mine from Ocado! It's called the Water pik. You can get it from Amazon too, I'm sure. It's pretty powerful! I think I have a different model to furball's.

missy, I totally don't blame you for wanting to take your original dentist to court!

I was reading this yesterday which I found interesting - about xylitol. I got some of the gum! www.healthygutbugs.com/bacterial-infections-cause-tooth-decay-and-cavities/

I hope everyone won't mind me just changing the subject here for a moment to say: take great care if you have a pet dog. Xylitol is extremely dangerous for dogs and can kill them.
vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/xylitol-toxicity-in-dogs

KindDogsTail - useful to know! I don't have a dog, but good info.

Bill where do you get the veneers?

Interesting thread, I was diagnosed with this about a year ago. Dentist said it's probably genetic as dm has it too. I started to get my gums in good shape, the dentist said it had improved massively but have noticed the last two weeks my gums have started bleeding again and teeth getting senstitive. This goes hand in hand with a lot of stress in my life leading to me constantly clenching and grinding my teeth which I have always had a habit of.

Back to the dentist again I think.

promises, does clenching make it worse?

My hygienist did ask what level stress I have in my life, from one to 10. I said seven, but I think it's higher! (I have a very young baby who is definitely my trickiest one!).

Good luck - I hope your diagnosis isn't too bad!

Apparently so Nickname, can speed up the rate of damage as you are putting a lot of stress on your gums. Unfortunately the bruxism is genetic too, my parents do it as does my youngest who is lying beside me right now grinding her teeth in her sleep. I wear a mouthguard at night but it doesn't stop me from doing it during the day and can sometimes take me ages to catch on, it's such an unconscious habit.

Finding the vitamin D interesting as I am proton pump inhibitors long term for my stomach and know they can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Might be worth asking the gp next time I see them.

Having just been through the baby and toddler years with my most difficult one, I fully sympathise I know my stress levels are through the roof atm, trying meditation but doesn't seem to be helping much

Managed to get an appointment for first thing tomorrow morning, fingers crossed it can be helped with some TLC. Thanks for starting the thread btw, coming across it gave me the kick up the arse to make one so soon.

I use headspace and buddify apps for meditation. I had horrible stress at the beginning of last year, I felt exhausted and ill for months and I'm sure things became much worse with my gums then.

Nickname - have you got your first clean coming up?

I can't quite believe how far back my gums have shrunk. I keep telling myself it's a good thing but at the same time it's not :-(.

Arg I clench my teeth all the time without even realising! I wake up with them clenched. I have never thought about a mouth guard, that's a great idea for nighttime.

Meditation apps sound like a good shout too.

How did it go, promises? Fingers crossed you don't have it back!

missy, its in a week. I can't wait, which sounds mad! Haha!

How do your teeth look? Definitely a good thing that your gums have shrunk back - means it's worked! Is the look bothering you?

I have got some horrible gaps between the teeth in my top jaw and I'm becoming self conscious about them. Also, the gaps are effecting the way I speak. I have to really concentrate when I say anything with an 's' or 'ch' in the word. If I don't I end up with a lisp. At the moment I'm retraining my mouth to speak properly.

I can't imagine my gums will shrink anymore than they have done up to this point.

Good luck with your first clean. Let us know how you get on x

PromisesPromises - I've started using Sensodyne toothpaste as me teeth have become really painful when I drink anything cold and it's helped no end. I've only used it a few times, I got it yesterday, and I noticed a big difference when I had a glass of water this morning.

my teeth not me teeth 😆

It went good thanks Nickname, just slightly irritated in places but said nothing to worry about, I may have been brushing too hard along with clenching Phew

Missy, I hated the way mine shrunk back loads. Know it's a good thing but aesthetically looks worse to me. I tried sensodyne at the weekend as it's the one dp uses and it seems to have helped loads.

I'm just giving another update to give people hope who are going through this process. (Well done if you've read all 7 pages btw!) I've just had my second perio hygienist appointment after root planing and scaling, which took place 2 months ago, and things are looking really, really good. 3 months ago I was referred to a periodontist with a letter from my dentist that said 'tooth loss inevitable' so you can imagine the dire state of my mouth. Well, it looks like that letter was wrong and I may be keeping my teeth for the rest of my life.

I still need another appointment with my periodontist (due in a few weeks) to check everything, but the hygienist is very enthusiastic. She said the key thing is home care. Some people have the treatment and then don't bother much their dental hygiene at home but it's going to be much, much more successful if you stick to what you're told to do and do it by the letter. And trust me, after the shock I've had and the amount of money I've spent so far on this I'm not going to get lazy with the interdental brushes etc.

Also, she said she saw a client this morning who has been with her for over a decade and they compared x-rays 13 years ago and now and the client has not lost any more bone in that time. There is major hope for us.

Finally, for sensitive teeth, Colgate Sensitive has been recommended. If you're going out for a meal where you're going to have extremes of hot and cold etc, or if the cold weather gives you pain get the toothpaste and rub it around your teeth and gums before you go out. Obviously use it when you brush as well. You have to keep using it though, if you change to regular toothpast you loose the benefit.

Oh wow missy that's amazing news!!! So well done with keeping it up at home and making sure it doesn't come back!

That's good motivation with the home care - it takes forever each morning and night but I'm going to make sure I don't slack!

I have the first of my treatment in a week. I will report back. But my gums have already started shrinking back after that first hygienist appointment (it's not looking so good aesthetically but I know it's for the best).

missy and promises - Are you going to look into anything cosmetic to fix yours?

promises - phew what a relief! You must be so pleased!