Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Teeth or lack of.

26 replies

Torvean32 · 14/01/2021 22:21

I've always taken really good care of my teeth. My childhood dentist said I was his favourite patient Grin. I never had a filling until my mid 20s.
Im now early 40s I have no work done on my bottom teeth. I have 2 root canal treatments and 1 filling on my upper teeth. I had both my upper wisom teeth out as my jaw is too small, they came through at a bad angle and were removed.

I brush properly and floss daily and eat a good diet.

Since about April last year I have had teeth basically snap off at the gum line. Not when I'm eating or anything. I'll feel something in my mouth, and it's a tooth. I've now lost 7.

My dentist cannot understand a reason.

Is there anything a Gp can check for?

OP posts:
ermmm2021 · 14/01/2021 22:23

Have you noticed any change since pregnancy?

Original poster
Torvean32 · 15/01/2021 04:29

Not pregnant. Im wondering if it could be a vitamin thing.

OP posts:
thefirstmrsrochester · 15/01/2021 14:45

My goodness, if your dentist cannot provide a likely reason I don’t know who can. Teeth suddenly snapping off is not normal.

Myusername122 · 15/01/2021 22:30

Grinding teeth in your sleep can weaken them .
Have you experienced stress & jaw pain recently?.

DishedUp · 16/01/2021 18:41

No, its not going to be a vitamin thing. Your enamel is formed when you are a child and vitamin deficiency in adulthood doesn't affect them.
I don't think there's anything anyone on MN can tell you your dentist can't tbh.

Teeth generally snap because they are decayed. I'm assuming they aren't decayed?

The only thing is things like tooth grinding. But even then this is extreme. I've never had a patient with this problem. Lost cusps because of tooth grinding yes but I've never had someone who's teeth just snap at gumline without decay. I'm assuming you would have mentioned if you'd had anything like radiotherapy

tobee · 17/01/2021 03:59

I've had a similar dental history to you op and have had both my bottom big molars on either side crack through hairline fractures in the last year and a half (pre Covid). Whicj both dentist and endontist put down to teeth grinding and clamping because my teeth and gums were otherwise perfectly healthy. Sad

inquietant · 17/01/2021 04:03

Oh poor you how distressing!

I have no idea but could you go to a well-regarded private dentist for an opinion? Or ask for a referral to the hospital team? Although the private option will be faster.

Have you had blood tests for general health?

I hope you get some answers Flowers

Original poster
Torvean32 · 20/01/2021 21:05

@DishedUp

No, its not going to be a vitamin thing. Your enamel is formed when you are a child and vitamin deficiency in adulthood doesn't affect them. I don't think there's anything anyone on MN can tell you your dentist can't tbh.

Teeth generally snap because they are decayed. I'm assuming they aren't decayed?

The only thing is things like tooth grinding. But even then this is extreme. I've never had a patient with this problem. Lost cusps because of tooth grinding yes but I've never had someone who's teeth just snap at gumline without decay. I'm assuming you would have mentioned if you'd had anything like radiotherapy

Sorry i just saw this. No I've had no radiotherapy and the teeth were not decayed. Only 1 even had a filling. The only dental issue i have is that my jaw is not corractly aligned. So my front teeth are right on top of my bottom teeth. They talked about surgery, i saw the surgeon but i didnt fancy having to have my jaw broke and reset. That was about 10 years ago.

My dentist is baffled as to why it keeps happening.

OP posts:
Silvercatowner · 20/01/2021 21:36

Good grief, I have nightmares about this scenario.

Ntwa · 20/01/2021 21:45

Oh op.. To say I'm sitting in bed in a state would be an understatement.
Exactly the same as you.. 1st lockdown randomly 1 of my teeth cracked in half, my dentist was shut.. Private it was. She rebuilt it over an hour and said she'd keep her fingers crossed, if not a root canal.

Month later the opposite side goes.. Back in, absolutely tramutised by this point as have no idea what's going on.
Have treatment and follow up.. All at a huge cost. Pay for a xray 3d session that shows in and under etc of your mouth, fascinating. She assured me my teeth are healthy and aren't going to fall out.

Little while down the line my bits still way out so I go back and she checks and files teeth.. Its still not right but she did say about a plate because I grind my teeth. I stupidly thought we'd be out of lockdown and could get one far cheaper from my dentist.. And here we are.

Today I can feel the 1st tooth is going, I have slight pain and its eroding.. I'm so scared.. I've spent stupid money so far and looks like ill have to have a root canal.
I barely eat and when I do I feel limited and terrified..

Sorry a novel.. I can't help.. But I do feel your pain

Original poster
Torvean32 · 21/01/2021 02:00

@Ntwa

Oh op.. To say I'm sitting in bed in a state would be an understatement. Exactly the same as you.. 1st lockdown randomly 1 of my teeth cracked in half, my dentist was shut.. Private it was. She rebuilt it over an hour and said she'd keep her fingers crossed, if not a root canal.

Month later the opposite side goes.. Back in, absolutely tramutised by this point as have no idea what's going on.
Have treatment and follow up.. All at a huge cost. Pay for a xray 3d session that shows in and under etc of your mouth, fascinating. She assured me my teeth are healthy and aren't going to fall out.

Little while down the line my bits still way out so I go back and she checks and files teeth.. Its still not right but she did say about a plate because I grind my teeth. I stupidly thought we'd be out of lockdown and could get one far cheaper from my dentist.. And here we are.

Today I can feel the 1st tooth is going, I have slight pain and its eroding.. I'm so scared.. I've spent stupid money so far and looks like ill have to have a root canal.
I barely eat and when I do I feel limited and terrified..

Sorry a novel.. I can't help.. But I do feel your pain

No apology needed. I feel your pain. I'm lucky that I got seen by the dental hospital in lockdown as all my own dentist could do was prescribe antibiotics. And my Gp gave me pain relief. My dentist re-opened mid December though not for all treatments. I had the most painful one on the bottom extracted, which meant i just haf one on the top to go. Next day the tooth next to the one just extracted broke.

I've never been nervous of the dentist, but I'm beginning to.

I hope things improve for you.

OP posts:
Flump9 · 21/01/2021 02:36

I haven't had as extreme as you but I have had loads of cusps broken off. I had 4 large fillings top and bottom both sides done in the 80's and around late 90s one corner broke off one then that would change my bite slightly and put pressure on a different tooth and over time I kept having cusps break as my bite changed and different teeth would have stress on them. That's my reasoning of it anyway.

Ended up having 3 removed over the years, one more is on its way out and i'm planning crowns at some point. Having invisalign at the moment as the gaps caused my teeth to get more crooked than they already were. Weirdly from my premolars forward they are fine apart from needing straightening it's just my molars that are rubbish.

It might be worth seeing an orthodontist to see if they think your bite could be causing it.

ImperfectTents · 21/01/2021 09:20

I clench my teeth. No grinding. My dentist invited his colleagues in to marvel at my ability to snap a tooth in half. Wear a tooth guard at night and maybe change dentist. Also lots sympathy, I too had perfect teeth until I turned into a nutcracker

ImperfectTents · 21/01/2021 09:21

And yes to orthodontist, I had my bite corrected which seems to have helped

opalescent · 21/01/2021 20:21

Imperfect, how did the orthodontist correct your bite? My bite is awful since an extraction. I grind my teeth terrible, and I'm in daily pain.

Etinox · 21/01/2021 20:30
Flowers Two very far back teeth broken in lockdown and I’m also aware of pitting behind my front teeth. In my case I suspect it’s Diet Coke and ice crunching. Blush
RubyTrees · 21/01/2021 20:52

@Torvean32
@Ntwa

This might sound strange but have either of you had Covid?

Original poster
Torvean32 · 22/01/2021 03:38

I'm pretty sure I've not had Covid. I'm also part of a Vaccine trial so I may be vaccinated.
Not a fizzy juice drinker either.
My dad said this happened to my mum at a similair age. However she used to skip the dentist after she had a bad experience.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMoonCup · 22/01/2021 03:41

Could you be having seizures during the night?

RubyTrees · 22/01/2021 08:04

@Torvean32

I'm pretty sure I've not had Covid. I'm also part of a Vaccine trial so I may be vaccinated. Not a fizzy juice drinker either. My dad said this happened to my mum at a similair age. However she used to skip the dentist after she had a bad experience.
Ok - I asked because I heard an interview (on BBC local radio) with people having Long Covid where they reported losing some of their teeth (which fell out for no apparent reason).

In these strange times, I thought it was worth asking!

Ntwa · 22/01/2021 15:56

Hey, no pretty sure I haven't had covid. I can tell my fixed ones on its way out, it's kinda controlling my day at the moment which is awful

RubyTrees · 22/01/2021 16:02

Flowers to you both. Sounds horrible, hope you get some answers soon.

Dancingalong · 22/01/2021 16:07

I lost one last March and another in December. Both took me totally by surprise. I’m still waiting on a hospital referral for the first one to have what was left removed but all that is left now is under the gum. The other one the dentist started root canal on Monday, I go back in Feb for the rest and she’s going to do a post and crown. I too am terrified now of eating for fear something else will go wrong.

ImperfectTents · 22/01/2021 22:53

@opalescent I had braces

Ntwa · 23/01/2021 13:57

My teeth are definately now disaligned due to the last work I had. I can clearly feel it, also sounds daft but I used to be able to bite a piece of sellotape or bite the inside of my cheek (that's not such a bad thing) and now I can't. Feels horrible tbh and makes me even more neurotic that my teeth are moving 😩