Gum Disease

[needchocolatecookies]

I've had receding gums for a few years and had been going to see a hygienist. I've also been using a water flosser a couple of times a week as I don't like the stringy floss.

My dental practice closed down last year and it looks like I am going to have to be a private patient to be able to go somewhere nearby. I had put off registering as it is so expensive.

I've now got some discomfort around a couple of teeth and I'm worried about the gums. I think it might be sensitivity rather than toothache.

I am going to register at a practice very soon and hopefully see a hygienist.

Has anyone ever lost any teeth through gum disease? I am getting worried.

I've already lost one, and I'm booked to have two taken out next month. With the bone loss I have, my dentist is surprised they are still in place. I'm not happy as despite regular water flossing and tepe brushing I still have active gum disease.

Have you had deep cleaning? That really helps as it cleans out the deep pockets.

I’ve already lost two teeth. My dentist has recommended deep cleaning at £800 for 2 hours!

I managed to get my gum health down from 3-4s on the scale, with recession and sensitivity, to 0-1s with no new recession. Didn’t take too long and I’ve managed to maintain it.

I hate flossing as I find it just gets stuck. If i have to I use the oral b flat tape which glides easier, but only if i feel some stuck food.

the only thing i have done is use interdental brushes every night AFTER brushing, without compromise. It has massively helped and gets more bits out than flossing. I can’t believe many food particles they dislodge that my toothbrush fails to get at. At the start I found it tedious and I had some discomfort and bleeding, but not anymore. I go to the hygienist 1-2 x per year, its mighty unpleasant but really helps

Deep cleaning. Its expensive but so worth it - I had four teeth at risk of falling out, pockets of up to 9 and bleeding points all round my mouth. I had an initial consultation with a periodontal specialist which cost £195, then two deep cleaning sessions, cleaning half my mouth at a time, at a cost of £495 each. Strict instructions to brush and use the correct size interdental brushes every day. Three months later and the worst pockets have reduced to 3-4, I have no bleeding points at all and all four teeth have firmed up - even one that we were just waiting for it to drop out any moment. My credit card took a hammering and it'll take me a while to pay it off but it means my teeth will stay with me for a while longer!

Thanks for your replies and I will look into deep cleaning. For those that lost teeth, can they be replaced with cosmetic ones? I'm worried about losing a tooth at the front of my mouth

So I had my dentist appointment, last July I had a few 3 pockets, pockets are rated 0-4 apparently, where 4 is the worst . Can lead to tooth loss and gym disease is present. 8 months on, after daily flossing , I had all 0s and a 3 at the back left bottom row most likely due to wisdom tooth cramping. Keep at the cleaning, minimum 5 times a week id say

Thanks for all your replies. I had my dental appointment and the dentist couldn't have been more helpful.

I've been given a dental plan but the hygienist isn't available until April. In the meantime I need to continue using the water flosser and te pe brushes.

I just wish I could be taken on as an NHS patient as it is so expensive but I'm really glad I went for my appointment. Everything was explained to me very clearly and it looks like a couple of teeth are at particular risk of getting looser.

Hi @needchocolatecookies something else that may help is this gel - my periodontal specialist advised I use this daily to begin with, I dip the tip of the tepe brush into it and then work it between my teeth - Curasept Periodontal Gel 0.5% 30ml, £6.34 from Amazon and a tube has lasted me about six months

@Plainandsimple - thanks, I'll have a look on Amazon.

Also, I think I have been over brushing and now I'm being more careful