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Gum disease help

19 replies

Crumpets12 · 25/03/2024 16:55

Does anyone have any tips on how they improved gum health? Any small or big changes they did or products they brought? I’m happy to hear anything!

My gums and teeth have been suffering since having children and my current dentist seems abit rubbish with it all! Long waitlists to change Dentists too.

Thanks x

OP posts:
ThirdStorm · 25/03/2024 17:06

The hygienist made a real difference quickly - 2 sessions to get on top of things and now I go once every 6 months. They gave me some tips of better brushing and use of tape and tepe brushes. Since then I have been much more rigorous in my brushing regime, I'd sometimes forget to brush, now I never forget. I tepe every day too. I am using sensodyne at the moment. I've started to reverse some of the issue which my dentist has commented on.

genie10 · 25/03/2024 17:19

I'd second hygienist. They give loads of helpful advice. I also changed to an electric toothbrush and a water flosser.

ShrubRose · 25/03/2024 17:32

Yes, by all means go to the hygienist. But there's no magic bullet - you really do have to brush am and pm and floss every night after dinner. It's a nuisance, but it will make a huge difference. Also, it's a good idea to watch the sugar, if you don't already.
I use this floss, but any will do.
https://www.boots.com/oral-b-satin-tape-mint-10038088

Oral-B Satin Tape Mint - Boots

View Oral-B Satin Tape Mint. Available online today at Boots.

https://www.boots.com/oral-b-satin-tape-mint-10038088

Bumblebeeinatree · 25/03/2024 17:33

Make sure you brush at night, use the little brushes between teeth, and yes hygienist.

Blackcats7 · 25/03/2024 17:33

Get a water flosser. I have a waterpik and it has really helped me.

Bumblebeeinatree · 25/03/2024 17:36

My hygienist was very judgemental and I avoided her for a while, she just had a baby and seems much nicer. No idea if there is a connection, but interesting.

Sweetladyjane · 25/03/2024 17:36

I had two very intense sessions with the hygienist where she cleaned under the gum (I was numbed for this) and now go every 6 months to keep on top of it. I use teepee brushes every night and the dentist and hygienist have commented on how my gums have improved.

orangeN · 25/03/2024 17:37

Hi I also have gum disease. Things helped me are see a hygienist every six months to get teeth cleaned. Interdental brushes and floss. Mouthwash especially the one treat gum disease. And an electric toothbrush helped me as well. But still I can't have too much chocolates or my gum will hurt sometimes.

Tcateh · 25/03/2024 17:42

Hi

Can you actually request numbing.

I'm terrified but need to try hygienist. Would this be like when they numb you up before fillings or extraction?

I'm with a private dentist
Obviously. No NHS practices left in Devon.
😡

misssunshine4040 · 25/03/2024 19:10

Same I'm so sensitive that everything hurts.
I really need the hygienist but scared of the pain.

Do you get numbing injections ?

orangeN · 25/03/2024 19:16

misssunshine4040 · 25/03/2024 19:10

Same I'm so sensitive that everything hurts.
I really need the hygienist but scared of the pain.

Do you get numbing injections ?

When I saw my hygienists ( I had two) I have never been offered numb injection, but when I cleaned my teeth abroad they gave me an injection without asking, I have to say it helped.... but really it depends on how sensitive your gum is, it's not pleasant for me but it's bearable ( still I hold onto corner of my shirt when I clean my teeth)

OnHerSolidFoundations · 25/03/2024 20:28

Corsodyl toothpaste really helps me.
Dip the tipi brushes in it before you use them.
Hygienist.

OnHerSolidFoundations · 25/03/2024 20:29

A good hygienist doesn't hurt.
I love going to mine!

BandwagonsFull · 25/03/2024 20:47

Hygienist here 👋🏼 I would definitely recommend some initial sessions with a hygienist to remove any hard scale build up on your teeth/deep cleaning where required (local anaesthetic can definitely be requested, it's just like being numbed for a filling).
But most importantly is your cleaning at home, ideally an electric toothbrush twice a day for 2 mins each time, angle this towards your gum line and slowly move along tooth by tooth. And cleaning in between your teeth twice a day using floss or tepe brushes (your hygienist can advise you of the correct size for your teeth). Don't be put off by any initial bleeding, the inflammation needs to resolve which will only happen if the plaque is being regularly removed.
Mouthwashes etc can help but it is the physical removal of plaque from the teeth through brushing and flossing/tepe's which is important.
And then regular hygienist appointment can help to maintain everything 😊

Leopardsocks · 25/03/2024 20:54

I had awful gum disease but turned it around. Brush (electric) with Corsodyl daily toothpaste am and pm. Tepe brushes after brushing at night, every night.

ByWildGoldWriter · 26/03/2024 19:07

How long does it take to turn around?? I was diognosed last august and sincw then had a deep clean and oral hygiene i do very strictly. However on my last hygienst check up one gum pocket was still measuring at 10!!! All the others came wayy down, I even got a few zero!! So she deep cleaned 4 teeth again as one was bleeding and i was very disheartened because now i feel all the hard work didnt pay off.

HPFA · 27/03/2024 18:40

I use Oral B Gun and Enamel Repair toothpaste, electric toothbrush and interdental brushes. Both dentist and hygienist said how much things had improved.

It's tedious but the only thing with any chance of working is to make sure your night brushing and flossing/teepeeeing is meticulous and experiment to find the best toothpaste. I try and think with every bit I remove from between the teeth - "that's not going to damage my teeth now".

Preachscreen · 15/02/2025 22:02

Hello. Can I just check ...is it normal to get some sensitivity to the tooth with an interdental brush? Just had a hygienist size me up

Thank you

SomewhereOvaDaRainbow · 15/02/2025 22:44

I have gingivitis. My husband who has never had either tooth decays or gum diseases often told me that I should never rinse my mouth with water straight after brushing my teeth. But I never listened to him as I thought it would be disgusting.

I went to the dentist several months ago and I was told by the dentist exactly the same thing as my husband suggested me. So I tried following their advice for a while. I went to see the dentist again a few days ago and she said my gum looks much better. My gum used to bleed, and looked reddish. I don't have these gum disease symptoms anymore.

Denmark is considered to have the best dental health in the world. It suggest that In Denmark, the recommended practice is to "not rinse your mouth with water immediately after brushing your teeth"; this is because rinsing washes away the fluoride in the toothpaste, which is crucial for protecting your teeth from decay; simply spit out the excess toothpaste instead.

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