Arrrrgh the dentist says I have gum disease.

[specialsmasher]

and I may even lose teeth

He says it will help if I do x, y and z, but I have been told that I had early gum disease before and have frantically been trying to do these things for ages - so I don't know what to do, but feel like it would be the end of the world if I actually lose my teeth - I know there are worse things, but this is the one facing me...

I have gum pockets, apparently.

He also informed me that the last dentist I saw put in a filling which has damaged the tooth next to it - as if I needed that on top!

Really feeling down about it all, and don't know what I expect to gain by posting, but just thought I would

Specialmasher I assume you've had a regular scale and polish and been shown how to use interdental aids and brush correctly by the Hygienist? With the best intentions and effort doesn't always mean that you're removing the plaque correctly. If you leave the plaque on the edge of the gum (gingiva) your body reacts by pumping more blood to the area so your white blood cells can fight the bacteria, that?s why they bleed easily. This is called Gingivitis and is reversible if the plaque is removed.

However, if the plaque is allowed to harden it turns into Tartar (Calculus) you can't remove this just by brushing alone and need to see a friendly Hygienist who will remove the tartar (scale) your teeth. If you don't get the tartar removed then it leads to the ligaments (periodontal ligament) which hold the tooth into the bone to be eaten away. (Periodontal disease). If bone is lost you cannot replace it, it is NOT reversible, but it can be managed with appropriate care to stop it from progressing.

The picture isn't bleak with the correct treatment and rigorous oral hygiene regimes. Whilst the toothpastes and mouthwashes have their value (esp. Corsodyl) unless the tartar is removed they will only mask the underlying cause. I don't know if you are a smoker but smoking makes you more susceptible to periodontal disease.

I haven't seen the Hygienist for a long time - which is probably why I'm in this mess. The dentist who I saw last did say my gums were not great, but that it was due to me not flossing (which I was doing anyway) but she didn't suggest a visit to the Hygienist, which, looking back, I can't believe I didn't ask about - I just went away and flossed frantically. I will suggest a visit when I see the dentist on Thursday (a new dentist who is going to give me a filling and look at the damage the previous filling mentioned in the OP has done).

I'm really grateful for (relatively) positive comments! Clearly things have got bad, as I have had bone loss, but I'm really really hoping i can turn things around enough to hold on to my teeth!

I will get some Corsodyl this morning, too.

my dh has gum issues - we've already had one course of treatment but still no progress with him. Partly due to his relying too much on them to clean for him.

Nice big old pockets there and bone loss and his healing metabolism isn't great. You could say he's a very bad case.

We've switched practitioner as the first one was over an hour's drive and he needed to see her every three weeks.

New one is also good and he's having the treatment again and we're hoping for improvement as he's making much more of an effort now (a bit late to save his front tooth though).

Oh and he's a smoker.

I'm sure that in most cases if you use the kit and really get to know your teeth and oral health you can see and improvement.

Thanks giveitago. I'm really going to try! What is the treatment exactly? Just proper cleaning with the Hygienist, or anything else?

Well, my dh has it very badly and is probably quite long standing.

background - the vast majority of his family lost teeth (possibly genetics and bad oral hygiene together), dh lost teeth so had bridge (no implants for smokers) - front teeth start wobbling so dentist refers to peridontist and it was a course of deep cleaning (under anaesthetic etc) - a quarter of the mouth at a time with her - and then visits to the hygienist every three weeks (and there was an element of him learning how to clean teeth).

Peridontist wanted to get him to a stage of 'cleanness' where he could a very invasive treatment of deepcleaning via slitting the gums.

He never got to that stage. In part because I went back to work and he started missing appointments (they were miles away) and the peridontist did call me to say that she was frustrated with him as there was no improvement as he wasn't doing his bit (no reduction in pockets etc).

So, he goes back home to his country and talks to a dentist there who says pah his treatment is crap, his bridges are crap, he just needs a treament of blood (idea inject your own blood into the area which helps the gums bone rejuvinate - not done in UK) and gums/bone heal themselves.And then implants.Cool £30k.

I block this as I think the guy is talking crap.

Do nothing.

2 years later (now) - I've arranged for him to have treatment locally so it's all starting again. He's having the 4 quarters of his mouth deep cleaned. The peri agrees with the last one that he cannot have implants as a smoker, the blood treatment would not solve the problem (it's too mild a treatment and that's why it's not use here), he'll lose his front tooth but it's more of a question of stopping the rot so he can have another bridge (only option for a smoker).

He has the kit - just needs to use it - and do it better.

This has affected his health as well. But he's an extreme case.
I'm sure you'll do better.

Put it this way - the initial cleaning is done in stages, 3 x anaesthetic per go and painkillers after. He's still working though and life just goes on.

After this is all finished they'll leave a month or two and then review the pockets (they can measure the size of pockets) and take it from there. He may indeed need the gum slitting thing (he wanted to avoid this) but the peri will advise in august once they see how he's responded to this.

But his is very very very extreme and long term. Your peridontist will advise what you need.

Thanks so much for long post, giveitago. I'm clinging onto the fact that I don't think I can be this bad, plus I'm really going to go for it in terms of what I can do. I have been out and bought Corsodyl mouthwash and toothpasteand more (wire-free) inter-dental brushes and things this morning.

It does give me hope that there are things that can be done, and that I can do the main thing which is avoid dentures!

Yep, there are lots of things you can do to help them help you.

Part of his issue is that he's been unable to give up smoking. I think the new peri mentioned that he wanted to take things slowly to get dh used to the idea of giving up. THing is he's tried and failed so so many times.

He also has the kit but it's rarely used!

So he's not the best patient at all I'm afraid. I'm sure you'll see results. And if a smoker just give it up.

You could have implants rather than dentures?

I gave up smoking years ago, thankfully. Not sure if my smoking past may have contributed to this.

I would have implants if I could - if the bone loss allows. They are £2500 a pop at my dentist's - but I would pay anything really, and would find the money somehow.

Hi SS,

How did it all work out for you in the end? I've been looking on here for some advice / support. Like you I've recently been told I have gum disease, I went to the hygienist for first time ever yesterday and she measured the pockets I have, and said it's moderate. I now have to use a sonic brush, the interdental brushes & floss every day so that it doesn't get any worse.

I was feeling really bad because I hadn't been to dentist for 2 years and so was cross with myself that I could have prevented it, but then again I was only meant to go once a year cos I have good teeth, and was booked to go last year but my husband had an anuerism the week it was booked for!! He's fine, but I never got around to re-booking and now the damage is done.

The hygienist did make me feel a bit better about it though cos she said there were hereditary factors (she treats my mum - who doesn't have gum disease but we have thin gum & bone apparently).

Anyway she's given me 6 weeks to get my gums healthy (not bleeding anymore) and then I've got to go in to have root planing under anaesthetic....which sounds horrid.....then hopefully the pockets will shrink a bit but the gums will also recede a bit apparently so my teeth may look longer.

She was lovely and very positive but I burst into tears at the enormity of it all and I've been feeling a bit down about it, so I'd love to hear how you're doing now a year after your diagnosis?

Claire