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25 years old.. rotting molars, receeding gums and now a loose tooth!

T

TerrifiedWelshie

Junior member
Joined
Jan 7, 2018
Messages
9
I am so glad I found this website.

I'm 25 years old and have only been to the dentist twice in my whole life. My parents never really knew about oral hygiene (they would say things like 'don't bother brushing your teeth at night, you're not going anywhere' etc.)

The first was when I was around 12 and I had a small filling. It didn't hurt at all. He refered me to an orthodontist for a slight overbite and to get braces as my teeth are pretty crooked, but I never went for some reason.

The second was a couple of years ago after I plucked up the courage to go and see about a tooth that started out with a small hole and now has progressed into what looks like a huge black mess at the back of my mouth, (and subsequently the entire left side of my mouth, all the teeth are either completely discoloured or have started turning to mush because I haven't used them in over 7 years.) But all the dentist said was I'll probably need a crown over it after a deep cleaning and because he wasn't very nice or empathetic at all I never went back.

I only put up because there has never been any pain.

So since then I've been eating with no problems with my right side. But a few months ago I (stupidly!!) Ate a bag of peanuts and POP out comes one of my molars. About a week later the tooth adjacent to the missing one also crumbled out. Now I'm left with just the pulp for them both, which means I can only eat soft foods now like soup and mash.

I've been getting pretty used to this diet and crushing food at the roof of my mouth with my tongue - until about 2 weeks ago when I decided to take up flossing and was left with all of my front teeth (top & bottom) feeling really weird and loose!!

I've been having really bad anxiety and panic attacks since then - my two front teeth at the top do feel a little more stable in the last week or so.
But I've also noticed my gums are receeding quite drastically at the bottom of my front teeth and now I think one of my teeth is actually loose and I'm worried the only thing holding it in place is the tartar at the back of my teeth.

I'm so sorry this post is so long but I've never been able to talk to anyone about this! Anytime anyone mentions dentists or teeth I will make a swift exit out of the room!

I'm so embarrassed and so worried I'll end up with none of my teeth left by the time I hit 30.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far x
 
Right, firstly don't be embarrased,you can see that you most certainly are not alone in your predicament. I replied to a post from another user of a similar age to you, only the other day, with a similar background and fears. Secondly, I think you are incredibly brave - to have gone to a dentist a couple of years ago despite feeling so awful. Obviously, as you found out, not all dentists are equal with regard to their interpersonal skills and ability to deal with anxious patients. It sounds like you are pretty sure you need some extensive work done (which may not be as bad or as much as you think!) and if I were you I would start researching a dentist who you can get to who really wants to help you, and has the ability to gain your trust. Basically, someone who you like and feel you can work with. You must be in some awful pain surely with those broken molars, and there could be elements of infection, so really for your own mental and physical well-being (at your age you need to be able to eat properly, well at ANY age you need to, and enjoy eating), finding someone to start having a look would be a great idea. You may be surprised at how good they can get your mouth and teeth looking and feeling, even though at the moment you feel nothing is salvageable. If you have gum disease then it can be halted, with care and attention to oral hygiene after cleaning visits, but leaving it will of course make the situation worse.
There are lots of people on here who have been where you are now, and I can tell you that your imagination about the situation and your panic about the dentist will be worse than the reality. I think you've been hugely courageous before and I think you can do that again, because I sense from reading your post that you now want to get some help for this in your heart, but your fear is getting in the way.
 
Thank you for posting!

If I may, kindly and gently, disagree with one thing you said: it was not "stupid" to eat peanuts. Eating peanuts is a natural and good thing. You are human, and a normal and decent human at that. I hope (and expect) that someday soon you'll be eating all the peanuts you want. Keep us posted.

Remember, we are only as sick as our secrets. You did very well by posting here.
 
You are SO right, I've spent my Christmas eating nuts each and everyday, you should be able to eat them and enjoy them !!!!
 
Thank you for your replies! I'm going to call a few dentists that I researched last night and try and get on a waiting list.
I have panic attacks almost every day because of this, I desperately want to live a normal life again and this is the only way to make that happen!
The only pain I'm in is a bit at the front where my gums are receeding - I'm using corsadyl mouthwash and toothpaste and have been for around and week now so I'm hoping that will at least slow it down until I can see a dentist (although I'm pretty sure they will then have to refer me to a gum specialist?)


I'm HOPING that it's worse in my head than it actually is but I do think I may be too far gone and have to have them all extracted.

Or what if after all deep cleaning my bottom front tooth falls out? I've only left the house once this week because I'm so worried - I can't imagine how much that would effect my mental health if I actually lost my tooth and had a huge gap.

I know I need to sort this out, but I'm so petrified of finding out the extent of the damage and the pain that I'll now have to experience as a result of my negligence.

I have an NHS exempt card (thankfully!) but will I be able to request to be sedated for some things?
 
Do you know, there is nobody as courageous as someone who deals with daily fear, but confronts it...people with anxiety problems aren't weak, thats the irony of the situation. This sentence is awesome -

I have panic attacks almost every day because of this, I desperately want to live a normal life again and this is the only way to make that happen!

IF you lose your bottom tooth, if its so eroded from recession into the surrounding tissues and bone, then you can have a bridge fitted. Thats just one example, of something that is minimally invasive and will give you your confidence back. There are other ways they can 'give you a tooth back' in that position too, but your dentist can talk you through options IF that happens. The right dentist will want to retain your natural teeth if possible, so make sure in your research that you look for recommendations for someone who is conservative with treatment.

Regarding 'pain because of your negligence', well.......the pain won't be anything like you are currently feeling and have had :giggle: I mean; I was 'negligent' in leaving a decayed wisdom tooth from fear (well in my defence, I had shown it to two dentists who told me there was no issue!LOL I then moved dentists but in the meantime left it longer and longer). Yeah, the extraction gave me constant panic attacks for weeks before, but once it was done (quickly and sucessfully!) there was no more pain both psychologically and physically.

I dont know about the exemption thing, but all of this can added to a list of questions to take to your first consultation.
 
.....Also...the 'losing a tooth' thing....

When I was a teenager I broke my two upper front teeth. I was pushed into a wall and they were both snapped off. They don't leave you without teeth if you don't want a gap ! By that evening I had two temporaries in place, ok they werent fantastic but they filled the gap until the proper work could be done.
 
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words! I've actually booked an appointment! End of the month - I really hope everything holds in place until then at least! Because of pretty bad stress levels (recently come out of an abusive relationship for years ect) I now clench my jaw shut really hard when I sleep and so every morning all of my teeth feel slightly odd - loose even. It starts my day off in a panicy/anxious way and I'm so worried I have bone loss.

I think I just fear the worst, that I'll be the one person no dentist can do anything for and I'll just end up with huge gaps, and eventually have nothing because I won't have any bone/gum left ?

But I have made an appointment so like I said I guess I'll have to hope and pray that my teeth stay put until then!
 
Tooth clenching can give all sorts of odd sensations and problems (I know, as I've done it for many years), everything from ear pain, to tinitus, to painful teeth and more. I'm not surprised you are feeling so bad if you've recently come out of a relationship that was causing so much damage. This is a big step, making the appointment, where you can now take control and move forwards in a way that is loving to yourself! Will you be the only person ever who a dentist can't help.....NOPE, no chance.
 
I think you're so brave already.. so very brave:respect:!!! To have gotten out of something as you have, and to be dealing with all of this as well? Please, I know you have moments of doubt, but please you are so brave for this!!!!!!
 
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