Can a dentist or any members here explain what my hygienist and my dentist said?

[anonfemale]

I am very anxious and I have autism. I went for a check up with the dentist a few weeks ago. She said I was doing really well and that there was just a bit of inflammation in my bottom front gums. She recommended a toothpaste which i have been using and referred me to the hygienist. She also asked me to see her again in three month. I was confused about why she wants me to go every three months and why I needed to see the hygienist if I have been brushing and flossing well. I saw the hygienist today and he aaid there was build up of plaque near my gums. The dentist didn't mention that so that also made me confused. After the cleaning, the dentist asked me to use interdental brushes as well as my water pik flosser. When I told the hygienist that I have dexterity problems and find it difficult using interdental brushes, he said it was fine to only use the water pik flosser. Will it be ok for me to use only the water pik flosser before I use my electric toothbrush?. He seemed pleased that I use an electric toothbrush.

 

[anonfemale]

The hygienist and the dentist didnt mention where the inflammation was or what kind of inflammation it was .

 

[anonfemale]

I don't feel like eating. If I am doing well , why did I have build up and why was the hygienist telling me how to brush?.

 

[Gordon]

She said I was doing really well and that there was just a bit of inflammation in my bottom front gums. She recommended a toothpaste which i have been using and referred me to the hygienist. She also asked me to see her again in three month. I was confused about why she wants me to go every three months and why I needed to see the hygienist if I have been brushing and flossing well.

It sounds like you're doing a good job in general but there are a couple of places where you need to do a bit better. The inflammation will be some gingivitis because you're not getting all the plaque off in that area.

I saw the hygienist today and he aaid there was build up of plaque near my gums. The dentist didn't mention that so that also made me confused.

They probably didn't want to overload you with information. If there's been some inflammation in an area then it has had some plaque building up. It's not a big issue and it's good that they're addressing it.

After the cleaning, the dentist asked me to use interdental brushes as well as my water pik flosser. When I told the hygienist that I have dexterity problems and find it difficult using interdental brushes, he said it was fine to only use the water pik flosser. Will it be ok for me to use only the water pik flosser before I use my electric toothbrush?. He seemed pleased that I use an electric toothbrush.

It's OK but it'd be better if you could manage to use an interdental brush. Water Piks don't remove plaque as well as interdental brushes do.

 

[Gordon]

I don't feel like eating. If I am doing well , why did I have build up and why was the hygienist telling me how to brush?.

If you were sitting an exam and you got 95 out of 100, would you say you were doing well or doing badly? I'd say you were doing pretty well...

You're getting most of the plaque off but just missing out on one small area. Keep at it and get that 100% next time

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. That has made me feel better but I still feel quite anxious about the inflammation. Do you think I should have asked the hygienist if the inflammation was anything to be worried about and should I have asked him what kind of inflammation it was?. I did email the dental practice asking those questions but I haven't got a reply. Should I call them and ask for another appointment with the hygienist to ask those questions and ask for a demonstration on how to use the interdental brushes?. Can using both the water pik flosser and the interdental brushes damage your gums?.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Also, I don't have any pain in my mouth.

 

[Gordon]

Do you think I should have asked the hygienist if the inflammation was anything to be worried about and should I have asked him what kind of inflammation it was?.

It's gingivitis, very minor inflammation. Don't get hung up on the phraseology, it's just dentist jargon.
Nothing to worry about.

I did email the dental practice asking those questions but I haven't got a reply.

Give them time. I'm sure they'll get back to you in a wee while.

Should I call them and ask for another appointment with the hygienist to ask those questions and ask for a demonstration on how to use the interdental brushes?

The demonstration bit is a good idea, but it can wait for your 3 month re-visit.

Can using both the water pik flosser and the interdental brushes damage your gums?.

No, not at all.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. That helps. I think I just worry because gingivitis can become periodontitis. I know with some people it just stays as gingivitis and with some people it can go away and improve too. I will wait until the 3 month re-visit to ask about the demonstration. Could I use both the water pik flosser and the interdental brushes before brushing my teeth?.

 

[Gordon]

That helps. I think I just worry because gingivitis can become periodontitis. I know with some people it just stays as gingivitis and with some people it can go away and improve too.

Yes, you're quite correct. Gingivitis is directly linked to plaque build up, remove the plaque and the gingivitis goes away.

I will wait until the 3 month re-visit to ask about the demonstration. Could I use both the water pik flosser and the interdental brushes before brushing my teeth?.

Yes, no reason why not.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon I have carers and I keep asking them to make sure that I am brushing near the gumline. I was in tears this morning because I feel so anxious about it.

 

[Gordon]

@Gordon I have carers and I keep asking them to make sure that I am brushing near the gumline. I was in tears this morning because I feel so anxious about it.

Don't push yourself so hard. It sounds like you're doing an excellent job so far and just need a tiny bit of fine tuning of your technique to get it perfect.
Are you able to use a disclosing tablet so you can visualise any plaque left behind for yourself?

 

[anonfemale]

Don't push yourself so hard. It sounds like you're doing an excellent job so far and just need a tiny bit of fine tuning of your technique to get it perfect.
Are you able to use a disclosing tablet so you can visualise any plaque left behind for yourself?

@Gordon I tried the disclosing tablets but I couldn't tell where the plaque was because it was different colours on my teeth and gums and it was hard to brush the dye off. I was worried about overbrushing by brushing before chewing the tablet and after chewing it.

 

[Gordon]

@Gordon I tried the disclosing tablets but I couldn't tell where the plaque was because it was different colours on my teeth and gums and it was hard to brush the dye off. I was worried about overbrushing by brushing before chewing the tablet and after chewing it.

Yeah, don't worry about it. It sounds like you're doing fine. Just discuss it with your hygienist at your next visit, they should be able to show you areas you need to concentrate on a bit more closely. That's what you're paying them for!

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Yeah I will ask the hygienist which areas I need to concentrate on. Do you think I need to ask anything else?. I might take my toothbrush and waterpik with me and show them which angle I put them at and see if I am using them the right way or not.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon I have been feeling anxious because I don't always brush my teeth at night and I am worried that there is a build up on my teeth and gums already or could they still be ok after the cleaning with the hygienist last week?. I know I need to start doing them at night.

 

[Gordon]

@Gordon Yeah I will ask the hygienist which areas I need to concentrate on. Do you think I need to ask anything else?. I might take my toothbrush and waterpik with me and show them which angle I put them at and see if I am using them the right way or not.

Excellent idea. Do that.

I have been feeling anxious because I don't always brush my teeth at night and I am worried that there is a build up on my teeth and gums already or could they still be ok after the cleaning with the hygienist last week?. I know I need to start doing them at night.

Brushing at night is really the best time for several reasons. If there's any way you can start doing this then it's going to be a good thing, but if you can't then don't worry about it too much.

There won't be a serious build up in a week, especially if you're doing a thorough cleaning at least once a day.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. I just hope I am doing a thorough cleaning when it's been once a day. I will try to do them at night as well and hopefully that will be thorough. Sometimes I get too tired or distracted at night but I will try to do them then.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon How am I supposed to angle the toothbrush on the bottom.gums?. Is it sideways, upwards or downwards?. I usually do it a bit sideways and a bit upwards on the top ones.

 

[Gordon]

As it's an electric brush, it's not super important, just try to angle it so that the head reaches the whole surface of the tooth that you're aiming to clean, as best you can. Sometimes holding the brush vertically for the front teeth top and bottom is easier, try to do it in front of a mirror so you can see what you're doing too.