J
jjjjg
Junior member
- Joined
- Aug 21, 2014
- Messages
- 2
HI all
I am having a hard time. About ten-fifteen years ago I had to have a lot of fillings etc, and it made me a bit insane for a while. Brushing for ten minutes at a time, pre and post brushing mouth wash, flossing twice a day. I would run my tongue over my teeth constantly, go and brush my teeth in the middle of parties if it was 12 hours since the last time I brushed, even put mirrors in my mouth to see the back of my teeth (I don't recommend it). I gave up soft drinks and chocolate, and if i was ever tempted I would just imagine the acids eating away at my teeth until the temptation passed.
Noone told me that excessive flossing and brushing could cause gum disease. At some point my gums swelled and moved upwards maybe 2mm, practically overnight.
I never told anyone, even though it was really obvious to me. I just calmed down a bit, and managed to get out of the madness by getting an electric toothbrush and setting certain rules for myself (only allowed to run tongue over teeth once after brushing, then tongue had to stay in one spot, only flossing once a day etc etc).
Things got better. For years I had dentists and oral hygienists who were very happy with me, and i only ever needed fillings replaced or small new ones. I relaxed a bit, perhaps too much. After moving countries I waited a year and a half (instead of my usual six months) to see a new dentist, and I wasn't flossing every single day before I went, but most days, probably more than 9/10. Then I had the periodontal probe for the first time and was told I had really deep pockets (3-6 mm) and from the X rays I had bone loss and I needed scaling.
I was freaked out. I think I cried. Actually I then went and found some old X rays from 2006 and there was barely any progression since then. But I went ahead and had the (very expensive and painful) treatment, thinking it would fix things. Then I needed a root canal, because of an old filling, and I was still ok. But then I saw the oral hygienist again
She was horrible. She was really violent with the floss, and I bled a lot (I never bleed when flossing at home). She also managed to spray my face with a bunch of stuff, so I just lay there feeling totally brutalised. And then she was lecturing me. I floss every day I said. I use an electric toothbrush. Carefully, lifting the brush between teeth, holding it at an angle, not pressing too hard. I use the mouthwash I was told to (and then untold to, and then told to again, because the oral hygienist and dentist apparently disagree). She said I should switch to ultrafloss, floss deeper, use a different brushhead, use interdental brushes every day.
This was all hard because it was in a foreign language. It also seemed really unfair. I had been doing everything I was told. And then, it scared me. It was excessive brushing and flossing that triggered massive gum recession in the first place. I look ok now but if the same thing happened again my teeth would look terrible with big gaps between them and exposed dentine.
I think I am going crazy again. I'm nervous every night when I have to brush my teeth. I'm nervous when I wake up in the morning. I can't relax when I go out at night because it means a huge delay and also having to brush my teeth when tired. I am terrified of harming my gums. I am terrified of not brushing my teeth. I have phantom toothache and ... gumache... if that's a thing? It's basically never far from my mind and I hate it. They are still red. I have no idea what else I could do. I eat lots of vitamin C in the form of fresh fruit and veg, I don't smoke and I barely drink alcohol.
I did go back and speak to the dentist, and tried to explain what I went through ~ 10 years ago. She is much nicer than the oral hygienist and said she would speak to her, and she also said things weren't that bad and that I should continue with my normal routine and come for the regular cleanings. But I am constantly worried about it. I feel liek noone understands and I am embarrassed to tell people. I am afraid of entering that mental quicksand I already spent years climbing out of again.
Most dental phobia I read about is to do with dentist visits or specific procedures. I actually feel better in the dentist chair. Is anyone else dealing with this constant stress? Any advice? Obviously that's not helping the gums
I am having a hard time. About ten-fifteen years ago I had to have a lot of fillings etc, and it made me a bit insane for a while. Brushing for ten minutes at a time, pre and post brushing mouth wash, flossing twice a day. I would run my tongue over my teeth constantly, go and brush my teeth in the middle of parties if it was 12 hours since the last time I brushed, even put mirrors in my mouth to see the back of my teeth (I don't recommend it). I gave up soft drinks and chocolate, and if i was ever tempted I would just imagine the acids eating away at my teeth until the temptation passed.
Noone told me that excessive flossing and brushing could cause gum disease. At some point my gums swelled and moved upwards maybe 2mm, practically overnight.
I never told anyone, even though it was really obvious to me. I just calmed down a bit, and managed to get out of the madness by getting an electric toothbrush and setting certain rules for myself (only allowed to run tongue over teeth once after brushing, then tongue had to stay in one spot, only flossing once a day etc etc).
Things got better. For years I had dentists and oral hygienists who were very happy with me, and i only ever needed fillings replaced or small new ones. I relaxed a bit, perhaps too much. After moving countries I waited a year and a half (instead of my usual six months) to see a new dentist, and I wasn't flossing every single day before I went, but most days, probably more than 9/10. Then I had the periodontal probe for the first time and was told I had really deep pockets (3-6 mm) and from the X rays I had bone loss and I needed scaling.
I was freaked out. I think I cried. Actually I then went and found some old X rays from 2006 and there was barely any progression since then. But I went ahead and had the (very expensive and painful) treatment, thinking it would fix things. Then I needed a root canal, because of an old filling, and I was still ok. But then I saw the oral hygienist again
She was horrible. She was really violent with the floss, and I bled a lot (I never bleed when flossing at home). She also managed to spray my face with a bunch of stuff, so I just lay there feeling totally brutalised. And then she was lecturing me. I floss every day I said. I use an electric toothbrush. Carefully, lifting the brush between teeth, holding it at an angle, not pressing too hard. I use the mouthwash I was told to (and then untold to, and then told to again, because the oral hygienist and dentist apparently disagree). She said I should switch to ultrafloss, floss deeper, use a different brushhead, use interdental brushes every day.
This was all hard because it was in a foreign language. It also seemed really unfair. I had been doing everything I was told. And then, it scared me. It was excessive brushing and flossing that triggered massive gum recession in the first place. I look ok now but if the same thing happened again my teeth would look terrible with big gaps between them and exposed dentine.
I think I am going crazy again. I'm nervous every night when I have to brush my teeth. I'm nervous when I wake up in the morning. I can't relax when I go out at night because it means a huge delay and also having to brush my teeth when tired. I am terrified of harming my gums. I am terrified of not brushing my teeth. I have phantom toothache and ... gumache... if that's a thing? It's basically never far from my mind and I hate it. They are still red. I have no idea what else I could do. I eat lots of vitamin C in the form of fresh fruit and veg, I don't smoke and I barely drink alcohol.
I did go back and speak to the dentist, and tried to explain what I went through ~ 10 years ago. She is much nicer than the oral hygienist and said she would speak to her, and she also said things weren't that bad and that I should continue with my normal routine and come for the regular cleanings. But I am constantly worried about it. I feel liek noone understands and I am embarrassed to tell people. I am afraid of entering that mental quicksand I already spent years climbing out of again.
Most dental phobia I read about is to do with dentist visits or specific procedures. I actually feel better in the dentist chair. Is anyone else dealing with this constant stress? Any advice? Obviously that's not helping the gums