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Help! I brushed away all my tooth enamel being 'careful'. What now?

  • Thread starter Thread starter moist
  • Start date Start date
M

moist

Junior member
Joined
Jan 7, 2025
Messages
1
Location
UK
Long story short; my dentist told me to be careful about overbrushing due to some mechanical gum recession. So I started being exceptionally careful, switched to a sensitive brush head and taking things slowly as I used my electrical toothbrush.

It would seem, possibly through keeping the bristles almost flat on my teeth and taking my time with virtually no pressure, that I have managed to polish away enamel everywhere. Using warm salt water in a waterpik before brushing may have contributed in softening up the enamel beforehand. I'm devastated.

6 months ago my teeth were white in pictures. After my "better take extra care" phase I was thinking "that damn Corsodyl staining never goes away" when I looked in the mirror. Unfortunately, I was staring at well-polished dentin, as confirmed by my dentist following a brief painful buzz from the ultrasonic scaler.

I've since been diagnosed with OCD and put on a hefty tricyclic dose by my GP. I'm taking things hour by hour right now, sometimes not sleeping, I'm in a very bad place, I rang Samaritans a few times. I'm mortified and I'm in shock.

I'm here to ask: what can be done?

I understand the damage is irreversible. My teeth are now very sensitive. I'm happy to share pictures if anyone in the know can advise further. I'm guessing dental bonding on most teeth might be a good way forward? Would this need to be done privately? I am registered with an NHS dentist.
 
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