So scared to know how bad my gum disease is

[Qwertyuiop]

I am so grateful to have found this site. Reading through other posts is so helpful. I am 38 years old. Have had terrible dental hygiene. It’s my fault. I feel ashamed and embarrassed and so angry at myself for letting this happen. All the while I knew, eventually this is going to be my own demise. I’m so scared to see the dentist and learn how bad my gum disease is. I’m scared of bone loss. I’m scared the cleanings won’t work. I’m scared that when they remove all the plaque I will have huge gaps between my teeth. I need to see the dentist and start dealing with this because my mouth is all I think about. I think about it first thing when I wake up. I give myself panic attacks thinking about my gums. I need to go to the dentist but I’m terrified of the diagnosis and that it will be too late. I have bleeding gum, lots of plaque buildup behind my bottom teeth. And I am starting to see something on the gums of my front bottom teeth. I’m so scared. Any support or advice or positive stories on gum disease would be really appreciated. Thank you all!

 

[anonfemale]

Hi. I am 40 years old and I was diagnosed with 20 to 30 percent moderate bone loss and gum disease in May. This sometimes makes me anxious but I was also told by the dentist that my bone loss hasn't progressed in 6 years and a dentist on here has said that it takes decades to get meaningful bone loss and that not everyone that has bone loss and gum disease loses their teeth so that's reassuring. I hope this helps you to feel better. I also feel anxious every time I gave a dentist appointment but I try to just keep thinking that the dentist is only trying to help me so that makes me feel better. I had a panoramic x ray at the hospital recently so I am waiting for the results of that. I saw a different dentist to the one I saw in May more recently and they referred me fir the panoramic x way. The x ray I had in May was a bitewing x ray so I am hoping that the bone loss and gum disease still hasn't progressed. I have used an oral b electric toothbrush for years and only started using a waterpik flosser about two years ago and only started using interdental brushes this year. No one told me that I should floss when I was younger and my diet wasnt as good then so I am assuming that is what caused the bone loss. I have a very good healthy diet now and I use the electric toothbrush twice a day after breakfast and at night and use the waterpik and interdental brushes three times a day after every meal that I have and the dentist and hygienist have said that my gums have improved a lot recently. I also chew sugar free gum a few times a week and chew it for about 5 minutes at a time. If you do the same as me, maybe your gums will improve too and if you think that the dentist is only there to help you and that it takes decades to get meaningful gum disease and bone loss and that not everyone who has gum disease and bone loss loses their teeth, maybe it will help you to go and see a dentist.

 

[Qwertyuiop]

@anonfemale thank you so much for your response and sharing your routine. I keep re reading and it is reassuring. I made an appointment for this Friday to get started with the X-rays and finding out where I go from here. Thank you again

 

[Anxiety Riddled]

I understand what you are going through. I too have bad oral hygiene, plaque build up and poor gums. My gums bleed constantly and are actually now turning white. They are uncomfortable and swollen. I am terrified of going to the dentist so I haven’t been in years. Congratulations on making your appointment! That’s a huge first step. I hope to someday find the courage to see a dentist (I badly need to). As anonfemale has said, I too have heard the same about bone loss and gum disease. Good luck at your upcoming appointment. I hope it goes well!

 

[jessicat81]

I didn’t go to the dentist for 15 years. I was terrified but I finally just did it and I feel so free now. It was also on my mind constantly for years. I feared I had advanced gum disease, dozens of cavities, cracked molars, needed extractions or root canals, or maybe dentures!

The other huge fear I had was judgement for not going in so long but nobody even asked me how long it had been and there was no judgement displayed at all. I think dentists are used to nervous patients that haven’t been to the dentist in a decade. It’s more common than you think! And if you think your teeth are bad, trust me that they have probably seen worse already that day.

I ended up needing some periodontal cleaning as my deepest pockets were 4-5mm (3 is normal) so it’s reversible and not as bad as I thought. The last time I was at the dentist in 2009 they said I had gum disease and I had to have a periodontal cleaning. Obviously I assumed it had progressed to severe gum disease after not visiting the dentist in over a decade. I learned that plaque buildup behind the bottom front teeth is extremely common and the place most people get buildup. Besides the cleaning I had one small cavity that needed filled.

 

[Anxiety Riddled]

@jessicat81 your story/experience gives me hope. I haven’t been to the dentist in a little over 15 years as well. I’m terrified but I know I need to go. I want to get over my fear because my dental anxiety is ruining my life. My mouth and teeth are all I think about. My last “real meal” (solid food) was last Christmas. I miss food but my mouth is so uncomfortable and as of quite a few months ago (after getting my wisdom teeth removed) I developed this new fear to chew food so I’m now suffering with that too. Thank you for sharing your success. I’m glad it went well!

 

[anonfemale]

@Qwertyuiop Thank you. I'm glad you find my post reassuring and well done for making an appointment to see the dentist. I hope it goes well .

@jessicat81 I'm glad your appointment went well. The dentist said they would contact me in October for my next appointment so they could contact me anytime this month. They haven't given me the results of the panoramic x ray yet.

 

[robertsonic]

@Qwertyuiop bone loss is very gradual. you need to have your teeth scaled maybe a bit at a time.! the spaces will be where you have lost gum tissue and these need cleaning with interdental brushes such as right size tepes. using a good mouthwash last thing at night after cleaning teeth.

 

[Qwertyuiop]

I am so grateful to have found this site. Reading through other posts is so helpful. I am 38 years old. Have had terrible dental hygiene. It’s my fault. I feel ashamed and embarrassed and so angry at myself for letting this happen. All the while I knew, eventually this is going to be my own demise. I’m so scared to see the dentist and learn how bad my gum disease is. I’m scared of bone loss. I’m scared the cleanings won’t work. I’m scared that when they remove all the plaque I will have huge gaps between my teeth. I need to see the dentist and start dealing with this because my mouth is all I think about. I think about it first thing when I wake up. I give myself panic attacks thinking about my gums. I need to go to the dentist but I’m terrified of the diagnosis and that it will be too late. I have bleeding gum, lots of plaque buildup behind my bottom teeth. And I am starting to see something on the gums of my front bottom teeth. I’m so scared. Any support or advice or positive stories on gum disease would be really appreciated. Thank you all!

Update: had my dentist appointment today for X-rays and hygienist. I have stage 2 gum disease. Some deep pockets up to 6mm. I am scheduled for two deep cleanings during which they will do scaling, laser disinfectant and antibiotic treatment in the deep pockets. They said my teeth are not loose so I should not lose any teeth if I keep up with cleanings. After the first two treatments I return every 3 months for cleaning. Thank you all so much for your responses. I feel a bit of relief now that I know what needs to be done.

 

[Anxiety Riddled]

@Qwertyuiop I hope your treatment goes well!

 

[anonfemale]

@Qwertyuiop I'm glad you know what needs to be done and I hope the deep cleanings go well. I have had lots of deep cleanings over the years. I also see the dentist and the hygienist every 3 months. The dentist does the check ups and x ray's and the hygienist does the deep cleanings when I see them. The hygienist usually says that I can raise my hand if I want them to stop at any time during the deep cleanings so hopefully you can do that too. My dentist and hygienist said the same thing that my teeth aren't loose and that I shouldn't lose any teeth if I keep up with brushing and using the interdental brushes and the waterpik at home and with going for the deep cleanings. I'm just still waiting for them to contact me about the panoramic x ray results and for the appointment for my next check up.

 

[anonfemale]

@Qwertyuiop I took my electric toothbrush, interdental brushes and waterpik to my appointment with the hygienist and the hygienist demonstrated how to brush and floss the right way so this might have helped my gums to improve too. So that's something else you could do if you want to.