The fear is taking over!!

[Bexywalker123]

Hello this is my first post ever regarding dental issues! To give you the low down back in November I plucked up the curridge to go to the dentist after not going for two years! Before I even got in the room I knew I had to have a molar on the bottom right extracted! True enough I had to have it removed I opted for surgery, it had crumbled away to the gum line but came out fine all has heeled and the gap is closing due to my wisdom teeth, is not visible when I smile either thank god!! However I have now become obsessed with oral hygeine. Brush twice daily with an electric toothbrush floss 3 times a week and use mouthwash after brushing, as I have become alot better with oral care I feel I am noticing more things that need doing, I have noticed in the past two weeks that two of my lower teeth have gum recession which has now riddled me with the idea of loosing my teeth, cann somebody give me some advice or support regarding this as just getting myself in a twitch over it! Back in November 2011 they told me I had slight gum disease but could be combated by brushing properly they do not bleed and are a lighter pink colour, also I think I grind my teeth in my sleep would this aid the gum recession??? My partner gets so annoyed with me when u worry about my teeth but he has never had anything let along a filling where as at 21 I have had a tooth extracted and three fillings!!! HELP!

 

[glam08]

Hi and welcome

Firstly heres my story .... I hadnt been to the dentist for about 10 years, i have 4 teeth that are broken down to the gumline, i have bad plaque and receding gums....

I finally plucked up the courage to go last week, after ready through here all day every day for about 3 weeks.
I need the 4 teeth out, and then just 3 sessions for cleaning, i was amazingly surprised by this as i thought id have to have loads out.....

So dont panic, im sure eveything will be fine

 

[Steve In Cleveland]

Hello this is my first post ever regarding dental issues! To give you the low down back in November I plucked up the curridge to go to the dentist after not going for two years! Before I even got in the room I knew I had to have a molar on the bottom right extracted! True enough I had to have it removed I opted for surgery, it had crumbled away to the gum line but came out fine all has heeled and the gap is closing due to my wisdom teeth, is not visible when I smile either thank god!! However I have now become obsessed with oral hygeine. Brush twice daily with an electric toothbrush floss 3 times a week and use mouthwash after brushing, as I have become alot better with oral care I feel I am noticing more things that need doing, I have noticed in the past two weeks that two of my lower teeth have gum recession which has now riddled me with the idea of loosing my teeth, cann somebody give me some advice or support regarding this as just getting myself in a twitch over it! Back in November 2011 they told me I had slight gum disease but could be combated by brushing properly they do not bleed and are a lighter pink colour, also I think I grind my teeth in my sleep would this aid the gum recession??? My partner gets so annoyed with me when u worry about my teeth but he has never had anything let along a filling where as at 21 I have had a tooth extracted and three fillings!!! HELP!

Hi Bexywalker123. It sounds like you've actually established some very good habits! Brushing and flossing are very good for your gums as well as teeth, and my dentist tells me that my electric toothbrush is really very good for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. So that alone doesn't sound obsessive, just healthy.

I think your best bet is probably to schedule a cleaning. While you're there, you can talk to the dentist about your concerns and get a professional opinion. She can tell you if she sees any issues with your gums or teeth, and if there's anything else you can be doing. My guess is she'll tell you that your gums look way healthier now that you're taking care of them, and to keep up the good work.

One of the problems with being a phobic is that we tend to self-diagnose and see issues where there are none, or to see little issues as big ones. What you're noticing with your gums may be perfectly normal, in fact if you're brushing and flossing regularly you're already taking really good care of them. A dentist can either set your mind at ease, or if there is something going on, can tall you what to do about it.

You're actually in a great position, because it doesn't sound like you were away for too long, and you've been brushing and flossing, so there's no reason to expect anything but good news. I completely understand how easy it is to hyper-focus on your teeth and imagine all kinds of disaster scenarios, but in your case I think getting positive feedback from the dentist is probably just what you need.

 

[carole]

Hi Bexywalker123 I am like you in that I am at times convinced that every tooth in my head is needing drastic work done on it. I have been like this for years, I try not to concentrate too much on my teeth which is hard as we really cannot avoid them. The patten I have for cleaning my teeth as told to do by my dentist is

Morning brush with elec toothbrush, don't rinse mouth
Dinner time Mouthwash
Last thing at night brush with elec toothbrush, don't rinse mouth

As well as this floss daily, I understand once is enough but I do it after I have eaten anything. The point of using mouth wash at dinner time is because if you rinse your mouth after brushing you will out do the good the toothpaste is doing. You need a pea size bit of toothpaste on your brush pushed into the bristles a bit.

As for the gum disease, I had a bit of this in Sept last year and have managed to get it under control by Dec last year through regular flossing etc... I have always cleaned my teeth morning and night for at least 2 mins, but the flossing seems to count for a lot in regard to oral health. So I think in your case you are doing everything you can, but maybe floss daily instead of only 3 times a week.

I hope this helps, try not to stress too much about your teeth and gums I think you will be pleased with how much you can with the dentists help improve your gums and teeth and keep them in good shape.

Good luck

 

[Bexywalker123]

Dear All,

Thank you so much for the support, i went around 2 months ago to the hygenist and for a check up afterwards, they did not mention any problems but as kindly stated i think i am probaly creating problems in my head or making small issues into gigantic problems.
i have booked my appointment on Friday to go and have a check up, i am going to make a list of all the points that i am concerned about and get answers for them.
My fear is that due to the fact that i am an NHS patiant and i worry that they are doing the bare minimun in order to help me out. this is probaly a very unfair judgement of NHS dentists, it is due to seeing problems in the mirror that the dentists has not picked up on and are most likely not even there.

could excessively hard brushing add to the recission on one or two of my teeth?
i also appear to have quite fragile teeth as have managed to chip two small bites on my teeth, could any body reccomend any mouthwash or toothpaste that is good at restoring enamal or strengthening the existing enamel. i use enamel restores mouthwash and sensodyne enamel restore tooth paste but i have read that enamel restoration wash and paste then aids gum recission, just feel likes when i get one problem under control or attempting it causes another one.

 

[carole]

If you brush too hard it will do damage. I use sensodyne toothpaste as well, I use colgate mouth wash, my dentist said it didn't matter which one I used.
Some dentists say we don't need it, I have always agreed with this. But as my dentist told me to use it I thought it can't do any harm.

I am also nhs, and like you I am afraid of being under treated, but my last dentist before the one I see now, was very good and really spent a lot of time and trouble saving a couple of my teeth.

The one I have now seems okay, but I have only seen her twice and only had a clean done by her, so I can't judge her yet, although saying that she is sending me to see a specialist to see if a rct can be redone to save a tooth so things are looking good. I will feel better once I know how she is at doing treatment and injections. This I can wait for.

I, like you can find all sorts wrong with my teeth, my cure for this is not to look. It is a good idea to write your questions down, I had loads to ask and forgot all of them.

I think it is a good idea if you are worried to go and see your dentist, that way if there is something wrong they can fix it, if not, you can stop being worried for the next 6 months.

I wish you well for Friday, let us know how you go on.