Upset after my appointment at the dentists yesterday. I have a bit of bone loss.

[anonfemale]

@gentledental I hope I can get used to using the tepe brushes and buy the right size.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @gentledental I worry because some people still have problems with their gums even when they brush and floss but I know with some people, their gums improve. Should I search on google for the right size tepe brush to use or look at youtube videos for the right size tepe brush to use and the correct way to use them instead of waiting for my next appointment to find out which ones to use and how to use them?. I keep thinking that my gums might get worse if I dont use them soon and if I miss brushing and flossing at night or that my gums might already be really bad.

 

[MumOfBoys1985]

@anonfemale I find its trial and error with the brushes , I buy the smallest size as I don't have big gaps between my teeth. The bigger the gaps the bigger brush you'll need. You might be able to get mixed packs but I'm not sure. They're really easy to use once you get the hang of it but the first few times you use them your gums are likely to bleed, same as if you stop using them and then start again

 

[Gordon]

Should I search on google for the right size tepe brush to use or look at youtube videos for the right size tepe brush to use and the correct way to use them instead of waiting for my next appointment to find out which ones to use and how to use them?

Forget Google, try your dentist and see if they can give you a few samples of the various sizes of TePe to find which ones suit you best. Using them is pretty straightforward. Keep them at 90 degrees to the tooth and move them in and out through the contact points.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @MumOfBoys1985 @gentledental @letsconnect I went to the surgery with my mum today. I was upset because the appointment for the deep cleaning is still three weeks away. We asked if they could make it sooner because I have autism and anxiety but they said the dentist was booked up. Maybe I should have asked to see another dentist?. I also asked if I could email the dentist with my questions and they said I couldnt and that I will have to wait to speak to him at my next appointment. I wish I had asked why they change their dentists so much. I am wondering whether to use the interdental brushes I have just bought before my next appointment if I can find out how to use them properly. I bought the soft ones which dont have wire on them and bought one pack of small ones and one pack of medium ones. I couldnt find any packs with different sizes in them. Will it be ok to use those?. Do you move them gently in to the spaces between your teeth a couple of times?. Will my gums get worse because I have to wait three more weeks for a deep cleaning and because they should have been deep cleaned four months ago but I couldnt get an appointment then because the surgery wasnt doing check ups then and will they get worse if I dont use the interdental brushes for three weeks?. It's my 40th birthday next week. I should be looking forward to celebrating it but I am really anxious and keep having panic attacks. I have written down my worries and questions for the dentist to give to him at the next appointment. Why have different dentists at the same surgery said different things?.

 

[Gordon]

Will it be ok to use those?. Do you move them gently in to the spaces between your teeth a couple of times?.

Yes. Gently back and forth between your teeth.

Will my gums get worse because I have to wait three more weeks for a deep cleaning and because they should have been deep cleaned four months ago but I couldnt get an appointment then because the surgery wasnt doing check ups then and will they get worse if I dont use the interdental brushes for three weeks?

No to all those questions.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. That's reassuring. Should I use the interdental brushes before the appointment?. I'm not sure why the other dentists at the same surgery didnt mention any bone loss but this dentist did.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @letsconnect @MumOfBoys1985 @gentledental How many times a day can you use interdental brushes and should I still use my electric toothbrush and water pik flosser twice a day as well?. Should I start using the interdental brushes before my appointment with the dentist?

 

[MumOfBoys1985]

@anonfemale I'm not a dentist but personally I would use them from now. I only use mine once a day, either at bed time or in the morning and my dentist said once a day is fine. Electric toothbrush twice daily. No idea about the water flosser, noone has ever recommended me to use one.

 

[Gordon]

How many times a day can you use interdental brushes

Once. Best time is last thing at night but it really doesn't matter, whenever you've got the time to do it.

and should I still use my electric toothbrush and water pik flosser twice a day as well?.

Yes to the toothbrush and it totally doesn't matter about the water pik. As often as you want, it won't make any difference, just don't use it instead of floss or interdental brushes.

Should I start using the interdental brushes before my appointment with the dentist?

Yes.

 

[anonfemale]

@MumOfBoys1985 @Gordon Thank you. I will use the tepe brushes once a day at night from tonight and use them before I use the water pik flosser and the electric toothbrush. How many minutes would I use the tepe brushes for?. I use my electric toothbrush for two minutes and use the water pik flosser for 2 to 3 minutes.

 

[MumOfBoys1985]

Don't over think it and cause yourself more anxiety . The brushes I literally go in between every tooth a couple of times, rinse the little brush under water before moving on to the next tooth, doesn't take long at all to do.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon @MumOfBoys1985 I'm worried because it took me about 8 minutes to use the interdental brush and to keep rinsing the brush . I think it took that long because I had to keep rinsing the brush. Is that too long?. Also, my bottom gums bled a lot. Should I still use them?.

 

[Gordon]

No it's not too long. You'll get quicker with practice but it's more important to be thorough than quick.

Absolutely use them if there's bleeding, the bleeding is a sign that there's some gum disease present so you need to get the plaque cleaned away properly.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. I will keep practicing. I hope my gums will improve with using the interdental brushes. I just worry because some people try really hard with their oral hygiene but they can still have problems.

 

[Gordon]

I just worry because some people try really hard with their oral hygiene but they can still have problems.

Yes, but that's very, very rare.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon How would I be able to tell that all of the plaque has been removed when I am brushing and flossing?. When the dentist showed me the x ray, he said it showed the plaque on the x ray and he mentioned the bone loss. I will ask him how much bone loss and inflammation there is at my deep cleaning appointment in two weeks time. I have also heard that people can get severe gum disease when they are younger too and that gum disease can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes which makes me anxious. I do have a healthy diet though. I feel really anxious though because I very rarely have sugar usually but I have had things with sugar in them recently and havent brushed and flossed at night much so I hope that hasnt made my gums worse and I hope I wont need fillings but I'm not as anxious about fillings.

 

[Gordon]

Disclosing tablets/disclosing solution.

I have also heard that people can get severe gum disease when they are younger too and that gum disease can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes which makes me anxious.

It's called juvenile periodontitis and is both super rare and you're too old...
Yes, there's a link between periodontal disease and heart disease/kidney disease and possibly stroke BUT there are a lot of confounding factors (Google the phrase), so it's not as black and white as it sounds.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Is there anything else I can buy that shows where plaque is?. I find it difficult using disclosing tablets because I feel like I am over brushing by brushing first then brushing the dye off. I also find it difficult to get all of the dye off my teeth and tongue. Also, can I use the interdental brushes in the morning or afternoon?. I fall asleep very early at night a lot and miss using them. I will try to use them at night when I can and use them once or twice a day. Does it do any harm using them twice a day or just once in the morning or afternoon?

 

[Gordon]

I find it difficult using disclosing tablets because I feel like I am over brushing by brushing first then brushing the dye off. I also find it difficult to get all of the dye off my teeth and tongue.

You're not meant to use them all the time, just every now and then to check on your brushing technique.

Also, can I use the interdental brushes in the morning or afternoon?.

Whenever suits you. I tend to use them in the morning but once a day whenever you feel like it is fine.

I fall asleep very early at night a lot and miss using them. I will try to use them at night when I can and use them once or twice a day. Does it do any harm using them twice a day or just once in the morning or afternoon?

There's no harm in using them more often but just once is fine. Just incorporate them into some sort of routine so you get into the habit.