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

[anonfemale]

@Gordon I have still been feeling frightened because of the bone loss I have. I do feel better knowing that it hadn't progressed in 6 years and that not everyone loses their teeth when they have bone loss and with knowing that I am doing my best with my diet and with the brushing and flossing, but for some reason, it still frightens me. Most of the time, there has been no bleeding at all when I brush and floss but today, there was just bleeding near one tooth. The dentist I saw recommended that I stop drinking juice because it's blended in to sugar, even when it has no added sugar. I also don't drink fizzy drinks. Is it ok to stop drinking juice and is he right saying that?. Also, does it help if you rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee?. I usually have two cups of coffee in the morning with my breakfast and then have one at about mid day. I brush and floss after drinking the first two cups and rinse with water after drinking the third cup. I rinse with water after every meal and snack. The dentist also recommended eating fruit with meals and not in between meals so I have started doing that. Is he right saying that too?. I drink water and milk for the rest of the day and have foods that are low in fat and salt and sugars and that are fat free and very rarely have food that isn't good for you. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and yogurts and nuts.

 

[Gordon]

The advice you've been given is great if you want to make sure you don't get tooth decay. Your diet has no effect on your gum health at all. Keep working with the brushing/flossing/TePe brushes.

It doesn't matter about rinsing out after drinking coffee. Especially if it's black.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. I'm glad you think the advice I have been given is great. The dentist I saw also said that it's ok to have fruit and yogurts that just have naturally occurring sugars in them and to have them with meals. I'm also glad that my diet has no effect on my gum health at all. I will keep working with the brushing, flossing and TePe brushes. I usually have milk with my coffee and just wondered if I needed to rinse after drinking it because it is acidic.

 

[Gordon]

I usually have milk with my coffee and just wondered if I needed to rinse after drinking it because it is acidic.

No need at all. Your saliva will deal with this for you. It's great stuff.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Does saliva remove any stains that the coffee might leave there?. I'm also wondering if I should be using the interdental brushes at night because I will have eaten more during the day so there would be more food to remove from in between my teeth at night than there is in the morning, but I do find it easier using them in the morning. I know I only need to use interdental brushes once a day, but sometimes when I rinse with water, it doesn't get all of the food out of my mouth, so could I use an interdental brush just where the bits of food are in between meals?. They aren't usually all over my mouth. They are just in a few places.

 

[Gordon]

Does saliva remove any stains that the coffee might leave there?

No, but coffee doesn't stain much. Especially with milk. I drink several espressos a day and I don't have staining.

I'm also wondering if I should be using the interdental brushes at night because I will have eaten more during the day so there would be more food to remove from in between my teeth at night than there is in the morning, but I do find it easier using them in the morning

Doesn't matter, whatever is more convenient for you. If it makes you happy to use them during the day too then fine, you won't do any harm.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. I'm glad to hear that coffee doesn't stain much. I have two or three coffees each day. I think I will just use the interdental brushes in the areas that have food stuck there in between meals if the water doesn't remove the food. The dentist I saw told me to only use them on all of my teeth and gums just once a day.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Would I be over using the interdental brushes if I use them in the mornings and at night on all of my teeth and gums and in the afternoon just on a few areas where the food is in between meals?

 

[Gordon]

No, it's fine, as long as you're not stabbing them wildly into your gums you can't do any damage

 

[anonfemale]

No, it's fine, as long as you're not stabbing them wildly into your gums you can't do any damage

@Gordon That's good to know

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon I used the interdental brushes twice yesterday, once in the morning and once at night and just in a couple of areas where the food was yesterday afternoon and I used them this morning, in a couple of areas this afternoon and I am going to use them tonight.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Can I still push the interdental brush gently in and out at gum level five times when I use them in the few areas where the food is in between meals or should I do that less?. I usually do that five times when I use them in the mornings and at night. Also, should I wet the toothbrush and then put toothpaste on the brush or should I put the toothpaste on the dry toothbrush head?. I usually wet it first.

 

[Gordon]

If you're happy doing it 5 times then fine.

In theory, you shouldn't wet the brush at all, but it's really not important, whatever you prefer.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. I will carry on doing it 5 times. I wasn't sure if that would have been using it too much. I will also keep the toothbrush dry when I put the toothpaste on.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Would I need to rinse with water straight after meals and should I rinse with water first or chew sugar free gum first and how long after eating meals, rinsing with water and chewing gum should I use the interdental brushes in the afternoon?. I use the interdental brushes about 30 minutes after meals in the morning and at night.

 

[Gordon]

I don't see any point in rinsing with water after food at all. You're just washing away your saliva briefly, which is far better at the job than water. Chew the gum afterwards if you want, it really doesn't matter how long after eating.
Use the brushes when it's convenient for you.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon I ate some crisps and chocolate last night and didn't brush or use the interdental brushes and my water pik last night. I used them this morning though. Could anything have changed or gotten worse in my mouth with what I ate and after one night?.

 

[Gordon]

No. I think you need to lighten up on yourself a bit. You're worrying a bit more than is necessary.

 

[anonfemale]

@Gordon Thank you. I do worry a lot, but I think it's because I have autism and anxiety. I am hoping to have help from a mental health team with that.

 

[MumOfBoys1985]

@anonfemale My 10y old is autistic and he has periods of chronic anxiety (very hard to watch as a mummy when he's such a young boy), I know how exhausting it is for him (and me), be kind to yourself x