Front teeth crumbling...

[CompletelyLost]

Hi,

I'm sat here almost in tears. I have noticed in the last couple of months that my two front teeth are gradually wearing down. At first I thought I was imagining it, but I have been taking photos of them to compare... and the rough/cracked edge at the bottom is getting worse & changing daily. The bottom part of the tooth is practically see through now. They hurt a lot, too, and I find myself constantly touching them which probably makes them worse.

I'm 21 so relatively young, but had an eating disorder for three years which I guess has taken its toll on my teeth. I know this is my own fault so please dont lecture me on that.

Is there anything a dentist can do to 'seal' these rough edges of these teeth and stop anymore damage being done? If I could get something done to seal them soon I think they would look okay (not too small to salvage, if that makes sense)... I really don't want to end up having to have crowns put on and therefore have to have my natural teeth filed down.

Thanks xxx

[dmg24]

Hi CompletelyLost,

Your circumstances sound like mine a few years ago, I had tooth damage caused by bulimia. All I can say is get to the dentist as soon as you can, not as an emergency but the first normal appt you can get. I kept putting off going, then one tooth became so weak that it chipped a little bit, and then the chipped bit wore down even more quickly.

In the end I had to have three of my front teeth crowned, which at the time horrified me. However, I was really pleased with the result, and I actually get complimented on how nice my teeth are now (they weren't before!).

I can't say what your best treatment will be, it could well be something really simple. I'm sure Toothsmith will be about tomorrow to give you some more informed information.

Are you registered with an NHS dentist? Don't be afraid to tell them about your medical history, it will help them choose the best course of treatment for you.

Hope you get it sorted x

[mandi]

Hya Completely ,

Dont cry , and dont panic. send a Pm to Toothsmith , asking him to look at your thread ,

Im sure something can be done by your dentist . If not the WORST case scenario, are crowns, and to be honest I have 2, both at the front .. and they look bettter than my real teeth ... chin up.. Its not as bad as you think ( call your dentist in the morning )


Dont worry

Mandi

[CompletelyLost]

Hi there,

Thank you both for the reassuring replies - I wasn't expecting anyone else to read this until the morning :) I think the panic set in tonight as I notice another bit has chipped off and now I feel a constant dull ache and can't stop thinking about them. I'm scared to sleep in case I grind my teeth and make them worse (although I don't even know whether I do grind my teeth :S) I must sound like a right nutcase with my photos and stuff... I am slightly obsessive.

Last time I went to the dentist I was in agony as one of my back teeth shattered and was just an empty shell complete with a lovely abcess (bulimia induced I presume as before that, I never had a problem with my teeth)... I ended up having a root canal. The whole thing was horrific and took almost two hours as he ended up cutting away some of my gum, so I'm reluctant to see the same dentist again :S Since then I haven't been back (must be over a year ago now) so I'm not sure if I'm still registered - do you think I'd be okay to register elsewhere?

Noone knows about my past problems with bulimia... I've never even talked about it with my family, I always thought I didn't have a problem until one day I had a scare which finally pushed me to stop. It's such a shame the damage has caught up with me because I do have really nice teeth, but the two front ones have obviously taken a battering.

I'm going to sleep and will check back on this thread tomorrow & PM Toothsmith x

[Toothsmith]

Hi C.L.

There will be something that can be done, but I'm not sure what without seeing the damage.

One thing to say though is that patients ALWAYS imagine their problems are much worse than they really are. I would be very surprised if it was JUST your front two teeth that were affected though.

You will need a kind, understanding dentist, and you will need to be completely honest with him/her.

It is also probably more likely that you will find the dentist you need in the private sector rather than the NHS.

I am a bit concerned that you've not had any treatment for the bulimia, or told anyone about it. Have you really stopped, or is it just in a box in the cupboard? It's important to know for the treatment planning.

[trace_567]

I was bulimic for 7 years. My teeth have also taken a battering, although they aren't at your stage, least not yet. I've lost a lot of enamel from the front teeth so they look discoloured. Also have grooves in them that never used to be there, and vertical crack lines. I'm worried about them, but do see my dentist several times a year.

Something very important if you haven't stopped, or for others out there with bulimia after vomiting don't brush your teeth straight away. Rinse your mouth thoroughly and give it time before brushing. It supposedly helps prevent some of the acid damage. But certainly not all. I did that and still my teeth have been damaged from it, along with other problems with my body it caused.

It's a horrible illness, please seek help if you need it.

[Olympika]

I am in a similar boat re bulimia - I have also lost a lot of enamel from my front teeth, they get tea / coffee stained really fast now. I have vertical lines in them too. I once plucked up the courage to tell my then dentist but I have to confess I haven't done so with my new one. I am just too embarrassed I suppose :/ plus wimping out by hoping that the BN is still on my notes (as it's the same dental practice).

Really hope you get things sorted out CompletelyLost.

[Savvy_Sue]

I thought a good dentist would be able to work out that you were / had been bulimic without being told ...

[Toothsmith]

You can suspect it - but it's a tricky thing to bring up! (If you'll pardon the pun!)

If the patient denies it, then what can you do?

You can't really actively treat if the problem is ongoing - the treatment will fail, leaving the patient worse off than when you started.

Recovering bulimics who can be honest and open about their condition can be completely transformed, dentally speaking.

Those in denial, and still actively bulimic can be a disasterous nightmare.

[tirednewdad]

of course i echo the advice of seeing your dentist for a suitable (very fixable) solution.
I can also recommend sensodyne proenamel toothpaste- which helps partly re-strengthen your teeth.
It's my understanding of bulimia, that it never really leaves you- but it is possible to reduce the frequency using techniques.

Another good bit of advice is not to brush your teeth within 30 minutes of vomiting as it can weaken things futher.

[Olympika]

I don't know, I think eating disorders can be managed and absolutely people can move on and everything but I don't think it ever 100% leaves you... though I hope so!

Can imagine it must be a minefield for dentists to bring up with patients.

Will get some of the sensodyne pro-enamel :)

[CompletelyLost]

Hi :)

Thanks for all the replies. I have been wallowing in self pity for a couple of days (not helpful) :S On the up side, they don't seem to have crumbled any more.

How would I go about finding a good private dentist in my area? I wouldn't have the first clue where to look (I'm in Newcastle if that's any help). I've only ever had NHS dental treatment, same with my family & friends. I'm happy to go private as I am able to pay for it. Also, I have private health insurance but not sure if that covers anything to do with teeth... I doubt it though :confused: How can a dentist know whether you're bulimic..? Noone has have ever brought it up with me... I can understand why they wouldn't want to though.

Re: bulimia - I haven't vomited for over a year. I don't think I will ever go back to it, but I don't feel comfortable talking about it either. I always feel like I'm attention seeking... I have had counselling in the past but it didn't help. The main problem I have now is anxiety. I think Olympika is right though - although I can control the urges, the thoughts still kick in every so often.

PS: thanks for the toothpaste recommendation. I actually bought some Arm & Hammer Enamel Care toothpaste from boots a couple of days ago, and it is definitely helping with sensitivity already.

[Toothsmith]

Read my signature for the best way to go about finding a dentist.

[Savvy_Sue]

:confused: How can a dentist know whether you're bulimic..? Noone has have ever brought it up with me... I can understand why they wouldn't want to though.I thought the pattern of damage to your enamel was a clue. It may not be conclusive, and a dentist might not want to bring it up. However I wondered if it would make it easier for you to say something - particularly to a new dentist - if you knew a dentist was likely to suspect already, IYSWIM?

[Toothsmith]

It would certainly make matters a lot easier if you volunteered the infomation in the medical history.

Bear in mind that the dentist and all his staff are bound by complete patient confidentiality. Nothing you disclose will go outside the building.

[lindaamos57]

I have started researching cracked and crumbling teeth on the internet and was directed here. I have read all the comments but what is the cause of the cracks and crumbling. I have looked after my teeth, regular dentist check ups, have a heathy diet (no fads or bulimia/anorexia) but still my teeth are cracking and crumbling. I cannot afford crowns and my NHS dentist (I found one!!) wasn't particularly helpful, simply saying it would be very expensive. I would like to know if there is anything I can do to stop/reduce the problem myself. The molars have been filled, some only once, but they are crumbling from the back of the jaw to the front. My front teeth are just cracking at present. They are all cracking from top to bottom then seem to crack across the tooth and I lose that part of the tooth. I don't want a mouth full of dentures and would be happy to have crowns if the price was affordable. Anyone have any ideas please?

[jugglebug]

I have started researching cracked and crumbling teeth on the internet and was directed here. I have read all the comments but what is the cause of the cracks and crumbling. I have looked after my teeth, regular dentist check ups, have a heathy diet (no fads or bulimia/anorexia) but still my teeth are cracking and crumbling. I cannot afford crowns and my NHS dentist (I found one!!) wasn't particularly helpful, simply saying it would be very expensive. I would like to know if there is anything I can do to stop/reduce the problem myself. The molars have been filled, some only once, but they are crumbling from the back of the jaw to the front. My front teeth are just cracking at present. They are all cracking from top to bottom then seem to crack across the tooth and I lose that part of the tooth. I don't want a mouth full of dentures and would be happy to have crowns if the price was affordable. Anyone have any ideas please?

Not much you can do yourself really. Letting a dentist just blindly crown everything in sight isnt the answer, until you have found someone able to diagnose exactly why it is happening.
This is sometimes due to an imbalance in the bite (occlusion) Which is considered somewhat of a mystery subject in some quarters. I certainly didnt come close to understanding it as an undergraduate, and certainly still don't have the level of understanding that some others do.
Do you get headaches as well? Wake up with them sometimes? These can be signs the bite is out.
How big are the fillings you have? Do they go over more than one surface of the tooth?
Amalgam or tooth coloured?

Not actually asking you to answer them, just want you to realise there are lots of factors involved. The path of closure of your jaw is important too and there is no way you can describe that to me over the net

[lindaamos57]

Thank you for responding, jugglebug. Fillings are amalgam, no headaches on waking, bite pattern is good. A few of the fillings are to build up the tooth, most are internal and the tooth is around the outside. Guess I just have to live with it and save up for the crowns as they are needed. Thank you for your help.