Are my teeth going to fall out?!

freakyogre

I haven't been to the dentist for over 2 years now...

The reason I haven't been is because I was with a dentist for quite a while and all seemed well and good. I haven't got great teeth because I didn't always brush them when I was little, but the dentist I went to seemed to find a problem everytime I went there, despite me having no pain etc. I had to believe what she said as she was the expert, but after visiting one time she told me I needed some (I think) root canal work on one tooth. I agreed, she did it, I paid and all was well and good. Not long after I bit into a cracker and the front of my tooth completely crumbled! Again, there was no pain and after the last bill I decided to just leave it. I did join another dentist afterwards and after the initial visit, they found things that needed doing, but not as much as my previous dentist (they also mentioned that the 'broken' tooth could be fixed, whereas i'd rather just leave it, or have it removed)

I haven't had a problem with it since, the back of it is still very much fixed to my gums so i've just left it. I have however noticed in the last couple of months that it feels like another of my teeth (2 actually) have a slight gap? Both teeth have had fillings and when I poke around with my tongue I can feel a tiny hole/gap between what I think is the tooth and filling. Once again, there is no pain, but i'm a bit worried they're going to drop out :eek: <-- how fitting, he has no teeth!

Does it sound like there's a hole in the actual tooth, or could it be because of the filling? The only way I can describe it is it feels like the filling has shrunk and has left space around it.

Thanks for any help (I do intend to join a dentist, but moved twice in the last couple of years and have never got round to it)

brook2jack

It would seem that you need to find a dentist you trust and then decide what you want to achieve and how much you want to change your lifestyle to achieve this.

If you only want to keep your dentist visits to a minimum , not change your diet or cleaning regime then by all means let the dentist know and they will take out the troublesome teeth if that is the only treatment you want.

If you want to keep the teeth then you will have to build a long term relationship with one dentist you trust and make some changes to your oral health habits.

No one can diagnose what is going on without looking at you and talking to you. Find a sympathetic dentist from recommendation if it is fear that is stopping you sorting things out.

freakyogre

Well i've been to the dentist today (recommended by my dad) and he's given them a clean and booked me in again to look at the broken tooth.

He said he will probably fill it then do a crown? (I must admit I wasn't really concentrating as was too distracted by him cleaning my teeth). I asked if removing it would be an option, but he said that wouldn't be his first choice as it would leave quite a big gap, so i'll go with the filling etc.

He said I need to cut down on sugar and mentioned an electric toothbrush, which I have thought about before, but there's so many different ones with conflicting reviews.

So...can anyone recommend a good electric toothbrush?


Also, I do intend to cut back on sugar but don't think I have that much apart from in drinks. Obviously I know it's in most foods, but i'm more of a savoury person. My main problem is tea as I have 2 sugars in each cup and have at least a few a day. Would sweeteners be better, or shall I just accept that I need to reduce it? What about fruit? I am eating more lately for other reasons, but surely that's bad due to the sugar?

Sorry for what are probably stupid questions!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Oral B Triumph...costs quite a lot but the effects are remarkable.

Especially with you having a whole bag of sugar every ten days (10g per cup, 5 cups per day = 500g bag) in hot drinks alone. That's 365 days/10 days = 36.5 X 500g = 18.25 kg - 19 bags of sugar a year. (which is 40lb or nearly 3 stone in pure sugar)

Oh, and at 54p per bag, it's also over £10 and at 30 calories per cup - 30 X 5 X 365 = 54,750 calories per year.

brook2jack

If you don't stop the sugar in drinks no toothbrush in the world will help. Go to sweetners or stop all together.cutting down the amount of sugar in your drinks will do no good. 5 cups a day with 1 spoon will rot your teeth as easily as 5 cups a day with 2 spoons.

Fruit is no problem unless it is juice, smoothies or raisins.

McKneff

If you cut down your sugar gradually you wont even notice, try 1and a half sugars for 2 weeks, then go down to 1 heaped ish for another 2, then down to 1 level, then a half, then a quarter, then none but always give yourself 2 weeks and your taste buds and yur brain gradually gets used to it. I used to take 2 sugars and now have a tiny teaspoon in my sugar jar, I'm quite happy to stay with that.

freakyogre

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Oral B Triumph...costs quite a lot but the effects are remarkable.

Especially with you having a whole bag of sugar every ten days (10g per cup, 5 cups per day = 500g bag) in hot drinks alone. That's 365 days/10 days = 36.5 X 500g = 18.25 kg - 19 bags of sugar a year. (which is 40lb or nearly 3 stone in pure sugar)

Oh, and at 54p per bag, it's also over £10 and at 30 calories per cup - 30 X 5 X 365 = 54,750 calories per year.

Thanks, i'll have a look. Is there a particular 'model' or just any in that range?

I know, when you look at it like that it is a lot of sugar, I think I try and make an excuse as I don't eat a lot of sweets etc. I think I just have to accept I have crap teeth to be honest as I know people who have a lot more sugar than me and have lovely teeth.

freakyogre

brook2jack wrote: »

If you don't stop the sugar in drinks no toothbrush in the world will help. Go to sweetners or stop all together.cutting down the amount of sugar in your drinks will do no good. 5 cups a day with 1 spoon will rot your teeth as easily as 5 cups a day with 2 spoons.

Fruit is no problem unless it is juice, smoothies or raisins.

Oh, I know. I'm not expecting a toothbrush to change everything, but if it helps, i'll give it a try.

I'm possibly going to sound very stupid here, but nevermind! Are sweeteners any better? I hear horror stories about them in drinks, but then again, nothing seems to be safe to eat/drink anymore! If I were to stop with the sugar, i'd stop with the tea as I have tried numerous times without and I just can't drink it. I can with sweeteners though, so am hoping they are ok to have.
Also, is sugar free squash ok? I'm trying to drink more water anyway, but water all the time feels like torture.

I like smoothies :(

freakyogre

McKneff wrote: »

If you cut down your sugar gradually you wont even notice, try 1and a half sugars for 2 weeks, then go down to 1 heaped ish for another 2, then down to 1 level, then a half, then a quarter, then none but always give yourself 2 weeks and your taste buds and yur brain gradually gets used to it. I used to take 2 sugars and now have a tiny teaspoon in my sugar jar, I'm quite happy to stay with that.

I will try, although reading the last post says any will hurt, i'm paranoid about sugar now!

Sometimes you can't beat a nice hot, strong, sweet cup of tea

Teerah

freakyogre wrote: »

I think I just have to accept I have crap teeth to be honest as I know people who have a lot more sugar than me and have lovely teeth.

You dont have crap teeth, you are eating/drinking too much sugar. If you are serious about wanting to improve/retain your teeth, you need to bite the bullet and seriously reduce it.

McKneff

There was a poem about a few years ago, i think it was clled
eeh, a wish a'd looked after me teeth, not sure whether it was Pam Ayres.