Poor Dental Hygiene - Dental Health Message Board

BretW · 03-31-2008, 04:44 PM

Right, well i'll hold my hands up now and say this is all down to my self negligence etc but i'd like to ask you all if you could suggest a way out.
Not sure if there is a way, but i'll ask!

About a year ago i noticed my teeth colouring (usual, starting to yellow a bit) and just ignored it. A month or two ago i had red gums and presumed gingivitis. I tried 4 types of mouthwash. All of which, burnt my tongue and mouth. Some so severe i couldn't taste anything for 48 hours. So i gave up and i've not done anything. I don't brush regularly and I'm pretty much screwed. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what i can get my dentist to do? I have a lot of hard white stuff on the bottom front teeth which is horrible to look at. I can't believe i've let it get this far. Is there anything a dentist can do to get rid of this, then i can take care of my dental area again and keep it nice and healthy / clean.

Thanks in advance,
Bret

bocmember01 · 03-31-2008, 07:38 PM

You'll need a comprehensive exam with x-rays first. The type of cleaning you'll need will depend on the diagnosis. It sounds like you're beyond the routine 6 month prophy type of cleaning and may need deep scaling and root planing which is a more expensive procedure. Find a reputable dentist and get started.

AlexaIn2006 · 04-01-2008, 01:43 PM

Your diet contributes to the condition of your teeth. If you eat processed foods, sugars, etc that will deteoriate your teeth. Just start brushing. Brush twice a day no matter how much you do not want to do it. Flossing between your teeth is important too. If you smell the floss and it stinks then your breath stinks to everyone else. If you can change your diet that will help. If you go to the store and find a dental pick, like the dentist uses and scrape or pick the plaque out that will help and also get a tongue scrapper. Bacteria builds up on the back of the tongue and brushing the tongue never removes it better than this scrapper. Most important go to the dentist, they see this kind of thing, so do not be embarrased.

stargazer001 · 04-04-2008, 07:59 AM

I have/had the same problem you do. The white junk is tarter and plaque, the buildup of which can cause gingivitis (which you apparently have) and can progress into periodontitis. I would suggest brush twice a day, floss once, and use a mouthwash after you eat... every time.

Buy a mouthwash with at least .1% cetylpridinium chloride (I happened to find Orajel 'Anti-bacterial bleeding gum rinse'. It will sting your gums a little as it cleans, and the overall flavor is a little stong, but weather it out, becasue when you spit it out, it has a great numbing sensation and leaves your mouth with a minty vanilla flavor. Yummy!). This is the only mouthwash I have found so far that doesn't burn my mouth horribly. I hope it works for you, too!!!

At any rate, you also need to go to the dentist for a routine cleaning so he can get the plaque off and tell you if you need something more. He might also give you an ointment to put on your gums to help get rid of the gingivitis. I hope this helps!

BretW · 04-08-2008, 04:33 AM

I've been using Chlorhexidine Digluconate 0.2% w/v Antiseptic Mouthwash. That stuff makes me lose sense in my whole mouth for days lol. Although it did seem to work when i used it. Where do i pick up a dental pick?

Thanks for your help