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General health

Am I going to lose my teeth?

52 replies

AllFurCoat · 08/12/2013 15:01

I've been having various health problems for the last month and now my teeth have started wobbling and I'm so scared I'm going to lose them! I got a bad cold/sinus type thing a month ago and my teeth started feeling loose - like when you have braces, but weren't actually loose. When the sinus pain cleared, so did the loose teeth feeling. Last week I got another cold and my bottom teeth started feeling loose and sore and one started wobbling! That cleared up, but then it seemed to work it's way round my mouth, on Friday my top right teeth started feeling loose and one is now wobbling and now the left ones have started. WTF?!

I do have receding gums and a couple of bad cavities, but it all seems to have kicked off in the last month. My gums feel really tender. Another thing is my jaw's a bit dodgy and clicky, I often can't close my teeth properly cos my jaw just won't do it and when it does it's uncomfortable.

I've always been a bit crap with my teeth, but in the last few months I've started making sure I brush at least twice a day, flossing, mouthwash etc, but it seems to have got worse since then! I've got a massive dentist phobia, but have booked in to see them this week. I'm so, so scared that I'm going to lose my teeth! I'd assumed the loose feeling was down to my sinuses being blocked, but I'm all worried now they're actually wobbling! Can anyone help?!

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varigatedivy · 08/12/2013 15:41

It's impossible to tell without seeing them!
Loose teeth are a sign of advanced gum disease because the gums recede and the teeth fall out eventually.
Dentists can save teeth where there is gum disease- give you antibiotics if there is infection and so on, but you need them to have a look and assess what's going on. It's more likely that your teeth have moved and that's why you can't have a proper 'bite'- rather than you jaw changing, those bone can recede too in older people.

Hopefully it won't be as bad as you imagine when you see the dentist.

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AllFurCoat · 08/12/2013 16:55

Thanks! I'm probably panicking a little too much, but after a nasty extraction thanks to a botched root canal, anything to do with teeth petrifies me! I'm wondering if it is my teeth shifting actually, I've had loads of teeth out because of overcrowding, so maybe they've just realised 10+ years later that they've got more space. I'm only 25 and totally didn't expect problems like this now!

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khm1998 · 08/12/2013 22:28

Do your gums bleed when flossing and brushing?

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SwimmingMom · 08/12/2013 23:31

You sound like a case of advanced gum disease. Must go to a periodontist ASAP, if possible tomorrow. Will take a few sittings to clean out the rot in the gums & stabilise the teeth...but will need hygiene cleans every 3 months. If you make haste you teeth could be saved. But a delay of few days/weeks could change the picture. Hurry!

I don't mean to scare you, I only want to get you into acting very quickly.

If you want more input PM me & I can tell you more.

Good luck!

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varigatedivy · 09/12/2013 08:23

swimming- the Op has already said she has an appt booked for this week. Gum disease takes years to become established and nothing is going to happen in a few more days.

Are you in the US perhaps? In the UK all dentists deal with gum disease and would refer to their hygienist in the practice for cleaning and treatment.

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AllFurCoat · 09/12/2013 08:24

That's what I'm worried about, that it's advanced gum disease. But I don't get how it seems to have come on so quickly? And I've not had any gum bleeding, which is hats confusing me the most cos I thought that was the first sign?

I've woken up loads better today, no aching and could actually close my jaw first thing! Obviously just speculating, but I'm wondering if cos I'm so conscious of it I'm making it worse cos I'm not relaxing my jaw properly or something? God knows!

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AllFurCoat · 09/12/2013 08:35

I guessed swimming was probably in the US! Tbh I don't actually think my gums look that bad, they're not all red and nasty looking. Also wondering if switching to corsodyl daily might have irritated them? Will switch to salt water and see what happens! I guess there's no point guessing as only a dentist actually seeing them will know what's going on!

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varigatedivy · 09/12/2013 08:42

You may be tooth grinding in your sleep- this can give you a very sore/achy jaw and sore teeth. They can sort this with a mouth guard you wear at night.

Hope you get on ok, but in future make sure you go to dentist every 6 months and keep up the cleaning and flossing

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 09:02

Vari - I am in UK! Smile

When I was in a similar situation as OP (but bleeding gums, so no doubts), I used my private insurance (otherwise expensive!!) to directly go to a perio. Didnt want to lose any time. The perio was very quick to treat (but bloody expensive - am taking ££££ here..). I promise - from the first treatment (deep hygiene clean) I felt the teeth get firmer & stronger. From not being able to bite into an apple for fear of losing teeth, I was able to do it within days.

The regular route would be dentist > hygienist > perio, but I panicked & jumped to the end. Now am fine with regular dentist & hygienist visits.

Hope this helps but as you say, a day here or there won't matter (depending on how bad OP's situation is).

On the other hand if its not gum disease (I would be surprised), then the dentist would know best.

If this helps at all - my m had the same condition with no bleeding. Lost a lot of gum & all teeth shifted. It's hereditary in many cases like mine.

OP - you could ask your mum/dad if they've ever had it. Might help with knowing where the problem lies.

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 09:03

Oops - I meant 'mum'

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AllFurCoat · 09/12/2013 09:17

I know my parents teeth aren't the best, dad's probably cos he's also petrified of the dentist and mum's I don't know, will have to ask!

I do have insurance actually, one of those things that I've paid for years and not actually used! Will have a check on what it'll pay out.

Ugh the thought of teeth grinding goes right through me, the DC do it though and I think my mum does, so chances are I do too!

And yes, I'll keep up with the brushing and flossing and make sure I see the dentist regularly - all this has properly shit me up!

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 09:30

Allfurcoat - can I ask if your gums are looking pink & firm or are they looking purplish-patches & tender?

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varigatedivy · 09/12/2013 10:06

Swimming- do you mean private dental insurance? Because private health cover won't cover you for teeth. I've never heard of periodental- I've had lots of cleans for bleeding gums and the treatment was hygienist every 3 months, flossing and mouth washes and mutterings of anti biotics if it didn't improve.

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varigatedivy · 09/12/2013 10:08

swimming- I do wonder if you have been ripped off tbh. All hygienists do a 'deep clean' surely? They use the ultrasonic water spray thing and then pick away with the tools- getting right under the gum line and so on. what else did you have done?

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 10:34

Vari - periodontal disease is an advanced stage of gum disease. It's done under 2 shots of local anaesthesia for each quarter of the gum line as the cleaning is very deep to the base of the gums. (Divide the teeth into quarters, each quarter gets 2 shots & about 45 mins of cleaning each). It's standard practise in dentistry, not a rip off am sure. To be sure I've gone to a reputed perio at Harley street in London.

Now I go to a hygienist who does a 'thorough' clean for about 45 mins for all my teeth, no local obviously. There is a big difference in both treatments. Perio was a one time thing to 'rescue' me & measure the pockets caused by the gum disease. Went for follow ups but after 6 months was told by the perio that I need not see them anymore - hygienist will suffice.

Yes you are right about insurance, it was private dental insurance, but I had to pay first & get it back from Insurance later.

Any help?

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AllFurCoat · 09/12/2013 11:54

My gums are pink, although I've noticed a couple of purple patches in the last couple of days. I just really don't get how it could all have gone downhill so suddenly! I feel constantly fuzzy headed too, which I don't know if it's related or not, but I'm sick of feeling crap!

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varigatedivy · 09/12/2013 13:20

The thing with insurance like Denplan though is that the annual premium is based on your age and state of your teeth as in a report by your dentist- so not sure how it works by claiming retrospectively???

I don't have Denplan because the annual quote was somewhere around £250 for the basic plan and I don't spend that amount on my regular treatments, even with a re-filling which I've had maybe once a year for the last 2 years along with 2 cleans/polish.

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 16:53

Allfurcoat - just take one step at a time, go to the dentist & hygienist. They will know what to do.

In the meanwhile avoid biting into anything other than soft food. Avoid hard/medium food until you are seen. If you can - use the Colgate Total (gum protection) mouthwash.

Am sure it will all be alright in a few days.

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 16:57

Vari - dental insurance have standard cover amount for specific procedures depending on what you've signed up for. Usually covers dentist, hygiene appointments for a few hundreds a year + non standard procedures like perio, root canal, crowns for a higher amount. Typically they don't challenge the claim - they just fulfill it to the allowance limit of your claim. The underlying assumption is that you wouldn't have any of this done for fun.

Cosmetic procedures are not included - braces, whitening etc.

Payment timelines are 2 weeks after you send the claim in. Pretty smooth TBH.

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AmIDoingThisRight · 09/12/2013 17:02

Not sure if this will help you OP, but I was told I was going to lose some teeth in the summer due to severely receding gums following a nasty illness earlier in the year. put off going to the sentiat over the years - babies and wriggly toddlers etc.

However, I started rubbing my gums with cayemne pepper to stimulate the circulation. Four months down the line, went back to the dentist who was a bit surprised (and gutted probably, he collects vintage cars!) No mention of tooth loss and teeth and gums have visibly improved.

Also, give oil pulling a whirl. Sounds bonkers but it did the trick for me.

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varigatedivy · 09/12/2013 17:04

My DM has a dental plan and I looked into it- something like £25 a month totally £250 -ish a year allowances. I worked out that I would spend more on the insurance than if I paid for my average annual treatments costs- eg 2 x £38 hygienist trips, 1 check up and possibly one small re-filling of old fillings ( had 2 in the last 2 years but none for decades.)

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SwimmingMom · 09/12/2013 18:01

Amidoingthisright - fantastic tip about cayenne pepper! Thanks for sharing, will try it...

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Colinbakergotfat · 09/12/2013 18:27

To be honest I think you should be ok at 25. I am 10 years older than you and have periodontal disease - gingivitis. I have bone loss and a couple of pockets are 7mm Shock. Over 3 is bad. They are amazed at how bad I am for my age.

I have the treatment that swimming describes on the nhs. So... I think it is unlike that all your teeth are going to fall out imminently. When I have an active infection the gums are tender, bright red, puffy and my teeth feel loose. I can also express pus (sorry tmi).

They are getting much better and the pockets are reducing so i am sure you will be fine.

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AllFurCoat · 09/12/2013 18:54

Thanks everyone! I've only been eating soft food for the last few days, tbh my appetite's gone down hill anyway so I've not been eating much anyway!

AmI I'll give the cayenne pepper a whirl after I've seen the dentist, thanks! I don't want to try it til I know what's going on as I don't want to make anything worse! What's oil pulling? Blush

Colin that's really reassuring thanks! I'd got myself worked up that it was irreversible and they'd suddenly all fall out! Hopefully it'll be easily sorted-ish though!

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Mrsmorton · 09/12/2013 20:47

Cayenne pepper Confused you need to see a dental professional for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Oil pulling is an odd thing whereby people use oil to clean in between their teeth (takes 20min) rather than flossing. It gets rave reviews on here but I've not seen any evidence based research to date.

Mouthwash is just an expensive way to spit something out. Most is classed as "cosmetic" as it's got no medicinal benefit. It's rare (unless you are a smoker who never brushes) to have severe perio at 25 but there are conditions which give you localised disease around some of your teeth. Rare though.

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