The Dental Thread

[Lily Adler]

So I'm having a problem with my teeth. I was using Pronamel toothpaste for years and decided to switch to Arm & Hammer Sensitive Toothpaste recently and thought it would work just as good as I used Crest ProHealth before. Well after using the paste once, my gums were tingling and then stopped after rinsing. That night, I tried to brush again and my gums actually started to bleed as if my toothbrush bristles were like tiny little knives. Now I was going to assume the Arm & Hammer is to blame and should go back to Pronamel, but I also switched from Listerine to Crest Mouthwash (they were out of Listerine at the store). I read that Crest Mouthwash can cause sensitivity issues for your gums and tongue and eventually sores. So should I just go back to my old stuff altogether or do some process of elimination and pick whether it's the mouthwash or toothpaste?

 

[Teelie]

I'd say go with what works but also see a dentist because that sounds like something more serious than a change in mouthwash or toothpaste causing such a reaction. I put it off too long and now I'm looking at $14k in work (thankfully less with insurance and spreading it out over the course of a year or three).

 

[Lily Adler]

I scheduled an appointment next week. it would have been this week, but there were a lot of dentists that were booked. I guess back to school had something to do with it. I always assumed I had minor gingivitis cause sometimes there would be pink when I brush, but never had it been that severe.

 

[Immortalfire]

Even as an adult, I remain perpetually terrified of going to the dentist.

 

[Lily Adler]

Stealing this from the lolpics thread cause it is very relevant for you.

 

[Holiday]

What does your diet look like? If your gums are bleeding that could be something to look at. Do you floss often?

 

[Erzengel]

 

[Lily Adler]

What does your diet look like? If your gums are bleeding that could be something to look at. Do you floss often?

I usually drink water (regular and sparkling) and coffee is my real vice (going to switch to using a straw) I eat a lot of chicken, green beans, broccoli, carrots, and potatoes. I do occasionally eat candy, but I've cut back on that a few months ago. I was going through a messy break up and binged on gummy candy which I think is the cause of it.

 

[Holiday]

I usually drink water (regular and sparkling) and coffee is my real vice (going to switch to using a straw) I eat a lot of chicken, green beans, broccoli, carrots, and potatoes. I do occasionally eat candy, but I've cut back on that a few months ago. I was going through a messy break up and binged on gummy candy which I think is the cause of it.

Doesn't sound too bad. Better than my diet, lol.

Few years ago I switched to using baking soda (sometimes mixed with hydrogen peroxide) instead of regular toothpaste and it works well. I did go back to Colgate or Crest for a couple days and had the same issues with tingling gums and mouth sores. I took that as a sign I should avoid it, haha. I guess I just wasn't use to it anymore.

 

[Lily Adler]

Don't get me wrong I do eat fast food sometimes too. Lol

 

[Holiday]

I mostly avoid fast food, maybe eat it once a month. Worst thing I eat is lots of sweets or ice cream. I try to swish with water after when I pig out on those.

I also try to floss once a day, makes a big difference for me.

 

[Lily Adler]

So quick update. I've went back to my old toothpaste and mouthwash and now I'm back to how it was before. I'm no longer bleeding as badly now it's a little pink on the brush and my gums are no longer super sensitive. I was using the Arm & Hammer a little bit afterwards and it was still doing the same thing, so I guess it was the toothpaste.

 

[terry78]

Could be periodontitis or something. I know that's what my issue was.

 

[Holiday]

I didn't take of my teeth in my teens and developed that, periodontal disease. I had a deep cleaning done, which wasn't so bad. Still have a trouble area where one of my canine teeth is too crooked to clean properly.

 

[Lily Adler]

So it's been about a week since I've went back to my old stuff. I have also been flossing more. My gums no longer bleed when I brush my teeth and only when I floss two particular teeth do I get a little blood. So my mouth is definitely getting healthier. My dentist appointment is on Tuesday so fingers cross it's not too bad. I may try the Arm & Hammer again after the bleeding completely stops.

 

[terry78]

[YT]HA2kWvrgwbE[/YT]

 

[Lily Adler]

So my appointment went good. I was expecting a cavity, but the dentist said I did have early signs of gingivitis and I was right to increase my brushing and flossing habits more. She recommended Parodontax if the bleeding persisted and to see her again in a couple of weeks. She did a cleaning and scraping. I was done and minty. I brushed that night with the Arm & Hammer and no problems anymore. No tingling or bleeding. It left my teeth looking cleaner.

 

[Teelie]

I had my root canal and retreated root canal done Friday. I was expecting some pain at least but instead? None. I took a double dose of Tylenol just in case but it was unnecessary. It somewhat disturbs me because you'd expect some soreness or pain afterwards but then again the Endodontist I went to literally just does this for a living so he's a pro.

 

[terry78]

Whenever there's surgery with no pain I like how your first instinct is, what the **** did you do to me?

 

[Teelie]

I think it comes down to having had so much dental work over the years the nerves just don't register it anymore. I still feel things fine in my mouth, especially if a tooth is sensitive but once they take the root, nothing. It's like nothing even happened.

 

[Lily Adler]

They probably damaged the nerve.

 

[Lily Adler]

So I've been using the Arm and Hammer off and on and I get a little pink when I use it instead of the Pronamel. I think my gums are just not used to the abrasiveness of the baking soda. I would stop using it but it helps my teeth look whiter, especially since I'm a heavy coffee drinker.

 

[Teelie]

I got my crown the other day and they numbed me while they put it in. Literally up to my eyebrow the right part of my face was numb or tingling. It was overkill. After it finally wore off I can't even tell there is a crown which is nice. Was expecting to have to adjust to the feeling of it.

 

[Lily Adler]

You must have a great dentist.

 

[Teelie]

I do apparently. The previous times I had crowns you could feel the difference but those were also a different dentist.