I think I have gingivitis (or even worse)…?
About four years ago I visited the dentist and had my last cleaning (I've been 95% cavity-free all my life), but had to return to see a hygenist and get my gums "scraped" (great fun that was). I went back to school for three years and now am having problems again. My gums bleed ALL the time, especially when I brush or floss (I brish often but, admittedly, have slacked off on the flossing the last couple of years). In addition, I have "old man" breath and it's getting to be embarrassing since I work in customer service. I will be getting dental insurance in about three months and want to wait to see the dentist until then. In the meantime, there are small white puffy patches above my two front teeth. The best temporary solution I can find is rinsing with hydrogen peroxide, but that's only temporary. What can I do in the meantime until I'm eligible for dental insurance?
Post dental cleaning thing.. gap?
I went and got my teeth cleaned and found that when my hygenist removed the plaque buildup behind my lower front teeth, I have this gap type thing where it used to be. It doesn't hurt me and my gums aren't bleeding, and my teeth aren't sensitive to hot/cold or any foods I'm eating, but I'm curious as to if there's anything I can do to relieve this temporarily or if something happens within time, like the gums grow into the gap and fill it like they normally do. It's not a huge gap, it's just where one of my teeth goes behind another one of my teeth from how they're crookedly set. Thanks in advance. :)
What is the best teeth whitening product in stores?
Okay guys, my teeth desperately need whitening. I've had problems with them ever since they came in because my bottom teeth are crooked. I am not able to get braces to help them because my insurance will not cover it. Because of that they collect plaque very easily and the last time I went to the dentist the hygenist didn't do her job right and get it all off ( I know it comes off because the lady I normally have always gets it all off.) I do brush my teeth three times a day and it just isn't working the way I had hoped. So now my question is, what is the best teeth whitening product I can buy at a place like Wal Mart? ( I'm not rich lol) I would really like to get something that removes plaque and whitens.
How long does it take for gum disease to heal?
If a person has a bad case of gingivitis, and then gets a very good cleaning from a hygenist, and starts brushing and flossing very well, how many weeks does it take for the gums to improve?
Can I reverse this minor decay in my tooth?
I had my regular checkup yesterday, and as the hygenist was checking for cavities, she found one spot that she thought was just barely sticking, indicating that it could be decay. She wasn't sure, and said that it could just be sticking in the groove a bit. Also nothing showed up on the xray that was just taken. The dentist then looked at it and decided that it should be filled "just to be safe," and that it is a "very small spot."
I've been researching a bit, and it sounds like there is a chance that the decay could be reversed by using flouride as long as it isn't past the enamel. Judging by what they had to say, I'm guessing this isn't past the enamel. Would the explorer (pokey metal thing) actually stick in the tooth if the decay is only in the enamel? It just barely stuck at all.
I'm a little fussy about this, since I haven't had a new filling in probably 15 years (had an old one redone recently) and brush and floss religiously. I really don't want another filling.
What are the pros and cons of getting an ultrasonic teeth cleaning verus hand scaling? The dentist tried to?
convince me that the ultrasonic is better, but I thought it sucked.
I didn't have that wonderful, just got my plaque scaled off feeling. I think it is the hygenist, who can get a cleaning done faster and with less wrist action strain that it is good for, but not of benefit to the patient. What do you know about the two ways of cleaning and the effect?
1. I meant the ultrasonic scaler used in the dental office.
2. The dentist ONLY used the ultrasound and no hand scaling.