Oral Hygiene

[wutaweirdo]

I just went to the dentist yesterday (I haven't gone in like... 5 years) and apparently I have mild gingivitis. EEK!!!! So they're going to do this crazy "root scaling and planing" deal which is NOT cheap (and my insurance takes care of 2/3 of it!) AND I've got 5 new cavities (last time I went was for them to fill 2). Crap crap crap. I admit, I was never a big flosser, but that was enough to turn me around!

Who's had experience with gingivitis and all that fun stuff and have you had the deep cleaning done? What was it like? I hate people all in my face, much less my MOUTH.

Also, I'm looking into getting a powered toothbrush. Any recommendations? I'm thinking I'd prefer a rechargeable. :)

[kat]

My flatmate has mild gingivitis and hasn't had any of that done. Both my mum and a friend had root canal work done and said it wasn't as bad as people made out. I don't think thats the same as what you're having done though. I had my first ever fillings done recently and even with the NHS it's not cheap. I'd suggest using a good mouthwash and flossing, though it is possible to over do it and make your teeth worse.

[DNK]

I generally get my teeth cleaned twice a year. I would suggest doing that more in the future. There's a lot of little crevasses in your mouth you can't get with a brush no matter how hard you try.

Which reminds me, I'm due for another trip to the dentist! Considering what a regular cleaning is like, I can only imagine what a "deep" cleaning is like... Good luck with all that.

[NoMeatMary]

I've had a "deep scale root plane" and it's not bad. They numb you up and you can always pay a little extra for the gas if you're too freaked out. My dentist did one side, then the other a week later. You'll be a little sore, but not even enough to need pain meds (maybe some Advil). He told me to brush the hell out of my gums while they were healing (the procedure kinda tears your gums up). Before I had it done my gums used to bleed a little when I flossed, but now they are tough as nails and I haven't had any problems since. It's been about 12 years.

[Tofu-N-Sprouts]

Yeah... as someone mentioned, start going every six months from now on or you'll just develop more problems eventually. Even if you've always had "perfect teeth" things tend to downhill as you get older, it's just life, so take care of yourself.

A deep cleaning isn't bad, just time consuming and you might be (maybe) a wee bit sore - though my ex. used to get them every 2 years and it never phased him...

I understand not wanting people "in your face" because the dentist isn't my favorite place either but I do NOT understand not taking care of one's oral hygiene when we live in a society where quality, comfortable and convenient dental care is pretty easy to come by.

[Dirty Martini]

Also, I'm looking into getting a powered toothbrush. Any recommendations? I'm thinking I'd prefer a rechargeable. :)

I have this one: http://oralb.com/us/products/product.asp?tid=products&sub=power&cid=power&pid=soniccomplete

It's rechargeable & I really like it.

BTW, if it makes you feel any better, about half the population has gingivitis in some form or another. It's extremely common.

[wutaweirdo]

I have this one: http://oralb.com/us/products/product.asp?tid=products&sub=power&cid=power&pid=soniccomplete

It's rechargeable & I really like it.

BTW, if it makes you feel any better, about half the population has gingivitis in some form or another. It's extremely common.

Hmmm... I've been checking out Oral-B a lot, I'm hoping to get one with a timer, so my lazy butt can have a definitive done/not done time. Haha. That one looks good, I'm gonna look into it. I really don't know what to look for in these things.

But yeah, I've been researching this gingivitis thing and it's a lot more common than I thought. It does make me a feel a LITTLE better, haha. But still, ew?