LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
about me:
hey, you can call me cj or jay (he/they)!! i’m a spoonie (autistic, adhd, ocd, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and hypermobility spectrum disorder) located in the united states.
i’ve worked in dentistry since i was 19. fell into it completely by accident, and it became an unexpected passion of mine. now i want to use my knowledge to help my fellow spoonies take care of their teeth so we can all have healthy smiles for the rest of our lives!!!
on this blog i’ll be posting and reblogging educational information about oral health, and answering questions about teeth and how to care for them.
my ask box is open and, since dental health can be a sensitive subject for a lot of us, anon is enabled.
if you appreciate what i do here, consider visiting my digital tip jar!!
In the Handmaiden (2016), when the lady had a toothache, the maid got a thimble and rounded off the sharp tooth that was cutting into her mouth. Is this... advisable? Like, could I also shave down my dumb wisdom tooth that juts out with a thimble?? My dentist said the tooth itself, which has fully grown, isn't worth removing but it's getting annoying now.
hi anon, i would absolutely never recommend performing any sort of dental work yourself beyond basic brushing and flossing. your wisdom tooth may not be necessarily hurting anything, but if it bothers you i would definitely encourage you to ask your dentist what they can do. they might be willing to extract it at your request, or file it down enough that it doesn't hit in a way that bothers you. a lot of times, those adjustments are quite simple and some dentists will do them at no cost, especially if they're doing restorative work for you already!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
I went to the dentists for the first time in like 5 years this year 🎉
Had to get a bunch of work done. But I’m better now. I have gum disease (boo gum disease 👎🏾) due to depression/chronic illness + past struggles with disordered eating + iron definitely.
I also have REALLY really bad teeth genetics.
Gum disease is HEAVILY present on one side of my family while tooth decay to the point of dentures is on the other.
Seeing a family member have to get dentures made me kick my ass into gear!!!
Most of my pockets are unfortunately 3-5s 😩 they’ve healed pretty nicely.
Beside one spot towards the very back that still occasionally bleeds?
I also have OCD so I am very very worried all the time now about my teeth. Sometimes my gums kind of…ache? I had some problems with one of my fillings and they had to shave it down but that side, that tooth specifically feels very sensitive??? Could it be teeth grinding? Or should I bring it up at my follow up in a few weeks? ( pretty sure I have an overbite that’s been exacerbated by my wisdom teeth removal years Ago that’s left me with some TMJ in the jaw and once a very known incident of week long hiccup/air hunger like things because my tongue was throbbing and my jaw was just slightly misaligned enough 🙃)
Do you think a water pik is worth it? I’m unemployed right now but it’s the only thing I asked for Christmas/birthday later this year so 🤞🏾
I floss with the little plastic ones because I just can’t do the other ones. I’ve tried. It’s just not in the cards for me for some reason 😭 nothing humbles you like flossing.
When dentists say to use the C-curve method, how can we better floss the back of the teeth? I feel like I’m not getting it good enough behind my teeth.
Is gum aching normal with gum disease? Especially after flossing and brushing? And not like bad aching? Just slight oh hey that’s there kind of thing???
At what point with gum disease should you be nervous about your teeth shifting and talk to your dentist about gum grafts? I don’t think I’m there yet but I want to be prepared for the worst while hoping for the best.
What toothpaste and mouthwash do you suggest? Also, tongue scrapers??? Worth it? Or is the toothbrush back thing with the ridges good enough?
Lastly, very very strange thing happened last time I had to get my fillings. They gave me the numbing stuff (had to go to the very back) and my mouth got very watery because the flavor was pretty nice ngl 😭 but it got on that side of my tongue and then some accidentally went down my throat when I swallowed out of nervousness (it’s a bit of a tic for me.)
Then that side of my throat got numb and I think my body went into a bit of fight or flight because it felt like I couldn’t breathe ??? (I was on nitrous) it was just a few minutes but I had my Fitbit on and my heart rate was through the roof.
Obviously I’m fine now but it scared the shit out of me. And they left me in the room for ten minutes by myself to let the numbing stuff kick in so I thought the last thing I would ever see was Amanda Bynes in She’s The Man on the tv.
So warning to all, no matter how good that numbing stuff tastes, DO NOT SWALLOW IT .
Anyways, THANK YOU ❤️🫶🏾❤️
hey anon, amazing job going in for your first dental appointment in 5 years!!! that's so awesome and i'm really proud of you!!
lots of really good questions so i'm just gonna tackle them in order:
mild tenderness/inflammation of the gums is pretty common with active periodontal disease, especially in the first 6-12 months after treatment. and if you're having sensitivity on a tooth you recently had a filling done on, i would definitely recommend mentioning it to your dentist!! often times, they can make a few more adjustments to make sure your bite still meets cleanly.
a water flosser is a great investment!! i especially like to use mine with a 1:1 mix of water with mouthwash for a little extra boost of fluoride. using manual floss sometimes is still a good idea, though.
getting around the backside of the teeth is sooooo tricky, and the backside of the back molars is one of the most-missed spots in the whole mouth. this is a great video on the c-curve method that i think makes it a lot easier to understand and copy!!
that soreness you're feeling after brushing and flossing should go away over time as you build the habit and your tissue heals from the periodontal treatment. in the meantime, a warm saltwater rinse after flossing can give you some relief, especially if there's any bleeding.
if you're staying on top of your perio maintenance visits and homecare habits, you may never need more intervention!! it can depend on a lot of factors, but those are the top 2 ways to see perio disease really slow down its effects. your dentist will help advise you if/when you start to show signs of needing something like osseous surgery or gum grafting, as those indicators will generally show up on imaging before you'll notice symptoms at home. but, if you're concerned, please do bring it up at your next visit!! they will be much better able than i am to talk to you about those options in your case.
personally, i really like sensodyne sensitivity & gum and therabreath healthy gums !! and i absolutely love my tongue scraper. i feel like it gets so much more buildup than the grooves on the back of my toothbrush, and i feel much cleaner after using it. just make sure you replace it every 3 months, just like your toothbrush/brush head!!
that sounds scary and i'm glad you're okay!! it's true that the local anesthetics used in dental procedures can numb any tissue in your mouth. it generally doesn't last as long from external contact than when it's injected, so hopefully the numbness in your throat wore off quickly!! that sounds like a very uncomfortable and distressing experience, i'm sorry that happened.
thank you so much for being here, and i hope i was able to answer your questions :)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
a 71-year-old patient just asked me if i wanted to go with her to see bts in concert 6 hours away, then showed me the bts army stickers on her ipad and the picture of one of the members as her lockscreen. problem is i don’t think she was entirely kidding about the road trip😭
I've heard that it's good to drink water after you drink or eat something acidic to neutralize the acidity. Is that true?
yes!! drinking a cup or so of water after eating or drinking something sugary/acidic has lots of benefits. it washes away a lot of the food particles that would otherwise stick to your teeth, dilutes the acidity/sugars, hydrates you, which in turn encourages saliva production, which helps prevent cavities in the long term. bonus points if you swish and spit with the first gulp. it's a great habit to build, especially if you have a sweet tooth like me!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
do you have any recommendations for mouthguards for clenching? i know the best option is to get one from my dentist but i don’t have insurance right now
i don't personally have a ton of experience with specific otc mouthguards, but from what i can tell, the oral b one tends to be pretty well liked by professionals! the key is to get a hard guard, as a soft one will actually make your clenching worse. thickness is also an important factor; 3mm+ is considered "thick" and works best for severe clenching/grinding, while 1-2mm are considered "thin" and good for mild to moderate cases.
boil-and-bite guards have been the go-to for a while, but oral b and other brands have shifted to a microwave-and-bite model. essentially, the package comes with a sort of "blank" that you then microwave until it's softened, then bite into so it molds to your teeth. the custom fit of models like this will make sure it sits snugly and doesn't throw your bite out of alignment.
your dentist will of course recommend a professional lab-made guard, but it's worth asking if they would be willing to make adjustments to your otc guard if you get the impression slightly off, or retrofit it if you get any restorations done.
i hope you're able to get some relief from nighttime clenching!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
In the absence of toothpaste, would it be viable to brush with soap? I mean it is meant for removing bacteria and grime...the ph and stuff is probably not right, but would it do more harm than good?
hi anon, please do not put soap in your mouth!! certain soaps might be safe, but most household soaps contain cleaning chemicals that should not be consumed. it's more likely to cause irritation to your soft tissues than do any good for your teeth.
in the absence of toothpaste, here are some safe alternatives:
baking soda (mix a paste with water at a 2:1 ratio)
mouthwash
saltwater (or just plain water!!)
of course toothpaste is ideal, but any of the above will work just fine in a pinch!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Sorry if this is hella gross but my reddit account got banned. Little chunks of hard stuff keep crumbling off the back of my bottom row of teeth, been doing that for 3 years I think, and I've never gotten a straight answer anywhere whether it was tartar or my tooth itself. Not sure if sending pics is allowed but this is what it looks like after the most recent chip that happened while I was eating very crunchy gas station chicken tenders- I can't go to a dentist bc I have no insurance, I just want to know if my teeth are falling apart (I don't brush often because of mental health issues) or if this is just build up. Usually it comes off a yellowish white color, in small or big chunks. It feels like there's a big sharp hole in my bottom front teeth at the moment if I run my tongue across it
Are they falling apart or is it tartar and I can stop worrying?
hi moonfrost, i of course can't diagnose anything from one photo over the internet, but i'll try to help as best i can. based on that picture, it does look like there's a layer of calculus (hardened plaque) across the back of your lower front teeth. it's super common to get buildup in that spot because it can be easy to miss it while brushing. i don't see any obvious chips on the teeth themselves, and if you're not feeling pain around the spot where that big sharp hole is, i would guess you're seeing pieces of calculus breaking off. especially if this has been going on for a few years; it's unlikely that you could break off that much natural tooth structure over that amount of time without feeling significant pain and/or the tooth completely breaking.
if you run your tongue over that area and it feels rough or fuzzy, it's probably calculus. healthy natural teeth should feel smooth to the touch. in fact, one of the most common things i hear from patients after getting periodontal treatment is that their teeth feel "slimy" now, because they've gotten used to that rough feeling.
being without insurance makes it difficult to get the care you need, but there are some resources that may help depending on your situation. the next time you have the spoons, i would highly recommend searching the following terms in your area to see what's available to you:
dental school accepting patients
sliding scale dentist
dental discount plan
dental insurance marketplace
donated dentistry
i hope this helps, and do me a favor and try to brush your teeth tonight? you got this!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
i am currently working with a dermatologist to deal with some persistent adult acne. she recommended switching to a non-mint and non-fluoride toothpaste, as both of those ingredients can trigger breakouts.
i don't mind giving up the mint, but giving up fluoride is more worrying, and googling "fluoride alternatives" is sending me down some, shall we say, less scientific paths.
at the end of the day if i have to choose between skin aesthetics and dental health, i'll prioritize teeth, but are there good fluoride alternatives for remineralization that don't include "sleeping with a crystal under your pillow"?
ask received 5/5
ok first and foremost hi from one snoopy lesbian to another!! i have my weighted snoopy on my lap as i'm typing this :)
so the other main ingredient that remineralizes enamel is nanohydroxyapatite, or nHA! it's a synthetic formulation of a naturally occuring mineral that acts similarly to fluoride in its effect on our teeth. it both remineralizes enamel and reduces sensitivity, so you'll see small amounts in most sensitive and whitening products. it was actually developed by NASA in the 70s as a response to astronauts experiencing bone loss while in space! scientists in japan started developing its use in toothpaste in the early 90s, and while it's still much less common than fluoride, there are a few good options on the market.
it's most effective at a 10% concentration and in combination with xylitol, which helps to stimulate saliva production as well as adding a hint of sweetness. a lot of toothpastes have nHA in a much lower concentration, which is fine in combination with fluoride, but on its own it's not going to do much for you under that 10% threshold. boka is a really popular brand of fluoride-free nHA toothpaste because it's available at drugstores, but they don't list the concentration anywhere, so it's probably quite a bit lower unfortunately.
dr jen, davids, and ollie are all brands with both a 10% concentration of nHA and xylitol, and dr jen has one with both of these and fluoride! i believe all three of these also come in non-mint flavors as well!
i hope this helps, and good luck with both your dental and skincare :)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
hello there!! i'm someone who admittedly did not take care of their teeth at all for a large part of their life and are reaping the consequences. i don't have pain in any teeth, nor sensitivity where the cavities i see are located, but almost every surface has a pretty visible cavity or multiple, save for the front bottom teeth and my canines. i doubt it's just staining because of how long i've gone without doing anything to care for them. as of the past three weeks ive been brushing twice every day, waiting before rinsing, etc and trying my best to floss—and i have a dentist's appointment booked
but i still can't shake the fear that it's too late. i feel like with my negligence i've doomed myself to losing all my teeth as i get older no matter what... the saying goes that fillings eventually turn into root canals/crowns which turn into implants or dentures—and i'm terrified of getting a root canal and having my teeth shaved down for a crown... i'm even just terrified of getting fillings, because its inevitable that every time you have to replace them, more and more natural structure gets removed. the thought that no matter what i do now, ive surely doomed my teeth already due to youthful neglect and can only prolong the inevitable, is really saddening. do you think my concerns are founded? or am i being too negative?
ask received 1/23
anon, i am so glad to hear that you're building healthy homecare habits and that you have an appointment booked!! i'm sure by now you've already had the visit, and i hope it went well, but i'm still going to answer the rest of this ask because i think a lot of people need to hear it.
it is never too late.
it might feel that way when there's visible decay and buildup you can't scrape off. it might feel that way when finances are tight and you're overwhelmed with the restorative work. but i promise you from the bottom of my heart that it is never too late to turn things around.
you're right that a restored tooth is not as strong as a healthy natural tooth. but, at the same time, a restored tooth is much, much stronger than a natural tooth with active decay. a tooth that's been restored with a filling might need a crown or root canal someday, but it also might hold strong for a very long time; we have patients in my practice that have fillings in their mouth they got the 70s!
the lifespan of a restoration depends on a lot of factors, but the biggest one by far is homecare. the #1 reason a restoration needs to be replaced is recurrent caries, aka a cavity that forms around or underneath the restoration. remember that a filling or crown only treats the existing cavity; it doesn't prevent cavities from forming ever again in the same area. it's still important to brush and floss regularly to prevent decay.
now is a great time to start building up those habits you've been working on, so that once your teeth have been restored to a healthy state, you can rely on that routine to keep them in the best shape possible!!
i want to highlight too, though, that if a restoration needs to be replaced, it's nothing to beat yourself up over. as i said before, lots of factors go into a restoration's lifespan: genetic predisposition for cavities, the size and location of it, quality of work, your bite, your jaw positioning, all of that can affect whether you need restorations in the first place and whether they ever need to replaced. my dentist often recommends occlusal guards to anyone with more than a handful of restorations in their mouth, because it protects them (+ your natural teeth of course!) from a lot of wear and tear from grinding and clenching at night.
so, all this to say, please don't give up just as you're getting going!! your teeth and their shiny new restorations can serve you for years to come!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Anon I do restorative and preventative dentistry, and loads and loads and loads of my patients have good restorations that have lasted multiple decades. The death spiral of the tooth is something we got taught, to emphasise the importance of prevention and doing it right the first time. Yes, even when we do everything perfectly we can't save every tooth forever. What we can do is give you more years with that tooth, and it's so worth it. Just today I diagnosed a tooth that needs a root canal retreatment. The initial root canal was done twenty-seven years ago. It's still not causing pain and in perfect function for this person. They had the tooth for over half of their life because of that treatment. Even if it fails now, someone saved that tooth for the majority of their adult life. If I can I will save it for another twenty or longer.
Even if you are doomed to lose your teeth eventually, good care can mean that eventually is in your nineties. Every single time someone was pessimistic about the state of their teeth due to previous neglect to me it wasn't as bad as they thought. And so many times when someone establishes healthier routines a tooth that I would have been happy to save for three years lasts another fifteen years.
It is never ever too late. It is never ever pointless.
hello there!! i'm someone who admittedly did not take care of their teeth at all for a large part of their life and are reaping the consequences. i don't have pain in any teeth, nor sensitivity where the cavities i see are located, but almost every surface has a pretty visible cavity or multiple, save for the front bottom teeth and my canines. i doubt it's just staining because of how long i've gone without doing anything to care for them. as of the past three weeks ive been brushing twice every day, waiting before rinsing, etc and trying my best to floss—and i have a dentist's appointment booked
but i still can't shake the fear that it's too late. i feel like with my negligence i've doomed myself to losing all my teeth as i get older no matter what... the saying goes that fillings eventually turn into root canals/crowns which turn into implants or dentures—and i'm terrified of getting a root canal and having my teeth shaved down for a crown... i'm even just terrified of getting fillings, because its inevitable that every time you have to replace them, more and more natural structure gets removed. the thought that no matter what i do now, ive surely doomed my teeth already due to youthful neglect and can only prolong the inevitable, is really saddening. do you think my concerns are founded? or am i being too negative?
ask received 1/23
anon, i am so glad to hear that you're building healthy homecare habits and that you have an appointment booked!! i'm sure by now you've already had the visit, and i hope it went well, but i'm still going to answer the rest of this ask because i think a lot of people need to hear it.
it is never too late.
it might feel that way when there's visible decay and buildup you can't scrape off. it might feel that way when finances are tight and you're overwhelmed with the restorative work. but i promise you from the bottom of my heart that it is never too late to turn things around.
you're right that a restored tooth is not as strong as a healthy natural tooth. but, at the same time, a restored tooth is much, much stronger than a natural tooth with active decay. a tooth that's been restored with a filling might need a crown or root canal someday, but it also might hold strong for a very long time; we have patients in my practice that have fillings in their mouth they got the 70s!
the lifespan of a restoration depends on a lot of factors, but the biggest one by far is homecare. the #1 reason a restoration needs to be replaced is recurrent caries, aka a cavity that forms around or underneath the restoration. remember that a filling or crown only treats the existing cavity; it doesn't prevent cavities from forming ever again in the same area. it's still important to brush and floss regularly to prevent decay.
now is a great time to start building up those habits you've been working on, so that once your teeth have been restored to a healthy state, you can rely on that routine to keep them in the best shape possible!!
i want to highlight too, though, that if a restoration needs to be replaced, it's nothing to beat yourself up over. as i said before, lots of factors go into a restoration's lifespan: genetic predisposition for cavities, the size and location of it, quality of work, your bite, your jaw positioning, all of that can affect whether you need restorations in the first place and whether they ever need to replaced. my dentist often recommends occlusal guards to anyone with more than a handful of restorations in their mouth, because it protects them (+ your natural teeth of course!) from a lot of wear and tear from grinding and clenching at night.
so, all this to say, please don't give up just as you're getting going!! your teeth and their shiny new restorations can serve you for years to come!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
hi, I sent an ask about silicone toothbrushes a while ago. sensory wise it is amazing, I can brush my teeth again!! I couldn't recommend it enough for anyone who has sensory issues with brushing! although it doesn't feel as effective at cleaning compared to a normal toothbrush but it's far better than my old method of rubbing toothpaste on my teeth. I didn't buy the one you suggested but I may try it since it has more and smaller bristles than the one I have (that might make it more effective? idk) now I have to see a dentist to fix all the issues not brushing caused, I'll likely be back to browse your blog/ ask questions. Thank you again
ask received 1/14
thank you so much for sending this in!! i'm so glad to hear it's been working for you, and i hope this will be helpful to anyone who's been wondering if it might work for them too :)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
It's the 2nd of may as I'm writing this, and just in case anyone needs to hear this:
Brushing your teeth 3-4 times a year is still better than nothing. If you promised yourself that you'd do better this year and already fell off the wagon in january, go do it now, even if you can't manage it every day.
Once a week is better than never. Once a month is better than never. Hell, once a year is better than never. If you can't do perfect, better than nothing is better than nothing. Go brush your teeth.
Reblogging to add the thing that changed my life: brushing with just water is better than not brushing at all.
Again, you don't have to brush with toothpaste. Not every time, and not at all if it genuinely proves a barrier.
Yeah, it's better for your teeth and gums and breath to use some kind of toothpaste product, but if that's what's stopping you? Don't! Just don't.
You have my permission and that of my dentist: just a wet freaking toothbrush run a handful of times over your teeth quickly to get the scuzz off is infinitely better than not brushing at all.
It counts. It helps. It's okay. If it's what you can manage, or what you can stand at the end of an overstimulating day, it's amazing.
here's some more unsolicited adult advice as someone in her 30s who knows there are a lot of twenty somethings and teens that follow her: if you're trying to build a new habit you really want, and are struggling, you have to break it down to the smallest building block possible. If you're failing, you haven't thought small enough. I know it's possible to hear stories of people who just snapped into new life mode one day by "just deciding", but truly what's happening there is a confluence of events and experiences that force the brain into some sort of epiphany. You cannot will an epiphany. It'll never work. For most times of your life, you will need to build habits intentionally, and that means not working against yourself and to set micro goals. like laughably tiny goals. because once that easy tiny goal is met, you can build off it, tiny goal after tiny goal until you reach your big goal.
so for example, if you want to be a morning person that gets up at ass crack dawn so that you can work out, eat brekkie, shower, and get to work at a leisurely pace, and you're not that person because you will hit your snooze button 800 times, you have to get the big picture goal out of your head. think smaller. "I want to get up 15 minutes earlier than I normally do." If you can't do that, make it 5 minutes. "I want to cook breakfast every day" hell no too big. "I want to eat something, anything, before I leave the house" hell yeah, fantastic. When you go to the grocery store to make sure there are things in the house for breakfast, if you keep buying bagels and microwave sandwiches that you ignore, you gotta think smaller. SMALLER. What's something so easy to eat that you'll never say no to. Is it a yogurt? Is it a handful of grapes? Is it a hostess ho ho? is it hot cheetos? FORGET the big picture of the fantasy put-together woman preparing a full nutritious meal that you'd be proud to admit to. Think only of the smallest goal you can achieve. If you know you can't say no to an ice cream sandwich, put a ton of ice cream sandwiches in your freezer and have one for breakfast every day until it's so instilled in you that you gotta get up to eat something you can start diversifying.
It sounds like, from the lack of habit place, that must take forever. But really it doesn't take too long to form the habit once the discipline kicks in. the trick is that you have to give your brain something easy to become disciplined to. If it's too hard, think easier and smaller. No one has to know. Literally no one in the gd world has to know that for 4 weeks when you were 22 you had an ice cream sandwich for breakfast every day. who cares. If it gets you eating oatmeal with fresh fruit in a few months who cares. you did it, yay. smaller, easier. if you can't do it, think smaller and easier. smaller!! EASIER!!! You are not thinking smaller and easier enough. break your brain thinking how small and easy you can go. SMALLER. EVEN SMALLER, SIS.
I love this advice so much. To help build a teeth brushing habit, some really small things to try is to just get into the habit of doing a regular dry brush. Once you've got the hang of it, add toothpaste. Once you've done that, try brushing twice a day. Add flossing at any point. Just take your very small steps and start adding a bit more when the last step feels less monumentally impossible.
Hi! I'm wondering if there is an ideal amount of time to wait after brushing before eating/drinking? I've been brushing in the mornings much more regularly lately, but I also sip on coffee all morning long. How much time should I be giving my mouth between brushing and my next sip of coffee?
Also, thanks for all you do running this blog! It's helped me so much in reclaiming my dental hygiene! I went from brushing maybe a couple times a week to at least once a day, often twice, and flossing about once a week. I'm really happy with my continued progress, and you're partly to thank for that! So thank you!
hey friend, i'm so happy to hear that i've been able to help you with your routine!! it truly warms my heart to know that this blog is having a positive impact on people :'))
this is such a good question. i'm also a big coffee drinker, especially those sugar bomb drinks that are basically caffeinated candy. the general rule of thumb is that, after brushing, waiting 30 minutes to eat or drink anything will really maximize the benefits of fluoride on your teeth. for me, this looks like making brushing one of the first things i do when i get up, so that by the time i'm dressed and headed out the door, the 30-minute window is up and i can treat myself to a mocha!!
however, if you're not waiting 30 minutes, it doesn't mean that you reversed the benefits of brushing. even if the fluoride is rinsed away immediately, the mechanical act of brushing removes buildup from the teeth that can otherwise sit and eat away at the enamel throughout the day. so, it's not definitely not the worst thing if you only give it 5 or 10 minutes, you just might not be getting the full benefits of the fluoride in your toothpaste.
i hope this helps!! happy brushing and happy sipping :)
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
Hi toothtalk; I just started going back to the dentist after 3 years of barely caring for my teeth. I went in to get a large cavity filled, but... my new dentist determined it's much worse than we thought and I'll probably be losing that tooth; I was told there was a chance a crown might work, but that it's really unlikely and would be expensive to try?
I don't have enough time to get a second opinion on the tooth, since I have less than a week before my extraction appointment and only a temporary filling. I'm really nervous and overwhelmed about undergoing such a permanent procedure when I wasn't expecting it. It's been hard to quiet the "what if" voice that maybe I could save it by throwing a ton of money at the problem, even if it's likely to not work.
Obviously, you can't give me advice on my tooth itself. But:
Are there any questions you recommend I ask my dentist so I can get a more clear picture of my specific situation and my options? I don't know much about dental procedures or how this might affect my mouth long-term besides just not having a tooth there, so I just don't know what questions to ask.
And do you have any words of advice, reassurance, or wisdom about coming to terms with losing teeth, and especially that "what if" voice?
I also wanted to say thanks for running this blog, while I'm here; it's been a huge help and reassurance in my journey towards recovering my dental health. I wish I had gotten back on this path sooner, but I am trying to stay positive that things can only go up from here.
hi anon!! thank you so much for your kind words, it's so lovely to hear that this blog has been able to help so many people. truly warms my little heart and motivates me to keep it up!!
this is such a tricky situation, but you're not alone in it. we see cases like this a lot at my office, where there's a restorative option that could work, but the chance of failure is high enough that it's hard to advise putting a significant amount of money into it. unfortunately, crowns are not cheap, so it's not always an easy decision to get one if the prognosis isn't great. and, if you have other teeth that need restorative work, your dentist may recommend you prioritize using your funds toward saving the ones with the better prognosis and saying goodbye to the one that's more questionable.
you can ask your dentist or treatment coordinator to meet with you sometime before the appointment to discuss the details of what's going on. whether this is a separate appointment leading up to it, or you just come in early to sit down with someone, they should be able to show you images of the tooth and explain exactly why they've given it a questionable prognosis. generally speaking, a dentist will recommend an extraction if there's:
infection present, such as an abscess or infected pulp chamber
decay that's affected more than 50% of the tooth structure
a crack that runs below the gumline
dentists usually don't like to extract teeth that can otherwise be saved, so they're probably not going to recommend it if there's another option. you could absolutely try the crown, just keep in mind that there is always the possibility of it failing and you losing the tooth regardless. you'll have to determine for yourself based on your health and financial situation whether it makes sense for you to try it or not. you may also want to ask whether they plan to perform a bone graft at the extraction site. grafting can be a bit expensive, but it's a good way to ensure that the site heals smoothly and increases the likelihood of a successful tooth replacement down the road.
so, let's say you go forward with the extraction, what comes next? in the days immediately following the procedure, you'll be sore at the extraction site, and you'll be on a soft food diet. you won't be able to smoke or use a straw for 1-2 weeks afterward - anything that creates suction in the mouth can dislodge the blood clot, which can be really painful. but, once it heals up, the gum tissue should fill in the gap relatively quickly, and eventually harden into a sort of ridge. make sure you're keeping this area clean with alcohol-free mouthwash to start, and gently brushing the space once it finishes healing.
depending on if this is a tooth in your smile line or not, your dentist might offer to make you a flipper - this is a removable single-tooth replacement that's meant for temporary use, and for aesthetic purposes only. a lot of people will opt to use a flipper while they're in the process of getting a permanent replacement option. as for permanent options, there's two main ones: an implant and a bridge.
an implant is a single-tooth replacement that consists of a titanium screw in the jawbone with a crown on top of it. they look and feel about as close to a natural tooth as you can get, but they can be pretty pricey. the good news is that a lot more insurance plans are covering implants these days, and dentists that perform them generally offer financing plans to make them more affordable!!
a bridge is a fixed prosthetic, meaning it's a false tooth that is cemented into your mouth rather than being removable. there's a few different types, but the most common is a three-unit bridge with crowns. the teeth on either side of the space will be crowned, and a false tooth will be bonded in between the crowns to fill the space. this is a great option if both of the adjacent teeth also have large cavities, as you can essentially kill three birds with one stone.
all this to say, losing a tooth can be really scary to think about, but it doesn't mean you'll be stuck without it forever. dental technology has advanced to the point where replacing missing teeth is more accessible than it's ever been!! a lot of people move forward with replacements right away after having a tooth pulled, while others go months to years without before they're ready to start the process of replacing (though usually we'll see the best results when the replacement happens within 5 years of the extraction).
plus, our bodies are quick to adapt to changes, and you might find that missing a tooth isn't as strange as it might seem now. most people adjust to it within a couple weeks, and are relieved to have the problem tooth gone so they can focus on other things.
i truly hope that this was helpful, and i'm wishing you the best of luck going into your appointment!! you got this!!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
I've struggled with hygiene in general a bit at times, but I've found that occasionally using self care products like bath bombs, face masks, sugar scrubs, etc, really makes me want to keep up with a daily routine as much as possible. The only thing I haven't been able to find is in dental care.
I've already got an electric toothbrush and some new toothpaste I like. (Kid flavors really help!) And I try to floss when I can.
Is there anything you could please maybe think of that I could use to add some fun/reward/change into my routine? Or just something different to try once a week or so?
Thanks for reading! I appreciate what you do here!
hey, stormclaws!! first of all, that is a sick url. i'm a big warriors fan and i think stormclaw would be such a cool name for a cat :)
anyway, this is such a great question!! as i've said before, positive reinforcement is far more effective than negative when it comes to building habits. but what that looks like is going to be a little different for every person.
i think beyond the obvious use of flavors you like, which you already mentioned, a key piece of positive reinforcement is making the room where you brush and floss a pleasant room to be in. for most of us, this is our bathroom, so keeping it clean, well-stocked, and smelling nice will make it a nice place to be for the minutes it takes to do our homecare routine. maybe using scented candles or LED lights in different colors, or putting up a fun shower curtain, mirror decals, and decor items can help, too!
you could also work your oral care routine into the routine you already have!! for example, my skin care includes a few products that have to sit for 2-3 minutes before i can apply the next one, so i use that time to do my oral care routine. i floss while my toner sets, brush while my serum soaks in, and finish off with my moisturizer. i always feel so squeaky clean after doing this!!
lastly, i'm always listening to music when i'm doing my bathroom tasks. showering, skincare, oral care, etc, there's always music on. i have a playlist of music that makes me feel happy and energized, and half the time i'm dancing in place while i'm brushing. this makes it feel so much less like a chore, and more like something i do because it makes me feel good. also, unrelated to oral health, but i would highly recommend everyone have a playlist like this to throw on when you need a boost.
if you see this and you have have more ideas, please share them in the comments and reblogs!!
LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This blog is for educational and informational purposes only. This does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. Information on this blog should NOT be used for diagnostics or treating a health problem. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified dental health provider regarding diagnosis and treatment of a dental condition.Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
