Yesterday’s post on Long Distance Relationships got you guys talking (thanks for all the awesome love stories and encouragement!), but I’m guessing today’s on going to the dentist won’t get so much love.
I went to the dentist for the first time in almost two years yesterday.
I’ll give you an overview of this whole post right away: don’t wait that long.
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You’re supposed to go to the dentist every six months. However my company in Dallas didn’t provide dental insurance, so I didn’t. That’s not an excuse, by the way. I should have gone even without the insurance.
I’m pretty good about my dental health, I think. I brush multiple times every day, and I do floss, but I could be better about it. I got myself one of those Reach things so it would be easier to, and that definitely helps. Then in Miami my friend Mike told me about this healthy habit project he’s working on, and the first part is getting people to floss every day. Just hearing about it has made me a regular flosser.
Anyway, even though I was doing my best, my gums had started to bleed A LOT. It had been happening for a few months. Sometimes when I brushed, but almost every time I flossed. It was terrible! I was certain I had gum disease.
So first order of business when I got home to St. Louis (and on different insurance) was make a dentist appointment. I went today and when they asked how things were, and I flat out told them I hadn’t been to the dentist in a while and I thought I had gum disease. (It’s ALWAYS better to tell your health professionals the full truth, even if it’s not so great.)
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Well, the dental hygienist got to work and said I had TONS of tartar build up. Tartar is plaque (germs) that hardens on teeth, just above the gum line or in between teeth gaps to form a brown solid. Plaque is invisible, but tartar absorbs stains and so can usually be seen. (source) YUM. She said I likely didn’t have gum disease, but that having all that tartar can make your gums bleed.
I asked tons of questions because I’m that patient. She said that even though our bodies produce tartar, it is still seen as an outside invader and so it gets irritated and bleeds.
She said that yes, flossing and brushing well help, but that the best way to prevent plaque from building up is to see the dentist regularly. Once it hardens into tartar, only the dentist can remove it.
She also said I was a great patient:) I guess she liked the questions!
So I got my gums taken care of and my teeth cleaned, but I do have to get one of my fillings touched up. I have a few fillings, and had tons when I was little, so I’m just glad it’s not a whole new one. I have naturally “ridge-y” teeth that collect little bits of food and things, so I got cavities a lot easier. I also may have made that up. I have no idea. I just know I’ve been telling people it for a while and I must have heard it somewhere.
So, the moral of the story is: brush and floss well, and go to the dentist regularly.
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More reason to take care of your dental hygiene? Not doing so can lead to lots of other health problems including:
- Endocarditis. Gum disease and dental procedures that cut your gums may allow bacteria to enter your bloodstream. If you have a weak immune system or a damaged heart valve, this can cause infection in other parts of the body — such as an infection of the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis).
- Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke may be linked to oral bacteria, possibly due to chronic inflammation from periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease.
- Pregnancy and birth. Gum disease has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.
- Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. In addition, people who have inadequate blood sugar control may develop more-frequent and severe infections of the gums and the bone that holds teeth in place, and they may lose more teeth than do people who have good blood sugar control.
- HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
- Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — may be associated with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss.
I apologize for having you read about dental hygeine (if you actually kept reading ) If you made it this far, take another 5 minutes and go floss!
- Do you floss?
ps: I just tried for 15 minutes to get the links to work on this post, but when I save the post they go away mysteriously. I don’t understand.
ahh. I HATE the dentist! It’s been almost 2 years since i’ve been as well–after reading this post, i think i’ll go ahead and make an appointment!
Literally just finished brushing/flossing when I sat down to read this. But this is reminding me that I need to make a dentist appt! I try to go regularly but I should be better about it..definitely don’t go every 6 months.
I just went for the first time in a year and a half this month. I didn’t go while I was pregnant and I was too tired for all that mess recently. Finally I forced myself to go… okay, I’m lying. My mom made me. She even made the appointment. I’m such a child. It felt SO good to get it done, though!
I’m kind of dentist obsessed. I actually wanted to be a hygienist. I go every 4 months, since I’m always nervous about my teeth. Did you know flossing everyday can help you live 6 years longer! Yes, dental health is so important and I’m a nerd! It’s funny because my Sister actually has to get put to sleep just to get her teeth checked because she’s so scared. Weird how we’re opposites. I’m glad you finally went to the dentist, and that you were a good patient;)
I just went to the dentist yesterday! I actually do floss every single day. I had a tiny cavity though, only my second one in my life! Got it all filled and taken care of.
I am weird and LOVE going to the dentist! I floss every night
I’m going to be a terrible person and say I never floss. It’s not that I don’t mean to, it’s just not part of my routine, so I never do it. I do brush my teeth at least twice a day, sometimes more, and I see a dentist every 6 months. I’m lucky to have a good insurance plan so I’ve never even had a cavity (thank you fluoride rinses). I’m not afraid of the dentist like a lot of people. I save the fear for the doctors.
I love going to the dentist because I enjoy the feeling of them getting all the crap off my teeth that my normal dental hygiene doesn’t… although the last time I went the hygienist was extra picky and made my gums sooo so sore I thought I was going to cry! She must have been new… hah
I always get antsy when it’s been over 6 months, I could never last 2 years!!
I just went to the dentist today to have a filling. I chipped a tooth and apparently the best way to fix it is by filling it
I hate novocane so asked my dentist to go without. It actually wasn’t too bad!! I told her that I thought running a half-marathon was much more painful 
Haha, loved the post! I didn’t have dental insurance at my old job either, nor during grad school, so I went way, way, way too long without going to the dentist. After years of ranting to my employer, I sucked it up and purchased a Groupon to visit a dentist. In the end, I spent a ton of money for the years without regular dental exams, but it wasn’t quite as bad as I thought it would be… just a couple of cavities and major staining on the backs of my teeth along with plenty of tartar/plaque. Anyway, long story, short, I know how you feel & it’s good to get back into the routine of going to the dentist every 6 months
When you’re pregnant a lot of times your insurance includes an additional cleaning for that year because a healthy mouth is indicative of a healthy body! Something I learned when I was preggo
I am pretty religious about going to the dentist myself and have been seeing the same one since I was 3!
I love going to my dentist! He’s really outgoing and nice, so the visits are actually a lot of fun! I do floss probably 4-5 nights each week. Trying to get better though! Glad all turned out ok with you.
Ridgey teeth is a thing! My dentist calls mine groovy and yes it makes you more susceptible to cavities. I try and floss everyday but sometimes forget or am too lazy. A sonicare toothbrush really helps with the plaque buildup.
YESSS I wasn’t lying!!
Clare, you really need to choose your words more carefully. In your “information” from the Mayo Clinic you say “More reason to take care of your dental hygiene? Not doing so can lead to lots of other health problems including:” (this statement implies a causal link)
1) diabetes: poor oral hygiene does not CAUSE diabetes, uncontrolled diabetics are at higher risk of infection due to immunosupression
2) HIV/AIDS: you make it sound like not brushing your teeth can increase your risk of HIV
3) Osteoporosis, pregnancy: do I even need to repeat myself?
Also, “associated with” does not equal “causes”.
I would think that a “health coach” would be able to critically analyze and appropriately interpret health-related literature.
So sorry – I got that info straight from Mayo Clinic so didn’t think there was a problem. Causality means that one event is seen as a consequence of another, and this Mayo Clinic information DOES say that poor dental health can contribute to the health complications I listed. I am not an english major so I’m sure there are some picky terminology issues I’m not aware of, but I never meant any harm. The purpose of the post was to encourage people to brush, floss, and see the dentist. I’ll be more careful next time.
Actually as a dental hygienist, Clare is not completely wrong. Endocarditis can be caused by bacteria in your mouth going through the blood stream (when cleaned) and affecting the heart if there is a pre-existing condition. This is why we give patients with such conditions what is called pre-medication or antibiotics. I think she was trying to make people aware of the connection between the mouth and the whole body. That how you treat your mouth can have an impact on the rest of your system. Yes, technically speaking maybe “links” would have been a more correct term but I really appreciate her making people aware of the oral/systemic link that so many have no understanding of. And yes, diabetes is a disease on its own but can affect the gum tissues, gum disease has been linked to may pre-term births, gum disease has been linked with many cardiovascular diseases, patients with hiv/aids are susceptible to many oral lesions and gum problems, and osteoporosis can erode the bone that supports your teeth. All good information for the public to further research. Thank you Clare!!
Thanks for giving us a clarification from an expert!
This post scared me into making an appointment haha
kidding. But you’re right. We should all go when we’re supposed to. I don’t want dentures when I’m old and gray!!
okay…. i guess I should make a dentist appointment! I do floss every day- I keep those little floss sticks in my car and floss as I drive to school (kinda gross for anyone who catches a glimpse of me flossing away, but it works!!) P.S. Thanks again for yesterday- you are the best!!! xox
As a dental hygienist I’d say I’d give LOTS of love for this post!! Thanks for posting it. Its nice when patients walk away with positive things to say and share the knowledge that they learned with others. It helps with awareness about the importance of a healthy mouth and in turn a healthy body! Thanks again!!
AWw thanks!!
I floss allllll the time. I have crappy teeth (thanks to years of ed) so I try to help them out
I had almost this exact same conversation with my dental hygienist the last time I went (I also had waited way too long between appointments… and it was horrible) and now I floss regularly.
this is soo crazy !! we went to the dentist the same day with basically the same scenario !! it had been 2 years since i went because i moved to miami beach & hadn’t found a dentist here ! my plaque was so terrible that i had to rinse a dozen times just to get through the hygiene cleaning because of all the blood !! yikes !
needless to say it was a huge wake up call….. i love your blog though ! its super cute & i feel like we have a lot in common. you can see my post here : http://tayleralexisyoga.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/spotlight-xylitol/
Are you using the flosser that shoots the water and air? If so, I found out that they really don’t work well. I was saddened, given how almost enjoyable they are to use, but I have been told by a couple of dentists they should not be used to replace the act of actual flossing.
The dentists agreed that the marketing of them is done quite well, but alas it’s just marketing…. Just thought I would pass that along.
No I just have regular floss!