To add, once plaque becomes hard and needs to be scraped off, it is called “calculus”. That means it was there long enough to harden…which means if you have it, your brushing technique is poor to begin with because you would have eliminated it before it ever got that bad.
That may be why you got some attitude from someone without true professional training. I know I am amazed by how bad some people let their mouths get before they ever do anything about it. For someone who gets FREE treatment in the military, it makes no sense at all…
[quote]Professor X wrote:
That may be why you got some attitude from someone without true professional training. I know I am amazed by how bad some people let their mouths get before they ever do anything about it. For someone who gets FREE treatment in the military, it makes no sense at all…
[/quote]
I get free dental coverage at work. Yet I have a co-worker who refuses to go get free cleanings, we get 2 a year. He hasnt been to the dentist in 10 years plus.
I was like you, it had been some “time” since i saw a dentist.Started getting some gum bleeding.
I juet went 2 weeks ago to a FABULOUS (sp?) dentist office, they took the time to show me the xrays of where i was starting to suffer bone loss due to gingivitis and plaque.
40 minutes w/ the new powered plaque remover and i’m feeling great!
next week i go back for the first of 2 below gum line scrapings and i’m good as new.
Yea, I’m going to go to a dentist. My wife’s been getting on me about it too.
I’ve also been skimping out of paying for medical or dental insurance (just for myself, my daughter will always be covered). I can’t see paying close to $400 every month for something I don’t ever use. I know there’s always that “what if”, but what if I spent $24,000 over 5 years and never needed to use it? (rhetorical question)
Anyway, that’s another thread. I’ve always been wanting to get dental insurance. Medical will wait until my vision gets worse.
The weird thing is, I’ve never had that fear of dentists that so many people have. I had a root canal, and all my wisdom teeth pulled, AND had 1 dry socket. Nothing really bothered me besides that one dry socket (which nothing could take the pain away from except heavy drinking, and I’m not normally a heavy drinker).
But do you guys really think I should go to a dentist?
I mean, I could just do it myself, and others have lasted a long time without going.
Flossing’s not really necessary is it?
(Just kidding. This wouldn’t be a true T-Nation thread without someone only hearing what he wants to hear and not taking anyone’s advice.)
[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
But do you guys really think I should go to a dentist?
I mean, I could just do it myself, and others have lasted a long time without going.
Flossing’s not really necessary is it?
[/quote]
I use a barbed fish hook for those hard to reach spaces under my gums and between my teeth. Works well, but I spit a bucket of blood in the process.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
To add, once plaque becomes hard and needs to be scraped off, it is called “calculus”. That means it was there long enough to harden…which means if you have it, your brushing technique is poor to begin with because you would have eliminated it before it ever got that bad.
That may be why you got some attitude from someone without true professional training. I know I am amazed by how bad some people let their mouths get before they ever do anything about it. For someone who gets FREE treatment in the military, it makes no sense at all…
[/quote]
Dr. X,
Would a Water Pic be a good alternative to flossing?
[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
I only floss when I get annoyed with the plaque though, which is about once ever 2 months or so probably.[/quote]
OMG, gross! Sorry, SWR, but yuck! Daily is a good thing!
Brushing and flossing gets rid of plaque, but the more sticky, resistant stuff is ‘Calculus’ and that stuff usually has to be scraped off, brushing often isn’t strong enough.
[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
But do you guys really think I should go to a dentist?
I mean, I could just do it myself, and others have lasted a long time without going.
Flossing’s not really necessary is it?
(Just kidding. This wouldn’t be a true T-Nation thread without someone only hearing what he wants to hear and not taking anyone’s advice.)[/quote]
Haha! Flossing rocks, especially the mint flavored floss. Having clean teeth rocks!
[quote]chinadoll wrote:
SWR-1240 wrote:
I only floss when I get annoyed with the plaque though, which is about once ever 2 months or so probably.
OMG, gross! Sorry, SWR, but yuck! Daily is a good thing!
Brushing and flossing gets rid of plaque, but the more sticky, resistant stuff is ‘Calculus’ and that stuff usually has to be scraped off, brushing often isn’t strong enough.
[/quote]
Oh Sheesh, Professor X already posted the “calculus” issue, and he’s a dentist. Listen to Professor X. OMG.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
To add, once plaque becomes hard and needs to be scraped off, it is called “calculus”. That means it was there long enough to harden…which means if you have it, your brushing technique is poor to begin with because you would have eliminated it before it ever got that bad.
That may be why you got some attitude from someone without true professional training. I know I am amazed by how bad some people let their mouths get before they ever do anything about it. For someone who gets FREE treatment in the military, it makes no sense at all…
[/quote]
My wife had a patient once that had so much calculus that when she removed it there was some serious pockets left. One tooth was almost being held in by the calculus and she was afraid the tooth was going to fall out. This patient in particular had to come in for multiple sessions.
Maybe the OP could just change his brushing technique. Plaque tends to build up real fast on my teeth, but 10 gentle brush strokes on the same spot really cleans it all up. You could be surprised by simply changing basic brushing techniques.
OMG, gross! Sorry, SWR, but yuck! Daily is a good thing![/quote]
Well, I flossed each night for the last 3 nights in a row so far. We’ll see how long it lasts, but hopefully I’ll make it as much of a habit as brushing.
Hence the tweezers!
I’m also thinking about opening my own Dental office. My theme will be scrapings with odd objects. I figure it might give me an edge over the competition.
[quote]MrChill wrote:
Maybe the OP could just change his brushing technique. Plaque tends to build up real fast on my teeth, but 10 gentle brush strokes on the same spot really cleans it all up. You could be surprised by simply changing basic brushing techniques.[/quote]
Well, my brushing habits weren’t very good a while ago (probably close to 8-12 months ago), but have improved since. I just wasn’t brushing as often as I should, then after seeing a lot of that calculus, I got more serious about brushing twice a day.
I bought that good toothbrush, and usually use it for the full 2 minutes (it has a timer).
The brushing alone hasn’t been fixing the problem, but probably at least buying me a little more time. Now, seeing that the brushing hasn’t really fixed everything, I’m going to floss more and actually make dentist appointments.
[quote]chinadoll wrote:
chinadoll wrote:
SWR-1240 wrote:
I only floss when I get annoyed with the plaque though, which is about once ever 2 months or so probably.
OMG, gross! Sorry, SWR, but yuck! Daily is a good thing!
Brushing and flossing gets rid of plaque, but the more sticky, resistant stuff is ‘Calculus’ and that stuff usually has to be scraped off, brushing often isn’t strong enough.
Oh Sheesh, Professor X already posted the “calculus” issue, and he’s a dentist. Listen to Professor X. OMG.
[/quote]
Oh man, prof’s a dentist? Going to the dentist in and of itself is a little intimidating for many people, imagine the prof sticking sharp things in your mouth?
