Tooth Decay... (teeth, mouthwash, pain, dentist) - Oral Care - City-Data Forum

dukester.2 · 01-26-2009, 09:54 AM

Can the progression of tooth decay be impeded without a Dentist? I am not looking for a cure but perhaps steps that I could take until the economy hopefully opens up and by a stroke of good luck getting hired with a company that has a dental plan. Right now I am employed but without dental insurance and the income I make now is not great. In short going to dentist now would probably devastate me financially from what I have read in these threads.

I am in no pain but I can detect early stages of tooth decay.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Dave

krasa · 01-26-2009, 12:28 PM

you must eat more calcium. take eggshells from boiled eggs and smash and mix them. also romain lettuce one head a day avoiding sugars for some time

BLAZER PROPHET · 01-26-2009, 12:59 PM

I am a dental malpractice claims adjuster and so far as I can determine (asking doctors...), the only way is to have that decay removed.

To not do so will increase the decay and possibly lose the tooth (or a step inbetween like a root canal...).

cb at sea · 01-26-2009, 01:04 PM

If there is a teaching hospital near you, the students need patients, and it won't cost you! They are HIGHLY supervised by teaching dentists....it's a win-win for both of you!
Decay, once it's begun, has to be removed. You can't stop it by eating calcium or not eating sugar!

dukester.2 · 01-26-2009, 01:25 PM

Thank you for alll your replies. I have contacted the University of Washington School of Dentistry. Right now they have their appointments filled for the current quarter. However, the gal I talked to in the Department told me to call back the first week in March to see if i can get in for the new quarter.

In the meantime I have bought a Oral B Rechargeable Tooth Brush(highly recommend) and using ACT Mouthwash, floss. I brush 2 or 3 times a day now and use the mouthwash twice a day, and floss 2 or 3 times a day in hoping that I might be able to slow down the progression of the decay.

In the mean time I have to wait another month to see if I can even get into UW.

southernnaturelover · 01-26-2009, 02:21 PM

The only thing I can think of is the ACT fluoride rinse that you mentioned.

Elipar · 01-26-2009, 03:50 PM

"Incipient" decay can be reversed---best thing is fluoride and excellent hygiene. Beyond that, it't the old drill-n-fill.

ino · 01-26-2009, 05:16 PM

Do some research on fluoride, one may get a surprise. Do some research into toothpastes also, using toothpaste puts a layer over the enamel on the teeth, which is why they feel so clean and smooth, this layer prevents the natural saliva in the mouth from regenerating the enamel which apparently is what happens normally, and I would expect a dentist to be aware of that in their training, test it and see what the answer is, but don't expect a clear yes or no answer, one may need to decipher the fine print between the lines. I'd forget about toothpaste and use plain soap and carb soda, but of course one will take some ridicule for doing this. Do some serious research into fluoride, don't expect the establishment or professionals to give one this information. Fluoride is a toxin, and I personally don't think I need to add to the toxins I am already surrounded by.

If we want to try and look after our health then it's going to have to be our responsibility, most others are trying to kill you, but one doesn't have to agree with this, just look around and one will see how more dependant and reliant on stuff that comes out of a packet, bottle or tube most people are becoming each and every day. Not me, my ancestors managed to live quite successfully without most of this rubbish so I figure I can too, if I choose to ignore all the marketing hype which is shoved in my face every day. My 'yardstick' is to look at the native peoples and have to wonder how they survived for thousands of years without all this modern stuff, now I know. Some may be OK, and some may actually be of benefit, but unfortunately most are not,[my educated opinion].

eevee · 01-26-2009, 10:17 PM

yeah, well our ancestors also went through dental surgery w/o the benefit of anesthesia, tied a string around a decaying tooth and ripped out of their jaws, and probably didn't have a full set of teeth by the time they hit 50 (assuming they did hit 50!). not exactly how I'd want to live!

have you checked out the teeth of some of these "natives" you speak of? seriously, it's not like they're the picture of perfect health. just saying...

ino · 01-27-2009, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eevee

yeah, well our ancestors also went through dental surgery w/o the benefit of anesthesia, tied a string around a decaying tooth and ripped out of their jaws, and probably didn't have a full set of teeth by the time they hit 50 (assuming they did hit 50!). not exactly how I'd want to live!

have you checked out the teeth of some of these "natives" you speak of? seriously, it's not like they're the picture of perfect health. just saying...

No, you're right, you've got me, I can't answer that because I can't go back in time, but I will say that thier diets, by and large, would have been better than ours back then so would wonder how badly off they actually would have been in the dental department. I would also wonder if affordability of dental care were removed, what would the stats look like for us today? My supposition would be that they wouldn't look that good. I believe I can see a *very* fine line there between 'us' and 'them', if I can afford a good mouthful of china, excellent, but if I can't afford it...perhaps I won't think too much about that..! You're right, not exactly how I would want to live either, but I still wouldn't be considering fluoride or todays toothpaste as an option for dental care though.