I find it very hard to floss my upper row of teeth. the floss doesn't fit between the teeth and I have to use quite a bit of force to push the floss through the very narrow space between teeth, Is this normal? When I do so, the floss feels stuck and uncomfortable. What is your analysis of this? Also, I have a filling in one of the front teeth which is close to the edge of the tooth, Is it possible that the flossing could dislodge the filling. Thanks for your advice doctor Peace and respect.

Same if you find yourself in Seattle.

Tight contact between teeth is common. There are thinner than standard floss types and Glide works well for people who can not get regular floss through comfortably. If a filling is dislodged by normal flossing there is a problem with the filling so it is good that it gets dislodged. Floss away!

I don't mind forcing the floss through the teeth as long as it's not causing any damage. Do you feel that forcing the floss through the teeth is likely to cause any damage yourself?. I'm not too confident about the strengh of my teeth due to years of drinking thousnads of litres of coke and I've noticed quite a bit of thnning and erosion in the upper teeth which I obviously want to combat by flossing, but worry that forcing the floss through the teeth could cause structual damage to the weakend teeth, especially the one with the filling.

It is unlikely that forcing floss through the contacts will cause any damage (the floss will usually break before that point) as long as you are doing it twice a day and not all day long.

I have a back molar that's in bad shape, a big chunk of it decayed/deteriorated by the gum line (I can feel the hole with my tongue). It doesn't hurt yet but it's probably in as bad a shape as one of my wisdom teeth was on that same side when the dentist pulled it. So spend a lot to fix it (if it can be fixed) or get it pulled (far cheaper as I understand) and forget about it?

Yeah, the pocket depths switch around a bit (one that was 4 may be a 3 one checkup or a 3 may be a 2, or vice versa) but overall nothing has gotten better or worse I guess.

I say they suck b/c they do bleed. I seem to start noticing it around the 2.5 month mark from my last cleaning. It will come and go, though, it's not like the floodgates open and more and more blood is involved.

My diet has been solid to really solid the last 3 years I'd guess. Although could it be some sort of vitamin deficiency that doesn't have other symptoms?

I was adopted so I know very little about my actual genetics. Soooo, no clue about anemia. My dentist says I'm "relatively unlucky" and always uses Jim Henson as an example when he explains this (every single time lol). So I mean, his bedside manner is a bit "off" but I kind of find it funny he always uses the worst-case possible example as an analogy for me not having good gums due probably to not amazing dental genetics.

Do you take a daily multi vitamin? If not, it may help.

Yeah, I do. And fish oil (although I doubt that would help with anything dental related but I dno).

Sounds like what my dentist has me doing is reasonable. Makes me wanna just say F it and not floss and brush less but I guess that's a recipe for busto gums/teeth gg my mouth. So I'll keep on, keepin' on.

If cost was not a factor every tooth that is possibly saved should be saved because nothing holds your bone level as well as a natural tooth. Once you extract a tooth the bone loss is accelerated in that area. Bone loss can restrict your restorative options down the road. Discussing it with your dentist after they give you all the options is ideal. It sounds like it may be decayed to the extent that extraction is the only option.

Hey man, not sure if you still check out this thread, but I was wondering about insurance options for those that are self-employed.

Can you tell me what you think about this, also they are all "no waiting period" stuff, I think that means I'm good to go when the plan starts, which is May 1st.

what would you think this plan costs per year?

I live in china.

The place i go to for my usual cleaning ended up sand blasting my teeth with sea salt. Is this dangerous? are the any benefits to it?

Can't really think of a question to ask, just thought to make a comment on what helped me greatly. I used to develop cavities frequently. At least once or twice a year I'd have a filling. I've had a few root canals also. At this point close to nearly every tooth has a filling in it.

Then I began eating a paleo diet, began taking 8000ius of vitamin D3, plus a vitamin K2 capsule a day. I made those changes 5 years ago and since then I haven't had a cavity, and my gum health improved greatly. My dentist was surprised to say the least. He didn't think that was possible.

Later on read what I did is similar to what other dentists have done in the past to prevent cavities in patients. Wish I had known this as it could have saved me from some grief.

"Images of Tooth Decay Healing due to an Improved Diet"

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...ng-due-to.html

&

"Dr. Mellanby's Tooth Decay Reversal Diet"

http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.co...rsal-diet.html

I brushed my teeth prob once a week from 2008-2011 and ate tons of sugar, breads, etc. Never flossed. Ever. Mouthwash every 3-4 days.

I got my teeth cleaned a few weeks ago and the dentist said "Whatever you're doing, keep it up, your teeth are in great condition."

Weren't those your SS days?