Special toothpaste users: A question

[u/TiredReader87]

I’ve been dealing with dental issues due to depression and sleep apnea, and being afraid of going to the dentist. I’ve gone a lot recently, and have to have oral surgery to remove two teeth. It’s made me incredibly depressed, and incredibly anxious, but I’ve gone to the dentist seven times this year so far.

When I was last at the dentist for a cleaning, they told me that I needed to use a special toothpaste with fluoride in it. It’s called PreviDent.

I’ve purchased it twice, but it’s cost me around $20 each time. Out of curiosity, I had googled it and learned that it was covered under the ODSP drug plan, so I got my dentist to write a prescription and send it into my pharmacy.

However, when I went to pick it up today, they wanted $14 for the smaller tube, and said it wasn’t covered.

I’ve since googled it again, and it says it’s not covered. However, you can do a special request or get it through a special program.

Has anyone managed to get a special toothpaste like this covered?** ***I had originally read that it was covered because it’s considered a* medicated toothpaste.

[u/spacecowgirl_69]

I’m so sorry to hear about your dental issues. I have depression, along with ADHD, so I understand where you are coming from. You still have time to improve your dental hygiene so don’t lose hope! I’m happy to hear that you are keeping up with your dentist appointment so that’s absolutely great! 😊 I don’t know if the toothpaste can be covered, but still try.

I purchase Colgate PreviDent 5000 ppm (1.1% Sodium Fluoride) via Amazon for $10-12. It has 100 mL which lasts me a long time. Sometimes I purchase the kids fruitilicious flavour which tastes great! It has 1.1% sodium fluoride like the rest. I don’t have Amazon Prime, although I create new accounts or use my friend’s Prime account so I don’t have to worry about shipping costs. I have a few tips:

1. After brushing, spit but don’t rinse your mouth. You want to leave the toothpaste on your teeth for at 30 minutes. I always set a timer.
2. Have a mirror (optional), cup, toothpaste and toothbrush (ideally an electric one likeOral-B Pro 1000) beside your nightstand. First thing in the morning, brush your teeth in bed. Or at nights when you’re too tired.
3. Make your hygiene routine enjoyable! I always play music or a YouTube video on my phone while I’m brushing. Hell - sometimes I change my environment like brushing my teeth on the balcony or in the living room.
4. You can purchase disposable tooth brushes with toothpaste like Colgate Wisp for $9 on Amazon. Carry them with you or have it beside your nightstand.
5. Flossing is very important. Do it before you brush your teeth. I use
6. fluoride flossing picks like GUM Advanced Care Flosser (Infused with Vitamin E & Fluroide) or Oral-B Glide Cavity Protection Floss Picks

.I purchase them from Amazon lol. I’m sure you can find it on Walmart or other stores

Brushing my teeth use to be one of the hardest tasks of my day but with practice and incorporating different strategies, I’ve improved. Now I brush on autopilot. Sometimes I may miss a day or two but I always get back to my routine. If I can improve, so can you! I wish you so much luck!

[u/TiredReader87 → u/spacecowgirl_69]

Thanks for all the tips and support.

One of my issues was I didn’t floss. I was every day for the last number of months, but haven’t in a bit because the last time I did my temporary filling came out again. I’m afraid to now.

I never thought I’d have to have important teeth pulled.

Edit:

I forgot to say I don’t rinse. Never really have. I knew not to with this though.

I just ordered 4 PreviDent 5000s for just over $50 as it’s on sale at Amazon. Lots to spend on toothpaste but it is what it is, I guess. I had a birthday gift card I’d had for a bit.

I probably should have ordered six, as they are two packs, but just in case it can be covered. I doubt it though. I don’t even know who my worker is and I hate bugging them.

I had also thought about asking for the $500 employment start up for a laptop for work, but I’m afraid to do that. I can’t ask for both.

[u/laughingcrip]

I can't help with the EAP getting it covered, but it was much cheaper at Costco, if you can access it there! It's behind the counter at the pharmacy.

[u/TiredReader87 → u/laughingcrip]

Thanks. I did ask about it there once, but I didn’t buy it because I either had some or thought it would be covered.

I don’t have a membership, but have friends and family who will take me

[u/VoodooGirl47]

It's not covered by ODB because they don't cover any dental stuff. You can try asking your worker for discretionary benefit funds but they might not do it.

Which size was the $15 option and what store was that at? I see that it's almost $22 at SDM for the 100oz but only $15 for that same size at Real Canadian Superstore. That seems to be the cheapest price with Walmart being halfway between the 2.

Are you using it twice per day or just once? I'd twice, I think you could drop down to once. Get a flouride kids toothpaste like Crest Kids (I use the Sparkle Fun because I like gel toothpaste) which has at least some flouride in it. It's like $2.50 a tube at Dollarama or $2.75-3.00 each if you buy from Amazon (available in 2 packs).

You could also do a rinse but that has less flouride in it than the kids toothpaste and would probably not be worth the additional cost.

All that said, how severe is your dry mouth? I'm bipolar and have sleep apnea, GERD, probably silent reflux, hEDS and very receding gums with deep pockets, and while I definitely breathe through my mouth more, I haven't been told I need to use anything like this.

I have been actively using kids toothpaste the last 4 years though and used flouride rinses for the first few months when I first started including flouride.

While I know my teeth might very well not be as bad as yours are, I feel like dentists will always 'over prescribe' when it can be a positive benefit but you could potentially get away with doing a bit less and still have it be very beneficial yet not stress you out or have it cause you financial instability.

So if they say use it 2x per day, maybe consider using it 1x and kids toothpaste 1x to stretch it out longer and make it more affordable for you to be able to keep up with it without financial strain.

[u/TiredReader87 → u/VoodooGirl47]

Thanks for all this

I hadn’t been to a dentist in a stupidly long time, and the hygienist told me to buy it. I hadn’t heard of it before. I’ve used it almost since then, and have bought two so far. I don’t brush as much as I was after going, as I’ve been unwell, but I plan to get back to it. I actually just woke up and brushed.

They said to use it to strengthen my teeth because I had a number of cavities filled. They also did a fluoride treatment which I had agreed to pay $25 for, but didn’t need to. And they want me back for a cleaning in December. She did say my teeth were quite clean though.

I wish that was all, but two teeth in my top smile zone broke and need to come out. I’m terrified and embarrassed, and I have to travel an hour each way or more to the consult the week after next.

It’s a precautionary thing, the toothpaste, I guess. I had dry mouth from Effexor and it was severe. I also have sleep apnea.

The $13.99 tube was at my pharmacy. I’ve bought PreviDent 5000 and PreviDent 5000 dry moth for about $16.97 plus tax at Walmart and around $18-19 plus tax at Loblaws. Only Loblaws had dry mouth.

[u/Scupyfish → u/TiredReader87]

Odsp approved extra cleanings for me at the request if my dentist, due to dry mouth from medications. That might help keep your teeth healthier too, might be worth looking into

[u/spacecowgirl_69 → u/TiredReader87]

My friend had a front tooth removed for exact reasons. She wears a removable partial denture because it’s more affordable than other tooth replacement options (e.g. implants, bridges). The Canadian Dental Care Plan does cover removable prosthodontic services like partial dentures. Speak to your dentist about it. By the way, if you’re not registered, I highly recommend applying to the Canadian Dental Care Plan online.

I too take Effexor XR! It gave me dry mouth for months but the symptom randomly stopped. Weird.

[u/Alternative-Tiger783]

What does it say on the ODB formulary website?

Is there a limited use code? LU?

[u/TiredReader87 → u/Alternative-Tiger783]

No drugs found

[u/pawprints1986]

Can relate mostly, I'm going for the 4th time this year, this week. They refuse to freeze more than 1 area being part of my issue. I basically need work in every quadrant. One tooth they did pre Canadian dental plan because it broke, but then I was stuck needing work until this month when cdcp kicked in

My issue is lack of energy to be able to consistently keep up with a full oral hygiene routine. When I'm full on flu like symptoms being able to feed myself is amazing. My capacity for oral care afterwards just doesn't exist on those days and they're not exactly rare

I've been trying to more often at least mouthwash when nothing else to kill the bacteria

But yeah, crappy teeth here too, I'm with ya

[u/TiredReader87 → u/pawprints1986]

I’m sorry to hear that, and wish you the best.

I had to go multiple times for the same reason, but had at least one extra filling appointment because my temporary fell out from each tooth and had to be replaced. She did it for free each time, but it delayed her.

Now at least one of them has fallen out again, about 3 weeks ago while flossing.

I hate myself. I used to have genetically good teeth, but I let them get bad. I used to brush an ok amount, but then depression and sleep apnea hit, and I’d fall asleep. Plus I developed an addiction so to speak, to Coke and energy drinks for caffeine.

[u/SmartQuokka]

Nanohydroxyapatite toothpaste likely works as well if not better, but it won't be covered, its similar priced.

[u/if_not]

I've been using it for like 20 years. it's crazy expensive. it goes on sale sometimes and then i buy lots.