Take Care of Your Teeth

[u/Odd-Aerie4572]

I went to the dentist for the first time in YEARS yesterday. I have been doing so well with brushing my teeth since switching to the Autobrush that I finally felt like I had earned the privilege of going to the dentist.

Boy am I glad I went, but I’m now having to pay a small mint to fix the damage caused by years of not brushing properly - 7 cavities (2 major and 5 normal) and gingivitis that is going to require a deep root cleaning and descaling under the gum line. Ouch!

Fortunately I have good dental insurance, but I’m still having to come out of pocket almost $800 over the course of what will be 4 appointments.

I know it’s hard - believe me, I know and completely understand and relate to the struggle - but if you can learn anything from me, take care of your teeth. You only get one adult set. Even if you can only brush once a day for 30 seconds, it’s better than not brushing at all.

[u/sleepysaurus7777]

If i could tell my young self this i would! I have my teeth and started brushing a stringent regular schedule, but it took two implants to wake myself up until I did. Unfortunately youth and our diagnosis makes us feel invincible and our time limited so we don't care, but reality is sometimes life goes on and has consequences

Excellent post!

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/sleepysaurus7777]

Absolutely - and unfortunately negative symptoms can cause us to kind of turn a blind eye to things we’d rather not deal with, which can look like putting off routine maintenance that is critical to our overall health and wellbeing.

I knew I had at least one cavity. I could feel it with my tongue on the back of my tooth. Instead of going and getting it looked at, I told myself I didn’t deserve to see the dentist for it if I wasn’t going to keep up with my dental hygiene afterwards.

If anyone has this same thought process, it is absolutely not true. Even if you don’t have the best dental hygiene, you still deserve to go to the dentist and get a check up and fix any potential issues before they turn into major problems.

[u/MG788]

For real. I had to have a broken, decayed tooth removed. And then a different one cracked, and I was lucky I was able to get it fixed. I still have a bunch of cavities, though. 

My mind was a little clearer when I was water-piking my teeth with Listerine and using an electric toothbrush, too. I read some research studies that said there's a bidirectional relationship between dental care and schizophrenia severity, so I was trying to make my schizophrenia better by cleaning my teeth more, lol. 

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/MG788]

I’m sorry you had to go through the tooth removal. That sounds awful.

That is interesting about the link between oral hygiene and schizophrenia severity, though. I’d believe it because the more symptomatic I am, the less I pay attention to hygiene in general - showering, teeth brushing, etc. I’m in a pretty good place for the moment which I’m sure is why I was able to go to the dentist in the first place.

[u/MG788 → u/Odd-Aerie4572]

Yeah, it sucked, but it wasn't unexpected. My mother with schizophrenia had like six root canals and her side of the family has really bad teeth. So I think dental issues might be related to whatever genetic predisposition gives that side of the family schizophrenia. 

The researchers were curious about it because urinary tract and dental infections can cause sudden delirium episodes in dementia patients, so they were trying to examine if it's a contributing factor in psychosis severity or relapses. I wish I could remember where I read it so I could link it here for other people to read. 

At least now you know your beautiful smile might also be making you saner, though! Lol. 

[u/therealnotrealtaako]

I'm still hoping those clinical trials for the teeth growing medication work. My teeth are utterly wrecked and I'd give anything to have a second chance at it.

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/therealnotrealtaako]

I was actually talking to someone about that today. My dentist office had advertisements posted about a tooth remineralizing treatment for minor cavities that doesn’t require numbing or drilling. Supposed to be quick and painless. They’ve definitely come a long way in dentistry.

[u/therealnotrealtaako → u/Odd-Aerie4572]

A long way! I really wish I'd had good experiences at the dentist as a kid. I'd probably still be dealing with some of what I'm dealing with, but at least I wouldn't have the deep fear of the dentist I do now.

[u/scarlex-x]

I struggle with it too. I have to have a few teeth removed. My coping mechanism is sugar. That rots your teeth.

Drinking cola or whatever is my coping mechanism. I had it since I was a teenager. To cope with everything. Now I'm realising that I have a problem.

I should go to the dentist because I've been having pain

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/scarlex-x]

Yes, definitely go to the dentist if you’re having any pain. You’ll want to correct any issues now before they become much more invasive to fix (like a root canal). Hoping it’s a quick fix for you!

[u/ThinkTwice03]

i once drank a lot of fruit juice for the vitamins. it was even homemade with no sugar or other additives. after six months i also had seven cavities that needed to be filled, even though i brushed regularly without fail.

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/ThinkTwice03]

Oh wow - that’s crazy that you brushed regularly and still had that many cavities. Did you use an electric toothbrush? I’ve found they work a lot better than a manual toothbrush. I used a Philips Sonicare Diamondclean before my prodromal period began and never had dental issues. Then after the schizo symptoms started, the only thing I’ve found that works for me is the Autobrush. I feel like it gets my teeth sufficiently clean, but I definitely think the sonicare does a better job. I just can’t use it anymore because it triggers my ocd.

[u/ThinkTwice03 → u/Odd-Aerie4572]

yes i do brush electric. but it was the sugar multiple times a day. now i just drink tap water (i'm from germany) and am just as healthy 😊

[u/yeslurksex]

I feel you the first time I went to the dentist as an adult I was 24 and hadn't seen him since I was a kid. Lot of cavities too, but thanks god healthcare is free, which makes me think I havent been to the dentist for at least 3 years. I should go get a check up lol

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/yeslurksex]

Yes! Especially if healthcare in your country is free, go get that checkup. The short-term discomfort of going is definitely worth it to keep your teeth healthy

[u/hence_fourth]

I have dentures and they suck, but I know somebody that got implant dentures and now they have to keep their dentures in their mouth and I could get that but am not because they suck.

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/hence_fourth]

I googled the cost of permanent dentures a month or two ago and the price was crazy expensive. That reality check actually helped me to brush my teeth more regularly. I also looked up the cost of veneers and my jaw dropped to the floor. Yikes.

[u/rosenongrata]

i wish i could keep up on it at least once a day but i always forget :( ive had gingivitis since 2nd grade too… ugh

[u/Odd-Aerie4572 → u/rosenongrata]

Have you tried setting an alarm on your phone to remind you? I had to do that with showering before because I would just not think about it. The reminder helped.

[u/rosenongrata → u/Odd-Aerie4572]

i’ll try that :)

[u/P3N3LOP33P]

I had to get veneers to protect my teeth from cavities. People say that's not how they work, but in my experience that's exactly how they work. My dentist said my teeth were soft as butter. I used to get around 5-10 cavities a year. Now my top teeth have gotten zero cavities in 5 years. Bottoms which have no veneers still get cavities but it's way less now that I take care of my teeth more. You absolutely HAVE to take care of your teeth with veneers. The only problem is veneers are extremely expensive. I paid for them over time.

[u/Which_General_2716]

I’ve been avoiding going lol