Brushing teeth

[Eurox]

One of my flatmates came upto me in confidence and said to me "I brush my teeth about once a month, and I've started noticing inbetween my teeth, especially the middle ones, have started to collect a grey residue" I presume its plaque and its started to wear away his teeth. What can I tell him to do to help reverse the process, apart from brushing his teeth normally (and seeing a dentist because put simply... he just WONT go apparently). Cheers in advance!

[Panic Button]

Don't humour him with advice.

Tell him to stop being stupid and go to the dentist, and no further discussion.

[froggequene]

He needs to go to the dentist, now - he's risking long term damage to his teeth & gums, bacteria from damaged gums can also enter his bloodstream and infect other areas of the body

[REDHEAD24]

ewwww that is gross , is he a bit slow?

[andy-hughes]

I totally understand - I had dental phobia for years, and even now i have to really force myself to brush my teeth, and if I see someone doing it on TV or in a film, i have to look away and block my ears.

The fact is, your friend is only prolonging the inevitable, with the side issue that the klonger he leaves it, the worse it will be when he is forced to go, and the pain will do that if he waits long enough.

A lot of dentists will supply medication for nervious patients, if the local one won't, ask him to speak to his doctor who may be able to help.

The fact is, ignoring this issue is not going to solve it - he has to be mature enough to accept that, and do something before he gets into serious long-term health issues.

[blu3wave]

That's Disgusting!!! Is he French by any chance? Tell him to start brushing Every Day and Night and floss after every meal. That is the only way he can live a healthy life and smile without having people gag after looking at him. This grey residue(eurghh :( ) sounds like it could be toxic and if he doesn't lose all his teeth soon, I'm sure he'll poison himself to death not long after that.

[smudge]

Poor bloke - must be awful for him!

Until he eventually plucks up the courage to make an appointment to see a dentist (if he can find one on the NHS), p'raps he could start using a sonic toothbrush & dental floss/tape. I'm sure these will help to give his teeth a good old clean!

He'll still need to get to a dentist for a check up, get any fillings sorted out & for a proper scale & polish!

Good luck!

[smudge]

Crossed posts blu!

[kirstywllc]

if he won't brush his teeth he can at least use mouthwash once in a while

[seekeerz]

and you hadn't noticed this before, Eurox ???

[Ice.Maiden]

I loathe going to the dentist's because local anaesthetic doesn't work on me, but since having intravenous sedation, it's made the task a lot better. Suggest this to your flat mate, because if you can find a dentist who'll treat him in this manner, it'll make him far less frightened about going in the future.

[jno]

I've heard of dentist phobia - in fact I had it for years until I suddenly got over it - but never of toothbrush phobia. It's probably more important to overcome that: if you're just going for fillings and other rescue missions, dentistry involves shutting the stable door after the horse has gone. Better to work at keeping his teeth clean; it's much the best way of avoiding dentists in the first place. As to how to do it, perhaps andy hughes can offer more detail.

[cupboardie]

you havent said if he is scared of the dentist or not, but like someonejust said, local didnt work on me. i went in fora root canal and could still feel EVERYTHING after 2 injections, although my lips and tongue etc were numb.
So i paid for twilight sedation - the best �90 I ever spent! I recall nothing of the root canal. My mum watched and said I was in no distress or pain. Afterwards I just got up and walked out - fine!

[annie0000]

I am sad to say that I didn't go to the dentist for over 20 years (from age 15-36) as I was terrified. I did however brush my teeth and generally take care of them. After I had my children I decided that I had to go as I would not be setting a good example. I went for a check up and ended up with one filling - I could not believe it. I have attended regularly over the last 6 years and have had one small filling since. The dentist says that my teeth are in good order.

Your friend needs to pluck up the courage and go - it may not be as bad as he is expecting. In the meantime, you can buy a dental pick from most chemists if he wants to do a bit of diy scaling, but I would not necessarily recommend it.

[filthiestfis]

It may be gross but they are his teeth so leave him alone. I'm sure that he is not blind and realises he has a problem.

[Wotsits31]

Sounds disgusting - just call him BOD (Breath of Death)

[smudge]

I felt sorry for him for being so afraid of the dentist - not for not brushing his teeth! ;o}

[hussy]

thats what you call a lazy fukcer

[froggequene]

I felt no sympathy whatsoever, in fact, this question tapped straight into my own morbid fear of losing my teeth - I would share but I'd be here all night. I would like to know what the outcome is.