[BeyondtheRainbow]

My dentist has a brother who has bipolar which makes him the ideal dentist for someone who is bipolar. I have to explain nothing. He even told me at the beginning if I can't tolerate the noise of the dental equipment to cancel without penalty the day of an appointment.

Along with bipolar I have PTSD and that led to a long time I didn't go to dentists because I gag easily and a dentist that made a big deal about it and embarrassed me made me just ignore those benefits for a while (and I didn't have dental for some time as well). His office is awesome, doing little things like scheduling me for the same people in the same room every single time. So everyone knows that I may start waving my arms and come shooting up and they are ready. This means I do get my 2 check-ups per year and fillings after every single visit.

My meds are so hard on my teeth. I do what I can for dry mouth; I chew baking soda gum, I constantly drink water, I suck on sugar free candy. I gave up orange juice and grapefruit juice completely. I use a home fluoride paste and am working very hard to do that daily (hard with the gag reflex being so high but I finally learned that not applying it with an electric toothbrush makes it about 1000x easier). I can't stand biotene products but have some prescription alternatives. I have a prescription product I forget the name of that I need to start using twice a day; I've been focusing on the fluoride first (if I don't do it at night I'm making myself do it the next day so it's getting done the same # of times per month if not every day although I'm improving).

To add to it I grind my teeth and have a very hard time wearing my bite guard. I tend to remove it and lose it and often just can't fall asleep with it. It also just increases the dry mouth. But this has cracked several teeth and I think he said I may have cracked another last time but then he said it might be a filling and didn't tell me which so I'm assuming filling since I didn't get a crown.

Every 6 months they find new cavities that require several surface fillings. This time around I'm going to have 5 surfaces filled on 2 teeth adjoining one another. Last check-up I had to get a front tooth filled. Last spring I fell down the stairs while carrying my laptop which flew up in the air and smacked me in the mouth, cracking a front tooth. Granted the tooth was weak from a weird orthodontic device I had worn but the front of it just came clean off and I didn't even notice for a few days.

I'm doing everything I'm told to do. I'm just curious if this is widespread or just me. I'm getting tired of needing fillings every 6 months and of the dentist expressing concern about the ongoing damage. He gets it and knows I can't avoid it but he's fighting to help me keep my teeth and I'm not quite 40 yet. It scares me.

[Crazy Hitch]

I will be quite honest and say no, luckily I have not been affected in this way, but I can certainly appreciate that you along with quite a few others will have this

So I just wanted to say thank you for putting this out there.

It's an intereting read!

[CopperStar]

I knew a woman who due to several years of severe meth addiction had completely destroyed her teeth by the time she was in her mid 20s. She had them all pulled (what was left of them) and received dentures.

What I want you to know is that it was impossible to tell by looking at her, even when she smiled fully, that she had dentures. The only reason I even found out was because we were close for a while and she told/showed me. They didn't bother her much since she got a good fit and adhesive that worked.

When she cleaned them it was completely private, part of her nighttime routine, and then she put them back in and slept with them without any issues. Nobody ever saw her with her dentures out unless she chose for that to happen.

She also cracked a couple jokes about how she was relieved to never have to worry about cavities and fillings and whatnot anymore, since it had always been too expensive and really stressful.

So what I am trying to reassure you of is that even in the worst possible case scenario, it will be okay. Even if you were to lose all of your teeth, it doesn't have to be a super bad thing. Of course feelings are feelings, period, and if you felt terrible, your feelings would be just as valid as that woman's that I knew. But I just wanted to give an example of how it can be alright, so just do your best and know that it'll be okay even if the day comes that you need your teeth pulled. I am sure I will be there someday, I have horrid teeth in terms of getting cavities and whatnot, plus I smoke like a chimney.

[Pikku Myy]

I would say no... severe tooth grinder here during anxiety. I also have lactose intolerance since early teen years which has made me more aware about mineral defensives.

I supplement with extra vitamin D and Calcium.

[intergalactictraveler]

Dental problems are common in people with psych illnesses. When I finally got up the courage to go a dentist a few years ago, she and one of her tech's did an excellent exam but when when she told me everything that needed to be done at the cost of $5000, I never went back (That total was after my dental insurance was factored in!) Three years later, and with a different HMO w/dental, I still can't get up the courage to see my new dentist. Also have endocrine issues for which my pdoc recommended a top line endocrinologist, whom I'll be seeing on June 29th. Need a cataract removed, too. Sheesh! Just doing good dental hygiene and eating a healthy diet.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I grind and clench so now I have bad TMJ issues. I wear my bite splint every night but since I clench in the daytime too....

But I have damage and several cavities. Aside from money issues...I am terrified of the dentist. So yeah my teeth suffer a bit.

[Nammu]

years ago depending on the meds i was on I got dry mouth but I drank diet soda for relief which was the worse thing I could do, the meds I take now don't cause the dry mouth. I don't grind my teeth but anxiety caused me to vomit often which adds acid. I also had PTSD and couldn't handle dentist plus who could afford them? I ended up getting my teeth pulled a few years ago. So youre not alone. I'm glad you found a good dentist that makes a huge difference I kind of wish I had bucked up and gone in sooner to take care of my teeth.

[~Christina]

Act apparently just came out with a dry mouth rinse, Might be more palatable since you don't like Biotene.. If your teeth are suffering and cavities are happening, you might just need to suck it up put on big girl panties and use Biotene or an alternative.. It took me a little while to get use to Biotene.

I hope you find a solution that keeps your outta the chair and away from novacaine needles

[BeyondtheRainbow]

My dentist says that using the treatment he gave me is enough and I don't have to use the Act or Biotene products (the Act stuff is bad too). My objection is more than it tastes bad; it makes me gag which is a PTSD thing and not something easily controlled. Getting dental care at all with PTSD is a huge accomplishment so I can't see adding something traumatic to my day.

Right now the dentist seems to think my teeth can be saved but I'll be spending a lot of money on fillings and require lots of careful monitoring. I wish I had a better dental plan but individual plans aren't great and I'm just glad I have one. My mom's plan actually allows 3 routine visits per year; she's on a managed Medicare plan that includes dental and vision.

I mostly hate the thought that soon my teeth will be more filling than tooth. But if I can keep them that's a big deal. I know dentures aren't that bad but I'm always reminded of my grandma. She wasn't vain at all but I took care of her at home for a couple of years, including helping her get ready for bed and I found out she wore dentures the day before she died when she woke up after not doing that for a few days and demanded her teeth. She must have gotten up and taken care of the dentures after I thought she was in bed. I insisted she be buried with them because I knew she'd be mad if she weren't.

[avlady]

i recently had 2 partials and 20 cavities filled after finding out i have periodontal disease. i went back to see him again after 3 months with the partial and cavities looked at and only lost 1 filling which the dentist was happy about.

[loophole]

I have dental insurance . My wife and kids use it. I'm too scared.. I eventually will go... But there going to have to use sedation on me.. I'm a scaredy cat

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I've been super-lucky on the teeth front. One dentist even said I could probably only go once a year(!) (Can you even imagine a dentist saying that?! But he did.) Was on ex's insurance so went regularly anyway.

But, I haven't been to the dentist in like 6 years now(!) At first it was because of no insurance, but now I've had it for a year and a half and still haven't gone(!) And I'm not even particularly afraid of dentists, it's just procrastination. And phone phobia. Well, and worrying if maybe the luck hasn't been pushed too far...

Funny you should bring this up though, because just this past week I made a list. One is right down the street. I'll call this week. Really I will!

But I do have dry mouth and couldn't agree more -- it sucks! What is this baking soda gum? I've not heard of that before.

P.S. and possibly TMI, but my mouth tastes so gross sometimes! It's never good (aside from right after brushing), but sometimes it's just really really ugh! The dry mouth probably doesn't help that situation...think the meds are culprits in both.

[Cocosurviving]

I'd have to say no too. But there were great ideas above supplements and dry mouth rinse

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[BeyondtheRainbow]

The gum is called Ecodent and I get it from Amazon. It sounds expensive but it is a lot of gum (it's like a case). YOu can get a smaller size to trial I think.

Any gum or toothpaste with baking soda helps the damage from dry mouth. I found the Ecodent searching Amazon for baking soda gum and there may be more out there that I don't know about; for price comparison it's worth checking. I haven't had to buy any for a long time because my uncle had severe dry mouth and my aunt had him try the gum but he hated it so I got a case minus one piece. It tastes like normal gum (I get freshmint flavor but it also comes in wintergreen I think and maybe something else) and helps with the bad dry mouth taste.

For toothpaste I've been using Mentadent. However I bought a ton of it on sale and since I still have had cavities I'm going try Arm and Hammer brand when this bottle finally runs out. Both have baking soda. You can also brush with just baking soda; there is no way my PTSD-enhanced gag reflex would allow that but it is an option I was given.

[BipolaRNurse]

You'd have to drug me with major tranquilizers to get me in a dentist's chair. I'm not scared of many things, but having somebody mess with my mouth is one of them. I'm not just scared, I'm terrified. So I haven't been to a dentist in.....well.....about 40 years. There. I said it. {{{{shudder}}}} I still have all my teeth though.

[wiretwister]

ground my teeth like hell until .... buspar ... good stuff ..... luv my dentist, he is an american indian .... love the tom toms.......lol....