Post: #176

@kickboxer- keep it. Prevents your teeth from shifting. Get a waterpik instead. Youll love how easy it is use.

Alternatively you can use a toothpick to clear debris. Its fairly effective.

Post: #177

Is the waterpik as effective as floss?

Post: #178

Okay thanks, I'll try and get hold of them from the ortho.

Post: #179

After three years of having massive ups and downs in my energy levels I finally found an endocrinologist who took my symptoms and concerns seriously and ordered a MRI scan of my brain. Since I was able to take the data home and since I don't have any official results yet, I had a good look at the pictures as well as 3D renderings and came to the following conclusion:




This looks like a dental cyst in my left maxillary sinus, either caused by a root that perforated the cavity or by the removal of the wisdom teeth (which suspiciously also took place three years ago).

Or I'm screwed and it's a tumor.

Post: #180

^^Dental cysts in the sinus are usually asymptomatic.

I have little experience w/cancer, tumours and malignancies, but proper course is to either monitor for change in size or do biopsy. It might be something else, like nutrient deficiency, t-levels dropping, lack of exercise, medications, etc etc. There are tons of variables.

Post: #181

I know it could be many things, but since I'm pretty health conscious and have been eating moderate Paleo for the last years, supplementing with vitamins, lifting, running and generally doing a lot of healthy things to battle this fatigue and mental fog I would guess there has to be an underlying cause for these symptoms. I will keep you updated how this develops... ^^

One thing that irritates me:



This looks like one of the tooth roots goes straight into the maxillary sinus and to the right into that thing (I reckon white is bone and black is tooth).

Post: #182

I don't have the whitest teeth, I've thought of doing some kind of whitening when I have the cash (tried over the counter whitening strips, didn't notice any improvement). But I broke a front tooth playing basketball a few years ago, and have an implant that matches my current tooth color. I've been told that any whitening procedure would not affect the implant, and so I'd be left with mismatched teeth or have to get a new implant.

This isn't exactly a pressing problem, but if you have a suggested solution I'd like to hear it. Thanks.

Post: #183

Have you heard about Componeer? They seem pretty new and no legitimate review could be found online. Supposedly bonding them doesn't require much altering to the original teeth. They're cheaper but doesn't last as long as porcelain veneers.

I've done orthodontic correction and whitening with laser, but still not happy with the result. Some teeth are yellower than others and shaped wrongly so I'm looking for a correction. I would go for porcelain veneers but they seem to require a lot of altering to an otherwise healthy teeth. Basically I'm looking for something "less damaging". Clinics in my country offer Componeer, CEREC 3D or good old porcelain veneers.

Great thread btw, hard to know the truth unless you know someone personally in the industry.

Post: #184

@surskis- Componeer is garbage. Don't do it.

Yes, veneers and crowns require grinding otherwise healthy tooth structure, but that is the cost of doing aesthetics.

Another option is to have a layer of the white filling material bonded on the front surface of the tooth. This will minimize the yellow of your teeth. Not an ideal option, and most dentist dont like to do it, because its not as aesthetic of an option (or as pricey).

Like everything else in life, there is a cost to almost every benefit.

Post: #185

According to my dentist, I need 4 more onlay's on my back molars. I had two done this year. The reason he gave for doing onlays over crowns, was that it preserves more of the natural tooth. His philosophy was to keep the natural tooth as long as possible. Does this sound right? Onlays were $500 each, which didn't sound too bad.

I need to figure out if I want to do the next 4 and how I'm going to best structure my payments for it with my insurance.

Medical cost hack: If you are considering leaving your current job for another, ALWAYS maximize your health savings account and spend all of the money in January/February. When you leave after bonus season in February/March, you don't have to pay the balance. This happened to me in 2013.

Post: #186

Also, what happens if your adult teeth never come in?

This girl I'm trying to bang has this. She is very sensitive to cold.

Can she get all implants or veneers eventually?

Post: #187

@Cap7- i generally don't like onlays. I think crowns have better longevity and generally less risk of fracture to the teeth.

Baby teeth are left alone until they fall out or break. Highly doubtful, she has a mouth full of baby teeth. Likely just a few teeth. At that time, you'd either do crown/bridge work or implants.

Post: #188

(04-11-2013 02:02 PM)DVY Wrote:  @Bad Hussar- TBH I am against whitening teeth by chemical means. All effective "whiteners" use caustic chemicals that can cause a lot of damage. Disclaimers aside, a home remedy that seems to have some effectiveness is a baking soda+hydrogen peroxide+coconut oil paste that you just apply to your teeth w/your finger. 3% hydorgen peroxide is about as high as I would recommend you going for long periods of time.

How long would you keep this paste on teeth? Also what proportions for this paste?

Post: #189

Also, do you have recommendation on which Waterpik model to buy? Reviews actually seem to be better for Panasonic.

Post: #190

I develop plaque quickly on the bottom row of my teeth. I'm able to manage it by using Plax everyday and scraping it off with one of those metal dentist picks. I've read that quick development of plaque is largely genetic. How true is this? and is their any other way to manage it better?

Post: #191

I got a waterpik based off the info in this thread. I love it and it actually makes me floss more. I love the feeling of being able to push liquids through each individual tooth.

@DVY. There was a thread on reddit with dentists giving advice and the below information is what I got from it. Is some of this BS?

Listerine total care (purple) mouthwash is too acidic and should be replaced with another flouride mouthwash but the name escapes me. You recommend using baking soda after mouthwash but I read you have to not eat/drink anything for 30 minutes after using mouthwash/toothpaste and your not even supposed to rinse with water after. Is this false?

Thanks for all the help.

Post: #192

@Comeback kid- Buy the plug-in one, thats not travel-size. Youll know when you go to the store. Can't say about the Panasonic.

More baking soda, a touch of hydrogen peroxide to make it wet, and a dab of coconut oil to make it smooth (less abrasive). Dab it on w/your finger and let it sit.

@YoungBlood- covered this before (big part is genetic), but yea use any method necessary to remove plaque/calculus. Just dont damage your gums when scraping.

@Jaylow- the waterpik is great. Glad you like it.

Listerine purple is slightly acidic. The 30 min thing is more about food/sugary stuff. Also not rinsing your tooth after using listerine and brushing isn't practical. Who wants to swallow that. I usually do a light rinse to get the taste out of my mouth.

If you eat or drink anything (Besides water), best to rebrush (mouthwash is optional).

Post: #193

I get brown stains close to the gums. The stains resist peroxide but can be scraped off.

Any idea what causes them?

Any easier way to remove than scraping? Brushing doesn't do it.

Post: #194

(05-08-2013 06:52 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 12:37 PM)DVY Wrote:  

(05-03-2013 05:20 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  DVY -

Went to a new dentist and they told me I have some spacing at the top on my very back molars.

They want me to go to an orthodonist to get a retainer to wear at night, or in 5 years may suffer some bone loss.

I floss two times per day, but I guess my gums are red back there. I can't see them obviously.

Is this a good move, from what I can tell you?

Or a hustle to get me to buy a $800 retainer.

Keep in mind, I have no problem spending what it takes on my dental health, but I obviously am allergic to getting hustled.

You are getting hustled. Esp that I know you are in your late 30s or early 40s. This is a common semi-scam. Maybe their is a little bit of spacing, but the retainer wont solve much. 2nd molars dont really move past the age of 25. The only common time they move is if their is no opposing tooth, and it starts supra-erupting (coming down).

If still concerned, next time you come back to LA, I could take a look.Gratis

Invest a bit of money into a waterpik (40 dollars). This will help w/keep that area in the back clean. Its tough to floss back there, and I would say 80% of the problems are manual dexterity issues/mental avoidance issues. Can be purchased online or at most stores (CVS, bed/bath and beyond, etc etc).

Haha, bone-loss is not caused by spacing. This is just laughable. Doom-slinging con-artists!!!! Its caused by inflammation (usually from food getting stuck down there). IE use a waterpik to help irrigate that area.

PS- I make retainers for 150-200 buxs, and I am still making a decent profit. This guy is a rip-off artist.

Thanks.

Yeah, I guess they were actually going to charge me $350 for the retainer.

I am skeptical of this dentist though.

He is a real "flash dentist". You know, the kind of guy who drives a white Lamborghini with red interior. That type of dentist.

The only reason I go is it is right across the street from me.

And there are always models in the lobby waiting.

Other than that, I feel like I am paying for the guys champagne bill that night.

DVY -

Settled finally in one place and bought a Waterpik.

Digging it so far.

Thank for you help DVY.

Post: #195

@JimNF- Stains come from smoking,eating and drinking. Curry, cola, coffee, tea, smoking. Just don't traumatize the gums when you scrape.

@G-man- good to hear.

Post: #196

DVY - I had spinal meningitis when I was a kid. I had heavy doses of antibiotics that darkened my teeth. They aren't bad but they aren't as white as I would like. Options?

Post: #197

If you want to regrow/repair teeth don't eat any grains/seeds. Weston Price compared native tribes from all over the world in the 30s. He found tribes with zero cavities. Those tribes ate no grains.

Grains and seeds have poisons in them called phytates, among others. Phytates are proven to partially block the uptake of minerals including calcium. Think about it. Seeds only defense is poisions within them. An animal can run. A seed can poison.

Read "Cure Tooth Decay". It's an amazing book.

Paleo groups have had some success regrowing teeth by omitting grains/nuts/seeds/beans and supplementing with magnesium and sometimes calicum.

Grains are great if you need to store food for a long winter. Or for periods of drought if you live in babylon around the time of Jesus. Well, thanks to modern conveniences, we don't need grains. We can eat what we want whenever we want it. If we want a steak with plantains on the side for our carbs, we just need to fly to the DR and find a dominicana to cook it for us....



p.s. oh yeah, and everything else becomes a lot easier to digest without grains. I have no problem with large amounts of meat, milk, ice cream, etc now. I think its because far different types of enzymes and stomach acidity are needed for grains but I haven't studied the science that much.

Post: #198

(10-07-2013 03:48 PM)Fisto Wrote:  DVY - I had spinal meningitis when I was a kid. I had heavy doses of antibiotics that darkened my teeth. They aren't bad but they aren't as white as I would like. Options?

This is a tough one.

What happened to you is actually a developmental issue. The antibiotics got integrated into your system as a kid and that showed up in your teeth (and probably bones too).

This means that its not just a superficial stain.

Only really option is cosmetic dentistry (crowns/veneers).

If its not terrible, Id advise doing nothing. The risk benefit isn't worth it, unless if you make money from your smile.

Post: #199

@kavakid- There is no doubt that carbohydrates becomes metabolized to sugars and this effects teeth, but regrowing teeth?

Sorry bro, that pure BS. These cases of "regrowing teeth" aren't really regrowing teeth. Some people just have supernumerary teeth (aka extra teeth). This is more common in certain groups than others. The diet is just a non-contributing factor.

Some people have missing adult teeth. Koreans are notorious for this (missing premolars and canines). Doesn't mean kimchi inhibits teeth growth.

Post: #200

Hi DVY,

I am late 30s, have a crossbite, a few crooked teeth, but not visibly bad. The biggest thing I want to change is that my top teeth don't really 'flare out' in the way that they are supposed to for a great smile and a clear airpath for breathing.

I've gone to some orthos and dental friends, and basically braces are my only option. I have been told invisalign costs a lot of money and might do nothing for me. Braces on the inside of the teeth also are unlikely to help.

I'm ok with braces, but thing is I do not want to wear them for 18mos-2 years. In order to speed things up, I heard there are two options: accelerated orthodontics or rapid palatial expansion.

Any feel on what is better? RPE was strongly recommended to make the time for wearing braces down to ~6 months, but I read the other thing works too.