Latest moan from you and me 2026

@Ergates, in my experience, some hygenists are incredibly bossy and condescending. They insist on running through the same information at every appt, as though your memory is not up to much. Mostly it's just time-filling to justify the price. Others just get on with it and give you the odd bit of advice as relevant.

 

An infusion of whole cloves in boiling water and left to cool and soak for a couple of days is very good at easing toothache and gums. It's antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

A great help if you can't see a dentist immediately, or at all these days, when you have a problem.

 

I use diluted TCP as a mouthwash if I get any tooth or gum problems, it seems to deaden it and help if there is any infection.

 

I have used an electric toothbrush for decades. Just over a year ago there was a feature on the radio, a hygienist was talking to the presenter and asking what his routine was. He used the little interdental brushes and then an electric toothbrush. "All sounds great, she declared, let's see your technique with the toothbrush"
The presenter seemed a bit surprised but went along with it, very quickly she stopped him and said " no no you've paid for electric let it do the work, hold the brush on each tooth in turn, count 5-10 seconds then move up to the gum then down to the next tooth (opposite for lower jaw) repeat till you've been right round.
In all theses years I had never heard that before, when I mentioned it to my dentist he said yes of course that's correct, he seemed amazed that I had never heard that before. No other dentist or hygienist has ever said it before.

 

I refuse to see a hygienist and apart from the pain I have lost fillings and left with bleeding gums. My dentist does a far better gentler job.

 

As we have had to go to a private dentist since we moved here, I stopped seeing the hygienist a year or two ago as I refuse to pay £70 odd for her to clean my teeth. I think it's an extortionate cost for ten minutes at the most. So far they haven't said anything but I expect they will soon. I might go say, once every two years under protest if I have to.

I use either a salt water rinse or Bonjella for sore gums/mouth ulcers.

@Jiffy, I think you can now buy dental cement in the supermarket for DIY jobs !

P.S I think it's quite funny that this thread is alternately showing pothole moans and dentistry
moans - both excavations.

 

I asked my dentist what his biggest problems with patients was. He replied sorting out crowns that had been put back using super glue as a temporary repair.

 

For mouth ulcers or sore gums, I find Absalom ( sp ? ) can give some relief.

 

Do you mean Anbesol @Philippa?

 

I will look out for that, but some it will be to late as i've use these
Out you come

 

Absalom was a son of King David (of Goliath fame) who rebelled and then committed suicide.

 

Best thing for gum infections is a chlorhexidine mouthwash, proven to reduce infection. Just use it at a different time than cleaning your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste as the combination can eventually cause staining. ( That can be removed by a professional scale and polish)
Best thing for pain is paracetamol, if bad alternated with ibuprofen if it doesn’t disagree with you.
Be cautious with any of the pain killing gels as many contain aspirin derivatives which can themselves cause ulceration.
Obviously I don’t recommend DIY extractions, but bear in mind that the proper technique doesn’t usually involve pulling, but wiggling side to side until the tooth is loose enough to lift out - don’t try this at home, it does take a lot of practice and the consequences of doing it wrong can be painful and long lasting.

 

I think it’s waste of time hygienists telling you what to do. Best practice is for them to get you to demonstrate your own cleaning technique, see how it could be improved and assist you in practising a better method. Everyone’s mouth is different, and needs a different approach. Just explaining how to use dental floss or sticks is one thing. For a patient not used to working in mirrors, they are just as likely to stick them up their nose, and give up as a bad job! You should be able to leave a hygienist appointment having been taught what to do, be confident that you can do it, and be able to demonstrate to the hygienist that you can actually do it. Otherwise it’s just an expensive cleaning job with no effort made to ensure you won’t need the same again in 6 to 12 months. Maybe that’s the idea?

 

The advice for toothache that's been passed down locally, is to rub whisky on the gums. I know my mum did/does it and have friends who know their mum did it to them when they were teething.

 

Yes - sorry - that's the one I meant katecat.

@NigelJ - not sure how I got those 2 mixed up but at least most of the letters were there