Ptsd & Oral Health

[Acorncandle]

I'm too embarrassed to post this under 'other symptoms' or I would.

My new, current dentist knows I have PTSD. My old one didn't and made me feel like I wasn't doing enough regardless how many times I brushed or flossed. They still got on me for that and made me feel like crap. I've only seen this new one once, and so far they are so much better. I feel like no matter how many times I brush, floss, use mouth wash and drink water my gum health still isn't good. I haven't talked to them about it yet, but with my school schedule I'm limited as to how many appointments I can make a year and the time between each one. I'm trying to cut back in sweets and I don't drink pop. I know stress and anxiety can hurt it (gums) and nothing seems to be helping anything. I'm not in any medications and frankly, I don't want to be. I used to love my smile and now I don't show teeth for pictures, or hardly ever do. This is a big deal to me, because in 20 years I don't want to have missing teeth. :(

Any helpful information, I'll gladly look into.

 

[Sojij]

Cut out acidic foods, and refined sugars and try
http://wellnessmama.com/2500/remineralizing-toothpaste/ :tup:

 

[Wemik]

Wellness mama is awesome!

 

[Umojaz]

What has been said above, and also for gum health, try white oak bark. I mix it with coconut oil and do oil pulling (which you can probably read about on the site above, or google it). It's supposed to be good for restoring the gums. I haven't been to the dentist since I've been trying this, so can attest to whether it works or not.

 

[Ulot]

I'm too embarrassed to post this under 'other symptoms' or I would.

My new, current dentist knows I have PTSD....

Great question cuz im 34 and going on almost needing at least partial dentures but could never afford it, but in my trauma i wasnt allowed to brush my teeth, and when i moved out at 18 it was, and still is, to her in the habit. Sometimes i forget and im embarrassed to say that but it is what it is. I dont know of PTSD causing this but my therapist said anxiety causes a lot of inflamation in the body, making my eczema, which i was born with, worse than ive ever experience all over my body. So could it cause gums to be inflamed and not healthy, sure. If you suffer from bad anxiety (mine is unusally hoghtened) i would consider even just a low grade anxiety med as if taken only when needed, it can not only make you feel not so edgy but it can also help those other things caused by high anxiety. Mental health issues causes many many many phsyical things. Makes my body at times not want to wake up, like ive been drugged, next day im fine, causes dizziness where when driving to work i feel drunk when im not and i had a scary seizure at work; i didnt want to go to the ER so the paramedics asked what my birthday was, i didnt know, knew where i was but didnt know where i lived, knew how to spell my name but couldnt write it. They did MRI & CatScan of my brain, bloodwork, the works in the ER plus my MD sent me for other tests over 3 months, that was oct 2012, the MDs still cant tell me why and ive never had one before or since. I havent read the other replies but thats my experience my 3 diagnosed mental disorders and 1 possible not yet diagnosed, PTSD is just one of them.

 

[Tumew]

Good OP! It's a very stressful thing for me too...What with the PTSD and other stresses, and lack fo funds, I wasn't able to see a dentist for about 10 years...Things are okay...ish, all things considered...But yes, if you grind your teeth etc. which many of us do when stressed (ie pretty often), that can also damage gums. My dentist doesn't know about my PTSD and the stress though I guess the number of gray hairs on my head should be a hint (at my age, anyway). So yes, I have the beginnings of periodontal disease which freaks the living daylights out of me. I brush and floss etc...Also, it;s possible that you brush too hard (which I had done too) and that's' also not good for the gums. Hope things get better for you...and all of us facing these kinds of problems!