Apropos of nothing

(post deleted by author)

Thank you, we look forward to hearing about this as my OH has it we think. He has seen the emergency dentist but desperately needs to find a regular dentist for ongoing treatment. Any info about it would be great.

I’m not sure I can answer specifically. Finding an available dentist and getting an appointment is a task in itself. You’ll need a referral to a specialist (at least I did) because whilst your dentist can suspect periodontitis, they’ll not make the diagnosis. Doctolib is ok for finding dentists with availability, but they might not be conventionee.

I really hate to say this but have you considered private? Even hopping over a border to find availability?

Your post has reminded me that availability of dentists is an issue in itself in the treatment of this disease.

OH had loose tooth and some discomfort, he does floss sometimes. Main problem has been Covid, he didn’t see a dentist for 2 years. Emergency dentist diagnosed gum infection and prescribed antibiotics and there was some improvement. I think best thing will be to go back to emergency dentist and ask for referral/recommendation to specialist or private dentist. We know that doing nothing could mean extensive tooth loss. Will look into better brushing too. Thanks for your input.

That’s good going. There are a good many people who either never do, never attempt to, or have given up trying. Dentists around here are full, don’t offer waiting lists and simply offer ongoing treatment to existing patients. You ring around the same however many dentists every few months and hope. No wonder people give up.

I will watch for your next instalment…scary though it is.

Btw did I miss which departement you are in? .I am wondering just how many medical or dental deserts there are in France.

I’m France’s most rural department (so the news told me last night) but then I’m not sure how one measures rurality. Our local news often reports on the shortage of doctors, and of communes trying to induce doctors in (providing housing etc) They don’t mention dentists though.

Very interesting, and worrying. I have the same bone loss :confused: for info la Lozère is thé most sparcely populated département if that’s what they meant by rural or perhaps they meant it has the largest cultivated surface (not many mountains your way!)

Mountains, no, but a couple of decent climbs - the best of which, Le Peyroux, featured on this year’s Paris - Nice. Around here, I’m blessed. North is flat, getting flatter. South is lumpy to hilly. Some short sharp climbs that take me back to Kent and the like.

I guess a degree of bone loss is to be expected as one, achem, ages. Who told you of it and in what context? If your dentist said your teeth are falling out because of it then, yes, perhaps it’s worth following up… though I suspect, in that context, you’d already be channeled down the specialist route.

Edit: have you noticed any generalised fatigue? Being on the bike, you’d find that out pretty darned quickly. I’m planning to address this in a later post, but one of the things I have noticed already (and I have started the treatment) is that my energy levels are back. My doctor/dentist adventures started last year because I was feeling so exhausted all the time. There was little motivation to ride, and little energy when I did. This last month, it feels like it’s coming back. One of the reported effects of periodontitis is fatigue. Makes sense, your body’s perpetually fighting infection.

1 Like

Hello again. Did you need to have a referral from a dentist or can you go straight to the specialist do you know? The fatigue is interesting because we just think we are more tired because of our age. Sort of enjoying the story so far.

I would imagine you can go straight to a specialist if you are prepared to pay. I needed a referral for mine but I went via my dentist. That wasn’t intentional on my part, I had no idea I needed a specialist! During my searches on the subject, I found a number of dentistal surgeons (notably in Paris) that I could have made an appointment directly with. What the wait would have been like though, I don’t know.

Try doctob. Key in ‘Chirurgien-dentiste’, your post code and see who it gives you. Look at their skill set (expertises et actes) maybe cross reference with a web search. Call them, see if they can do something for you. You could find someone that’ll do online booking. It happens, they are out there.

Not all dentists are on docolib though, I couldn’t say as a percentage how many are, neither of my dentists are for example, but that’s not the only source of info. Simply web searching ‘parodontite’ and your department name is as good as any place to start.

Probably due to the gut microbiome as it relates to other microbial centres in the body. However all of the aformentioned conditions are way out of control in the USA where they have good teeth and as you remind us they say we hsve bad teeth. A heck of a lot to do with the diet, from the low level of inflamation from foods that cause it, to SIBO, small intestinial bacterial over growth. The problem of bacteria being too high up the intestine often belived to be a cause heartburn/reflux, also showing that bad strains of bacteria are present orally and diet will have a lot to do with it.

I remember before having a heart valve repaired I was sent to my dentist to ensure I hadn’t some form of oral infection.

1 Like

Indeed. I think cardiologists are aware of the link, I’d like to think so anyway. Certainly the one I saw was when I saw him earlier this year.

And was it?

It was part of the standard procedure before open heart surgery. I had no issues, well I’m still here anyway.

2 Likes

I have an auto-immune disease, and I am prescribed an annual dental check -up, especially as also have Sjorgen’s affecting saliva production (also cardiology, dermatology, podologue, and pneumonologist- don’t you just love the French Health Service! ). There is much better awareness of the link now.

I use a water pick after meals, quick and simple and I feel it does good.

I believe there is much more to it than periodontal disease. Thats just the tip of the iceberg.
If bacteria etc can get passed the endothelial cells lining the arteries we would all be dead in days. Its inflamation of the endothelial cells that allows things to get passed and cause all sorts of problems just like those you mention. endothelial cells are supposed to be so tightly packed to stop infection passing through.

I’ve read about water picks and am tempted. For now, I make do with interdental sticks and floss.

You’re right (I hope!) that medical professionals are more aware of links today. It’s certainly been my experience. Hopefully more ‘people in the street’ will get the message too. There’s a greater awareness of gut health (even if only to sell probiotics!) and the gut starts in the mouth, so there’s cause for hope.

1 Like

We’re lucky here (Tarn/Aveyron) we’ve got pretty much everything although not a lot of flat. My Dad used to have a place not far from you in the 37. Nice area. I worked near Saint Brieuc for a year and used to do Hinault’s short sharp blast of a climb which he used to get into shape for the mountains even though it’s not even 100m above sea level at the top!

My problems started at 15 playing rugby : broke a lower front tooth that died and was filled. That lasted 20 odd years but lots of problems towards the end and the answer was root canal work with no guarantee it’d work. To boot, the tooth had gone discoloured over the years so I told the dentist to just remove it which he agreed to and did. Having no tooth to feed and age may have contributed to the bone loss in the lower jaw because it started where that tooth was. A year ago I lost the small front tooth that was next to it and the third is at half mast and will probably go too. All discovered at the dentists with x-rays to see what was going on when the 2nd one started to go. Nobody really worried about it (3 different dentists) and normal with the history and age (now 56). Have a temporary false tooth whilst we see what happens to the third one. All stable for the moment;

As for fatigue, no not really and when I am I think it’s down to work, the kids and everything else : my tabac is open 6 days a week, we did 7 years with it open 6.5 days a week and with young kids and me doing up the house too and cycling. Up at 5 for a 5.30 delivery yesterday and every other week but as long as I get a sieste I’m fine, but can understand what you’re saying for the body having to fight constantly.

Courage ! :wink:

2 Likes