<p>Hi, I’m 18 going to be a freshman in college, and I just want to hear some wisdom and advice from you guys.</p>
<p>I’m very bad at keeping up with health checkups because I always thought they were unnecessary. Our family has a style of not going to see the doctor’s unless there’s a problem. My dad grew up in rural China; he never brushed his teeth as a kid. No one in my family even flosses. I haven’t seen the doctor is a couple years, and the second to last time I have seen a dentist was probably 4 years ago.</p>
<p>Judging that I won’t have much time during college, I decided to schedule a dental checkup during the summer. My dentist told me I had periodontitis: large pockets all around my teeth, some 7mm deep, along with some bone loss. Hearing this really killed me because it hit me completely unexpected. I’ve never felt pain when I eat; my gums never bleed when I brush.</p>
<p>I had to go see a gum specialist who had to perform some gum surgery. I’m 18 and I’ve already gotten some periodontal surgery and will still need more, which is unprecedented. Normally, you don’t get periodontitis until 30s or 40s. Since bone won’t grow back, I’ll be stuck with less bone and a lower gum line. I’m so terrified that I’m going to continue to have dental problems early. Plus it’ll be expensive for dental maintenance.</p>
<p>I’m just so stressed by this. I don’t want to suffer expensive and inconvenient dental problems for the rest of my life. I really want to do something so that my health (dental, oral, physical, whatever) doesn’t become a financial liability.</p>
<p>***Grr… I feel really immature for not being able to handle the normal stresses of life. For 18 years old, I’m not very capable of dealing with the unexpected.</p>
<p>I assume your dentist gave you instructions for keeping your teeth and gums in better health in the future. If not, then call and ask. And then do them – every day – and things will go much better at your next checkup. And regular checkups are going to be very important for you, however often your dentist recommends. Don’t neglect that; dental problems are a lot easier and cheaper to treat if they’re caught early and treated regularly.</p>
<p>I got behind on my dental work some years ago, and had to have some corrective work done. It was a wake-up call, like yours. Since then I’ve become a believer in doing all the things I always knew I should do – brush twice a day, floss every day, dental rise (not mouthwash), and checkups twice a year. That routine has kept me in good shape.</p>
<p>Years ago, I saw a sign in a dentist’s office: “You don’t have to floss all your teeth. Just the ones you want to keep.” Flossing is super-important. Also, get an electric toothbrush with a 2-minute timer.</p>
<p>A lot of people don’t deal well with the unexpected. Don’t worry about that part.</p>
<p>But do pay attention to keeping up with your dental health needs. You have more oral health concerns than most people do. So does one of my kids (despite regular dental care as a child). It will be important during college for you to see a dentist regularly and keep up with home care, even if it is inconvenient. If you go to college far enough from home that you cannot come home for dental visits, you may need to have two dentists – one at college and one at home. </p>
<p>Talk to your parents about your family’s dental insurance situation. Do you have dental insurance? If you do, you will want a dentist who is in the plan’s network.</p>
<p>College is a time when many young people neglect their dental health because of the inconvenience of living in two communities. It’s very good that you realize that you must not do this.</p>
<p>I feel for you OP - my family (both sides) have great teeth and poor gums and I am no exception. It is tough your condition is already bone loss at age 18. You do need to really make sure to do EVERYTHING the dentist/periodontist tell you to. I have to get my teeth cleaned every 4 months for the rest of my life (started at age 44), use a waterpic and Sonicare Quadpacer as well as brush my teeth every morning, floss like crazy after meals and regular brush at night.</p>
<p>I have about 5 teeth that will need implants and bone grafting to get them but I am holding steady and waiting as long as possible to embark b/c even with awesome insurance, periodontal is only covered at 1,500/year (each implant and grafting is far higher).</p>
<p>Currently, bone and gums do not grow back so be very diligent. Wishing you the best.</p>
Flossing is super-important. Also, get an electric toothbrush with a 2-minute timer.</p>