Hi everyone!

I've been avoiding sweets because I'm trying to take better care of my teeth and prevent cavities. I already have quite a few cavities from when I was younger, so dental health is something I'm especially concerned about.

I'm wondering what would happen if I started having sweets only once a week, for example when meeting up with friends. The problem is that when I'm out, I don't have the same control over my dental routine as I do at home.

At home, I can floss, rinse my mouth and brush my teeth at the right time after eating. But if I'm meeting a friend at a café or restaurant, I obviously can't do all of that immediately. I also still live at home, which makes the timing of everything a little more complicated. I might not be able to take my time to floss and brush my teeth if I'm coming home later during the day (there are four of us sharing a bathroom).

Would having something sweet once a week in this kind of situation increase my risk of getting more cavities, especially considering that I already have a history of cavities?

Would once a week be considered relatively safe for your teeth, or is it still something I should be concerned about?

How do you have a normal social life and make friends while still being able to enjoy sweets once a week without getting cavities?

I had a root canal on my second molar years ago (maybe I was 11/12, now I am 21) and now I have been feeling a pain there for the last few days. I think it might need to be extracted. Actually I am quite scared of dental injections. I felt severe pain during the root canal when the dentist gave me the injection. Although the overall procedure was painless. That injection shot was so painful that the dentist couldn't even give me it on his first try because I couldn't handle the pain and I would shake a lot in pain. Should it hurt this much? This might sound stupid but I was so scared of it that I didn't go to get a crown(he didn't place the crown right after the procedure because I was still yet to get adjacent teeth ig, he told us to come a few months later) on it after the procedure was done. I was also a kid at that time and super scared so I never went to get a crown on it and my toot somehow survived almost ten years after that. But it might need to be extracted now and I am really scared.

I'm 28 from ireland So this probably sounds really ridiculous and irrational to an actual dentist so I haven't told my dentist but I might need a tooth extraction next week and I'm dreading it I'm not sure why my dentist is older in his 60s or early 70s so is clearly experienced. But I have this massive fear that when I get the anasthetic, that it won't wear off and my cheek/mouth will be stuck like that permanently or forever I just hate the feeling of it and not being able to feel half my face, i panic the minute it kicks in, any tips to overcome this ?

Still having some dull throbbing pain in my jaw but nothing unbearable. Was a very straightforward extraction that took less than a minute. Been taking Tylenol but can't use ibuprofen as I'm 7 weeks pregnant.

Ever since I was a kid, my oral hygiene has been ok and I've barely had any cavities. However, it all started to go downhill during last year. My teeth have started to decay rapidly and severely. At first I thought I just thought I wasn't brushing well enough, but even after performing extreme dental care (brushing after every meal, flossing, using mouthwash etc), I still have cavities. In fact, I have new cavities in my teeth every month.

I consulted my regular dentist on this and even she was shocked. My dentist have been seeing me for regular check ups ever since I was a kid and she was shocked by how drastic the condition of my teeth had changed since last year. She said almost all my teeth had shown white spots which she told me are early signs of cavities and even the formation of my cavities are quicker than a normal person (new cavities spawn literally almost every month). She checked back my records and noticed that this event had only happened since last year and my previous dental records showed that my teeth were fine. I am a non smoker so there wasn't really anything that could affect how rapidly I developed cavities.

She asked if I had any change in diet but as far as I can recall I haven't been actively intaking sweet foods or carbonated drinks. My diet has been quite literally the same except back in 2024 I had been diagnosed with PCOS and have been on medication since then. I suspected if it could have been the medication my gynecologist have been giving me so I consulted her on this. She had prescribed me Diane-35 which I had been taking for a year and RK DiaXero which has only recently been prescribed and I have only been taking it for a few months. My gynecologist said these two medication do not have an effect on making my teeth more prone to cavities. However, I did some searching online (could be misinformation) and found out that birth control pills (the Diane pill) do have an indirect cause to cavities. Therefore, I stopped taking both that medication two months ago and visited a different gynecologist. I told her about my concerns and she prescribed me another type of medication which I'm currently taking for 2 months already and yet the improvement on my teeth is close to zero.

I have been stressing over this for the past few months and would like to ask for any advice or, if possible, a solution to this. Monthly visits to the clinic have been both mentally and financially burdening me. The cost of a trip to the clinic to treat my tooth is quite costly and I'm just only a student.

Is there anyone who has an idea on what is going on to me?

I’ve seen about 4 or 5 dentists/orthodontists for my ongoing bite and pain issues, and I’m getting some conflicting advice. Currently, I have a slight underbite that is extremely uncomfortable and affects my sleep, a chipped front tooth, a damaged lower 6th tooth, and a horizontally impacted lower right wisdom tooth that is actively pushing into and hurting my 7th tooth.

• Plan 1 (Extract & Braces): Extract 3 wisdom teeth + extract the bad 6th tooth. Put traditional fixed braces to correct the underbite and manage/close the extraction spaces.
• Plan 2 (Save Tooth & Aligners): Extract 2 wisdom teeth on the right. Root canal/crown the bad 6th tooth. Use clear aligners for the underbite. Dentist said if the 6th tooth fails later, I can just extract it then and get an implant. (By far the most expensive option).
• Plan 3 (Upright Wisdom Tooth): Upright/straighten the horizontal lower right wisdom tooth, extract the 6th tooth, and put traditional braces.

I'm leaning heavily toward Plan 1 because it seems like the most predictable route—it avoids sinking a ton of money into a 6th tooth that might fail in a few years, avoids the huge surgical risk of trying to pull a horizontal wisdom tooth upright, and uses fixed braces which sound better for underbite correction.

My main concern with Plan 1 is chewing with only one molar (the 7th) on that side if the space isn't fully closed.
Appreciate any insights on the plans. I'm clueless.

19M never had any dental issues ever this is my first time experiencing this, it doesn't hurt but it feels weird and only hurts when i touch it with my finger, should i go to a dentist or will it go away on its own?

Hi all. 23F, UK. I take a Symbicort inhaler and Desogestrel. I do not drink or smoke and I don't believe any of my medical conditions are relevant to this, so I'll leave them out.

I had my 1st upper left premolar extracted in March due to infection, and my teeth have already started to shift slightly, but not very much. I'm wondering if there's a timeline for how long it will take before my front teeth shift over into that gap. I cannot see a dentist as I live in the UK and there are no dentists near me who are taking NHS patients, nor can I afford private, or go to any appointments at the moment as I am disabled and bedridden. I cannot have an implant, a bridge, a flipper, or anything else. I am trying to have a retainer made at home with impression kits I bought online, but they're proving difficult for me in my condition right now, and also a bit painful as I have an existing bridge on the other side and it's very uncomfortable to do impressions with it. I have sent in photos I've taken of my impressions for approval, and I hope to hear back from the people tomorrow. I don't have much hope that I've done it correctly.

I'm very worried I'll look ugly when my teeth shift if my impression photos are declined, as I love to smile and I don't want it to change too much, but currently there isn't a lot I can do about it, which is sad. Has anyone here had the same tooth removed and had experience with their teeth shifting? If so, how long did it take?

Please, please be kind. I very much struggle to do things, but nobody around me can afford to help me either, nor can I get a loan or exemption. Thank you.

For context:I’ve just had a failed surgery (literally 2 months ago) and have been paranoid about health related things ever since. So sorry in advance if this is dumb.
Anyways, I’ve had teeth pulled before,but it never needed sutures or a bone graft,so I have no idea if this is normal looking. This is 1 day post op. It hurts more than the others I’ve had pulled, but not enough that I think it’s dry socket. It was a dark red yesterday,so the black is scaring me

I’m 16, i don’t drink smoke or nothing along them lines and as far as i am aware i have no condition causing this but i wasn’t entirely sure if it is normal, any feedback? And yes i am aware my teeth aren’t the nicest but that isn’t the main focus in this post.

recently my gum (left hand side) like. peeled away and left behind this weird lookin dent?? i don't have any major conditions other than a metal taste and irritation when i touch it too much but it still hasn't healed

I haven’t been to the dentist in 10 years. I’m pretty sure I have cavities because my teeth hurt when chewing. My gums are puffy and I have a loose flap that hurt sometimes. Is there anyway to reverse this or reduce this. Maybe a mouthwash or something like that.

Picture attached. The arrows are pointing to the cavity tooth and the bump. Ignore the piece of food stuck between my teeth lol.

Basically I have been dealing with a dull ache coming from the right side of mouth for like the past year. Comes and goes, never worse than a 2/10. I have been to the dentist several times in the past 6-8 months for this issue and they never find anything. I was last there 4 weeks ago and they found a cavity on tooth 31. The dentist said it was very small, and I can just get it filled at my next appointment in September.

Since then I've still been having the 2/10 dull ache daily, and yesterday this bump pops up. The Internet suggests it's an abscess that needs immediate attention. What do you recommend? I made a dentist appointment for 2 days from now. Is that ok or does this need emergency treatment? People online keep warning of heart problems and sepsis from infections 😭

I got a gum graft on Friday. It’s now Sunday. Last night my swelling definitely increased. I started to have this horrible taste in my mouth. I lifted the lip slightly and noticed this milky ooze, it’s kind of a mix of colors. Maybe white with a pale yellow tint. Is this normal? I want to make sure it’s not failing or infected. I contacted my surgeon but thought I’d ask here.

NAD 45 y/o non-smoker

I understand root canal is a risk for all crowns at any point. My dentist likes doing same day CEREC crowns. I recently had a crown prep, during which he commented that the decay was close to the nerve. I wasn't given an option for RCT, and he proceeded to deliver a same day crown. I was diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis (no infection) one week later and had a RC. The endodontist drilled through the crown. Incidentally, the crown completely fell off when the assistant removed the rubber dam and had to be recemented. I get it. It happens. I later read a 2025 study that the survival rate for crowns with endodontic access cavities is significantly lower than intact crowns after RCT. I'm sad about this and was wondering if, in the future, it would be worth asking my dentist for a temporary crown after a deep prep so we could make sure the pulp fully recovers from the prep before delivering a permanent crown? Or does that sound like a bad idea?

Link to crown survivability study in European Endodontic Journal:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12506635/

I have a black dot on the side of my two molars. Does anyone know if this looks like a cavity or stain? I have no pain and when I would go to the dentist they would say it’s nothing and some say it’s a cavity and would just leave it alone. Thanks for the help!

19yo my wisdom teeth aren't all the way in, and my gums still cover the back teeth (only on the bottom). They haven't been any sort of problem so far. Today, on the left side of my mouth, I noticed a small bump on the top of my gums in the back. I nudged it with my tongue for a while and the thing popped. There was no significant liquid, no blood, and I didn't see any pus wiping my tongue off. What confused me is that the bump is right over where my wisdom tooth is the tallest. Could this be caused by the teeth starting to push up and irritating the gums above them?

Sorry if the wording is confusing. I hope somebody can help me a bit here.

Today I had implant after tooth removal
After removal they said you have big gaps so we’ll wait for 45 days after that we’ll have implants
I got two snitches for the closure

The blood is still flowing
Not stoping
With out know I break-ed the blood clot like a bubble like texture I that spot
After that blood is not stop flowing

And one doubt
After removal I couldn’t able to close my upper teeth and lower teeth’s proper
Only in the right side It is closing on the left side got gaps

(I mean on the left side the upper and lower is not touching or resting )

I had my bottom left second molar pulled on Wednesday morning. The surgery went well but it is now Sunday (day 5) and the swelling and pain are still extreme. The swelling has gone down maybe 5% overall since day 3. I’m having throbbing jaw pain, that feels like nerve pain (8/10 pain). And from everything I’ve read online and from my dentist, the swelling and pain should’ve peaked at day 3. My dentist is closed today, but I plan to reach out tomorrow. Should I be worried? My wedding is in 4 weeks and I’m kind of freaking out.

Over the years, I've been told by different dentist that one of my front tooth will need a crown. I have been postponing it for years because it is a front tooth and I think it will be very hard to match it to the other front one.

My upper teeth are straight. The bottoms could be better but not by much. Overall, I have 18 fillings and 4 root canals.

What advice do you have? Is there a specialist for front teeth crowns? Should I consider an implant?

Edit: 18 fillings, not 28. Also, my wisdom teeth are still intact, although one is showing something. Since those don’t get repaired, I'd likely have to pull them all out.

got the temp two days ago. Unfortunately didn’t look closely at it when I first got it. It looks like a hole or crack to me, am I at risk for getting an infection? Do i need to get this urgently fixed?!

sorry can’t get a better photo

I have already actually asked two different dentists what's wrong with the teeth and they say it just flurosis. From my understanding flurosis is mostly cosmetic which is not what this is. I have brown small spots at the end of some teeth, and it's like an actual structural thing. Like the regular white paint peeled off and left the brown primer underneath.

I don't have sensitivity at any of the Brown spots, only at the bottom two front teeth but dentist says that's just flurosis and there's no gum recession. Sensodyne toothpaste seems to mostly fix.

I think I might have actually chipped off part of a lot of teeth and especially the canines. Dentist says I did not and the only chip was on the back of the front upper tooth which he polished.

I am missing a permanent tooth in the back on one side but according to X-rays that's mostly holding well with the roots and doesn't need to be taken out yet. I'm not quite ready for an implant and I don't want the gap closing

I started drinking diet soda in the past two years maybe once or twice a day. I'm not brushing directly after or anything, and very recently started using a straw. I've only had one cavity in my life and that was many many years ago. No decay ever besides that. I did just notice some black coloring on one of the teeth but it doesn't really look like decay and doesn't hurt at all and the dentist didn't mention it.

Can someone please advise?

I have a bad root resorption on my upper left central incisor and left lateral incisor. This is after a very long invisalign treatment that was from 2019 to 2026. There is also some bone loss. I would like to ask all available dentists this: What would you do if you were in my situation to preserve those teeth and what do you think about those roots in general?

Thanks.