General Chat

Yesterday, I went to the dentist. I hadn’t been for a year, as my dentist, though decrying the state of my teeth, said I didn’t need to see him for a year. Usually, he just attempts to get me to go to the hygienist at a lot of money, but I insist he cleans them as part of the NHS ‘check up’.

Walked in to reception, half an hour early, gave my name. Nothing. Gave them my appointment card - which also had an appointment for 17th August. Again, nothing. The appointments hadn’t been booked – even though an appointment card had been printed. I was then informed that my dentist was on holiday!

I stood there with, probably, one of those ‘I’m not amused’ ‘smiles’, as I desperately tried to remain calm, collected, and polite.
Eventually, they squeezed me in with another dentist.

She looked at my teeth – you know, the one where they number them, and informed me I had gum disease (which I knew), then asked me about my dental hygiene. I told her I cleaned my teeth, then used an inhaler for my COPD, then rinsed my mouth with water, followed by mouthwash, as the inhaler can cause mouth thrush..
I was informed I was not meant to rinse my mouth after cleaning my teeth.
Did I floss? ‘Yes’, I said I used floss, and those little brushes. She asked me which coloured brushes I used.
‘Depends on which part of the mouth’, I replied.
Then I was asked if I ate sweets. No. Do I eat cake (What? Did she mean ever?), ‘Rarely’ was my response. Biscuits? No. Fizzy drinks? No. Did I smoke – yes. Oh so THAT was the cause. Her fifth choice. I wonder where she would have gone if I didn’t smoke? Heroin?
Did I drink – yes about a bottle of wine a week. I’m amazed she didn’t ask me which colour.

Then it was decided I needed a couple of x rays. These were of a couple of teeth each side.

Once this was done, and she came back into the room, I was informed I should use Corsodyl mouthwash after cleaning my teeth – they sold it in reception. Apparently it contains Chlorhexidine, which will get rid of the gum infection.
I realised she had contradicted her previous statement, that I shouldn’t rinse my mouth after cleaning my teeth, but thought it better not to say anything.

Then, I was informed this appointment would cost £25.80. I would need to see a dentist every 3 months, at a cost of £44 something every time! So, that’s £25.80 for no real treatment, and more money for – what?!!
She assured me it was cheaper than a private dentist!

Another appointment was made for August – not the original one, a new one. I wasn’t given an appointment card, so have forgotten when, but I’ve a feeling it’s when I’m going on holiday – a holiday that was arranged around the original appointments on the card!

When I got home, I looked at the mouthwash I use. It’s called ‘Chlorhexidine’ - the apparently ‘magical’ ingredient in Corsodyl that would ‘help’ my gum infection.

Ever felt ripped off?

Just phoned up to check when the appointment is - it's on 31 July!
Asked what it's for - to clean my teeth.
How much £44.

Or, I could see my original dentist on the second appoinrment he made - but that will be another 'check up', and will cost me £25.80.
Further treatment 'recommended' by this dentist (probably a clean) will cost another £44!!

I've stuck with the 31 July. :-(

Maggie, I had to get my teeth checked etc just before my heart surgery which i did, back in Nov 2019. I asked my dentist, how come I've never seen a hygienist and he said, i didn't need to see one. he was able to scrape a little tartar for me and polish so wasn't necessary. The check up was free so didn't need to pay anything.

But as I am not able to get to a dentist, I haven't been back since 2019!! I can only get Patient Travel for a hospital appointment so although i dont have tooth ache, i do wonder if i need some old fillings looking at.

That ingredient chlorhexidine is used in theatre and was a possible cause of the bronchospasm I took along with fentanyl so i avoid all mouthwashes at all costs.

if you feel its unnecessary to have your teeth cleaned, then cancel the appointment, its not compulsory. You can remake when it suits you and your pocket.

Florence, my teeth do need cleaning, but I argued with my actual dentist that, surely, it was part of the check up - and he couldn't argue with it. this was last year - when check ups were free, as I was unemployed, and on Universal Credit.

I'm now in the situation where, if I see my own dentist, I'll have to pay him £25.80 again, for a check-up - and he may not agree to clean my teeth - dentists have more power now there's a lack of them. Then I'd have to pay £44 on top of the additional £25.80, to have them cleaned, anyway.

Your experience with chlorhexidine is interesting.
I started using it about 3 years ago. I wasn't smoking then - but I developed COPD.
I say COPD - my phlegm (throat based) and breathlesness has never been investigated, just assumed. An X-ray has shown clear lungs

Interesting bit of chat that...

Maggie your copd sounds like mine

clear chest but breathless, although my kidney failure and atrial Fib. add to that

Maggie, are you asthmatic or have you had the lung function tests?(blowing hard into a spirometer several times)

I cannot take paracetamol, Ibruprofen or aspirin as they all make me wheezy and have caused me an asthma attack of which I hope I never have to experience again as I thought i was going to die!.

Can you switch to a different mouthwash, one without chlorhexidine? You may not have COPD at all and if you stop using it, your symptoms may ease although it may take several months. When they gave me aspirin after my heart surgery, i struggled to breathe but once GP stopped it, it took about 3-4 weeks before I improved.

I'm on ESA but Contribution based and so I don't qualify for any free treatment at all.

I dread to think if i did manage to get to the dentist, what my bill would be!!

You need to research" side effects of Chlorhexideine", it makes very interesting reading and cleaely explains what happened to me in theatre.

The CVC they put into my neck had Chlorhexidine on the tip of the line and within 20 seconds my lungs collapsed! I nearly died and was on life support for 2 days until I recovered. I urge you to stop taking the mouthwash and find an alternative as there must be others you can use.

Bob I had AF and the water tablets dehydrated me giving me CKD stage 4!! Thought i was going to die of kidney failure. Make sure you drink plenty especially before they test your kidneys.

Florence in the hebrides

My kidney failure occurred (i suspect!!)about 6 months after I was put on a relatively high dose of omeprazole....wonderful for reflux/ heart burn...

Florence, I've never had a 'spiro' test, as my breathlessness started during Covid.
Since then, my doctor has changed 3 times, and they just seem to accept the 'no actual diagnosis'!

Each doctor has focussed on a different thing. :-S
I'll remind the current one about the 'spiro' test. the last one said I was on a waiting list for one - I'm actually going to see the doctor in person on 7 August - apparently about the results of a blood test for cholesterol.

I stopped the mouthwash yesterday. It obviously wasn't doing any good, anyway!!
Just looked up side effects - I can't believe an increase in tartar is a side effect!
That's not going to help my gums, is it???

As for kidneys, I've only got one, and the function (apparently) isn't too good at the moment.
Weird how it was fine, until it was discovered, when I was 57, that I only had one!!

Bob, have you discussed with your GP? Gaviscon is a good alternative and will not affect your kidneys, just a suggestion.

Yes I use what is called peptac...very similar but cheaper

Maggie, ask the GP to listen to your chest too as my breathlessness turned out to be a murmur and the rest is history!

OMG - I'm on Omeprazol too!

it seems that most of my 'ailments' may be caused by the drugs aimed at 'curing' one of the ailments :-0

I'm going to have to really annoy my doctor and request alternatives.

She suggested an ACE inhibitor for my blood pressure - but it had a horrible effect on me, years ago. It was the only medication I was taking at the time, so it couldn't have been caused by anything else.
She didnt seem to believe me and wanted a precise description of the effects.

I'd been taking it for a week, and was getting dizzy spells.
On the day in question, I was going to an accountancy exam.
Walking up the stairs, had an awful dizzy spell - I almost passed out, and only avoided going through a window, because of the people around me.
They sat me down until I'd recovered.
I started up the stairs again - and did pass out.
I came around in the sick room of the college.

I stopped taking the drug immediately, and was fine. Went to see my doctor, who pleaded with me to carry on taking it - but I said NO. He gave me Amlodopine instead. It seems this can also cause kidney problems.

I've been prescribed Omeprazol for about 4 years.
I didn't take them regularly for a while, only when I felt the reflux - and my kidney was fine.
I've been taking them every day for about 9 months - and it seems my kidney has deteriorated. Coincidence?

Make a list Maggie so you dont forget anything regardless of how long you are in there. You need answers to get to the bottom of your problem especially with breathlessness!

Yes it does seem that sorting one medical problem causes others. It's what I have found too. I went regularly to the dentist all my life till 5 years ago when I seemed to get a reaction to the local anaesthetic that caused a horrid vibrating in my chest that took 15 minutes to go. I thought I was a gonner and about to have a heart attack, but there was no pain and all the shaking was internal, my hands were steady. the dentist didn't think it was an allergic reaction, but had no other suggestion as to the cause and I've not dared to go back since!

On the subject of Omeprazole, which is a proton pump inhibitor I would add to your list for the doctor and ask if you could have a bone scan. My OH had taken them for reflux for a few years when I read more than one article that said they affected calcium absorption which could cause osteoporosis. OH rather poohood the idea at first, as men do not usually get it, certainly not in their 50s, but eventually was persuaded to have a scan and was found to be borderline, much to his surprise. He was able to start treatment as soon as it tipped over the borderline, yet he would have probably not known till it was much worse and he broke a bone years later.

The local anaesthetic would have contained adrenaline, probably the cause of your symptoms - not nice at all, but not an allergen.

I remember once looking at the back of some travel sickness medication that stated 'may cause nausea' :-S

Annx, I knew Omeprazol could cause iron and vitamin B deficiency, but not about it's other negatives.

Sheila, strange how these drugs that are meant to help can cause what you're trying to stop, isn't it?

That mouthwash can also stain the teeth brown.

Ann, the issue with the dental injection can be serious. I was having a crown done, the injection went into a vein and my heart went woompf. I felt off for a few days but put it down to a dreadfully long appointment. Then I thought I was having an asthma attack and then after a couple of days my heart had another big beat.
My blood pressure the next day was enormous. Luckily my GP understood what had happened as she had recently had another patient with the same problem By now I could hardly eat as it was all too tiring. GP was right it did take about 10 weeks to fully recover. I now can’t have dental adenaline and have to have the old fashioned stuff.

Yes Maggie that mouthwash does cause stains. OH was told to use it by his dentist a few months ago and his teeth started to go a horrid beigey brown, so he's stopped using it now. I was told by my dentist that a saltwater rinse kills bacteria as good as any mouthwash, so I use that and hubby does now too......much cheaper as well. Thankfully the staining has faded a lot on it's own now!

Thank you Sheila and Namelessone. I did phone and ask the dentist's receptionist what anaesthetic the dentist had used and she told me it was Lignocaine and that she only knew it had adrenaline in it. I have an underactive thyroid (treated with daily tablet) and have suffered panic attacks (2 with such a raised heart rate I ended up in A&E). The last time my heart rate stayed too high so I take a beta blocker (Bisoprolol) now to slow it, but it's still slow to come back down again eg if I walk fast. I did wonder at the time whether the injection had interfered with beta blocker action, but my heart rate didn't rise very much, just the horrid vibrating. My dentist seemed reluctant, but has put on my notes to have a different injection in future. I've had a broken tooth since 2021 which really needs sorting. I put it off with covid around but think I will go and see my doctor too Namelessone and see what he says. I'm glad you recovered even if it did take a few weeks and thank you for sharing your experience.

I’m glad to see your dentist has taken it seriously. It wasn’t my normal dentist that did my crown, but their ‘specialist’ ha ha. My own dentist was quite upset but it did seem to taken as a medical problem. ( I was, at one point, a digit away from being hospitalised) Be warned, the old injection can mean you need topping up on a long procedure.

I mentionedit at my pre op for my knee. The pPharmasist came for a chat, mostly because I had different meds to my form. He was intrigued about the problem as his mother had had something similar happen.