Let's talk teeth...

Saw my dentist today.  My teeth are getting pretty bad.  Didn't have that many problems before RNY.  Several crowns need to be replaced and a tooth had to be pulled.  My dentist thinks it is not a lack of absorbtion of nutrients.  He feels it is because of having a dry mouth at night.  A few months after surgery I would wake up with a dry mouth.  This has persisted for over a year.  I asked the dentist if there was anything that could be done.  He stated "no".  I asked him if I wore some type of night guard on the teeth, would that keep them moist.  He stated that it would for a while, but after that your mouth adjust to the guard and it would become dry again.  Someone with a million dollar idea to get rich...keeping my mouth moist during the night?  This is a common problem with RNY patients.  Thoughts??  Brian

Brian, A few years back I had a discussion with my dentist and asked about the connection of Calcium & Teeth. Someone (a previous moderator) was exclaiming out on the main board That our mal-absorption of Calcium led to Dental problems. My Dentist says NO!  He has quite a few Bariatric Patients... He explained it- “…by the age of 12 most of the Calcium That is going to go in or out of a tooth is Set, Calcium can ‘leach’ out of bones, but no record of it in teeth. Even people with severe osteoporosis have little to no change in teeth.  And, of the bones that can lose Calcium, the jawbones are less likely to lose calcium because they move and are impacted by chewing so they build calcium even when it is leaving other bones.” I thought that was good to share. When I was Obese, every ache and pain was always diagnosed as- “You’re extremely Overweight!” I just want to make sure that from now on every thing that happens Isn’t “blamed on” the Gastric Bypass. So, I ask a lot of questions. The dry Mouth? Yep.  Sounds like an issue. So is gums receding from teeth. Happens as a result of aging as well as weight loss. To overcome mouth dryness? (Xerostomia) Stay Super-Hydrated. So, you may have to get up in the night to go for a whiz But keeping hydration up Keeps saliva production up. For “( tips for overcoming ‘Dry Mouth?’) Checkout- HowStuffWorks/DryMouth

 

 

Best Wishes- Dx

 

Duh!!  I may have found the problem.  As I was thinking and reading DX's post and link it hit me.  I have been sleeping with an electric heater all this time.  Since I am cold all the time, I use an electric heater...dry heat!!  I wonder if that could be the cause.  I also like to keep the room at about 78...I am that cold.  Many a night I sleep in one of my daughter's bedrooms since they are away at college.  My wife can't stand that amount of heat, but I can't get enough.  I will try to stay hydrated just in case.  Brian

PS...I'll try a vaporizer in the room too.

Great ideas.  Do you know whether you breathe through your mouth at night?  That can also contribute to a dry mouth (at night).  Ask your wife! Lack of saliva is one of the most common reasons for gum disease and tooth loss. /Steve

Yepper, I had a good set of well taken care of choppers prior to WLS and was just informed a couple weeks ago that I've got to get 3 molars yanked out. I had x-rays 18 months ago so he did a new set at my 6 month cleaning and gave me the bad news. The dentist told me he'd only seen that much damage happen so quickly in a girl who was balemic. I posted a "not-so-fun fitness fact" a couple of weeks ago regarding teeth and the impact stomach acids have on teeth. I haven't really vomited that much once I figured out what my pouch could tolerate way back when.

So just to be sure I understand correctly...the loss of the teeth were due to the "stomach acid" from loosing your lunch and NOT from lack of taking your vitamins as required??  I am newbie to the whole WLS and just trying to make sure I am understanding this properly.

The dentist doesn't know for sure. I know it isn't due to me not taking my vitamins since I've been extremely anal about taking them every day and my 6 month labs have always been dead nuts on. All I can say is post-WLS, get your teeth x-rayed at least annually in order to catch any problems asap. I was on a 6-month cleaning and an 18-month x-ray regiment.  

Point taken my friend.....I just check with my dentist office to see if any of his patients had experienced issues with their teeth who had RNY,  the receptionist check with the dentist and he said that he hasn't had any issues. One thing that was suggested was to rinse well when the patient does loose their lunch, to be sure all the acid gets cleaned out. 

I know what Dx is saying...but I have to disagree.   I have a friend with 2 kids, when she was prego with the last one, she wasn't eating right  (long story) nor was she taking the vits she was suppose to take.  The baby leeched calcium from her teeth,  all her front teeth turned translucent and then broke one by one.  Granted that isn't  scientific evidence....but it is something to think about.  Teeth are part of your body, they are alive, they have nerves, they have blood supply, and I'm sure at some level they are effected by lack of vits and minerals. How are you D levels? PTH? How much calcium do you take a day? In addition, they can be effected by any acid reflux issues (shouldn't be a huge issue for a post op RNYer or DSer), and they can be effected by chronic vomiting, even eating highly acidic foods like lemons, or drinking highly acidic drinks like  lemonade can reduce your tooth enammel.  (so you know lemonade is more hazardous to your teeth then  coke......do you drink a lot of crystal light? or s/f products that have some type of acid in it?). My advice is to use one of those restoing mouth rinses after you brush like ACT.  I use one twice a day, once in the morning, and once at night.  I had read about this issue, and figured that I would be proactive....although for the record, I haven't had any additional issues since surgery. Scott