Going to the dentist is a necessity that most people dread.
But with all your dental horror stories, you can bet your dentist has seen worse.
Web heard from two dentists about the things their patients do that leave them horrified, and some will really make your skin crawl.
From licking the dentist’s fingers to leaving toenails in their mouths, here are the grossest things patients do.
Web heard from two dentists about the things their patients do that leave them horrified, and some will really make your skin crawl
Missing the bowl while spitting while the mouth is numb
Some procedures, such as tooth extraction or tooth fillings, require an anesthetic of the mouth.
But with the numbness comes a lack of control.
Cosmetic Dentist Sam Jethwa of Bespoke Smile in Marlow, Buckinghamshire says
One of his favorite haters is when patients miss the bowl while spitting up liquid.
He said: “Obviously losing control of the mouth means we may miss the bowl when rinsing and spitting.
“A lengthy cleaning process ensues for our assistants, but it is always a head-on-hand moment. For each.’
How your New Year’s health boost could ruin your TEETH: Juice cleanses, lemon water and oat milk can erode your enamel, trigger cavities and leave you with a yellow smile, dentists warn
Juice cleanses, lemon water and switching to non-dairy milk might be the health habits some want to adopt for the New Year. But experts told Web the trends could cause “long-term damage” to teeth and result in health fanatics needing the dentist
Licking the dentist’s fingers
That’s right, another disgusting thing patients do, according to Dr. Jethwa licking the dentist’s fingers.
The dentist, who is also vice-president of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, said: “The latex-free gloves we use are soft compared to traditional, old-fashioned ones, but they are not suitable for licking.
“It’s always funny when a patient has a curious tongue and wants their fingers licked.”
Shared toothbrushes with your partner
Have you ever forgotten your toothbrush and used your partner’s?
well dr Jethwa says that’s a big “No, no.”
He said: “Our gum specialist helps people with gum disease and tries to stop and save tooth loss.
“Of course, part of this is discussing existing cleaning habits.
“He recalled a couple of times patients mentioning that they share a toothbrush with their partner.
“As much as we love her — that’s a no, no.”
dr Ben Atkins, dentist and trustee of the Oral Health Foundation, previously said brushing your teeth can cause bleeding gums. So if you share a toothbrush, you could be sharing blood.
He added: “Brushing your teeth sometimes causes bleeding gums, which exposes anyone you share your toothbrush with to circulatory diseases.
“There are many hundreds of different bacteria and viruses in our mouths, and people sharing a toothbrush could be passing them on to others.
“While this can be something relatively harmless, like the common cold or a cold sore, if the person you’re sharing with has hepatitis B or HIV, they could also be transmitted through toothbrushing, with serious health consequences.”
With numbing of the mouth comes a lack of control, and Dr. Jethwa says one of his favorite haters is when patients miss the bowl while spitting up liquid (file photo).
Shake hands after putting them in your mouth
During the pandemic, shaking hands went out the window and was replaced with an elbow touch.
This was an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.
But as with other parts of life before the pandemic, the practice is creeping back, and Dr. Jethwa says it gets worse when patients put their hands in their mouths first.
He said, “Let’s just try it with clean hands and not hands that have just been in our mouths.”
Slurping noise when removing retainers
If you’ve ever had retainers — as many people had as teenagers — you might recognize this next one.
dr Jethwa says the “slurping” sound some patients make when removing retainers is “disgusting.”
He said: “If you’ve had them, you know that slurping sound you naturally make when we do them in private.
“That sound, I think we can all agree, is pretty gross.”
dr Sam Jethwa said: “The non-latex gloves we use are soft compared to traditional, old-fashioned ones, but they are not lickable. It’s always funny when a patient has a curious tongue and licks their fingers!’ (file photo)
leaving things in the mouth (like toenails)
Another nuisance for dentists is when patients leave things in their mouths, such as B. Toenails.
dentist dr Alan Clarke, clinical director at Paste Dental in Belfast, said he also found pencil leads, plastic sleeves, a live spider, several flies and chewing gum hidden behind a back tooth.
He said, “We always encourage patients to take care of their teeth and gum health, which means regular cleaning and flossing (to get rid of those cobwebs).”
don’t brush your teeth
It may seem obvious, but another hate from Dr. Clarke is when patients never brush their teeth.
He said: “We’re not talking about missing the night brush if you go to bed late or are struggling to stay awake after a long day at the office.
“We’re talking 15 to 20 years of not cleaning or never cleaning – period. Yes, it’s a surprise to us too, but we find it quite often.
“There are many things we can do, advise and help to promote optimal dental health, but the journey begins with patients accepting the important role they personally play in maintaining their oral health.”
dr Jethwa says the “slurping” sound some patients make when removing retainers — which have gold teeth on them — is “disgusting” (file photo).
DIY dentistry
We’ve all seen tutorials on how to whiten your teeth at home, but “DIY dentistry” goes much further, says Dr. Clarke.
He says he’s seen teeth whitened with household bleach and broken crowns cemented in place with furniture glue, nail polish and chewing gum!
dr Clarke said: “It’s dangerous, potentially toxic and a significant risk to your health. Please consult a licensed professional for confident dental treatment planning and care.
“We hate to see the damage you can do with minimal knowledge and desperation.”
dr Clarke once had a patient with gum disease who was trying to get his tooth glued back in.
He said: “I don’t know whether to be shocked, freaked out or sad but I personally found large lumps of Pritt stick in a patient’s mouth when they thought (don’t try this at home) sure why not stick put my loose tooth back in – with a soft white glue.’