Tooth Decay Symptoms

Getting your kids to brush their teeth can be a dreaded task for some parents. A lot of kids are uninterested in good oral hygiene and would rather eat candy than brush their teeth. It is important to teach your kids at an early age the importance of brushing their teeth and having a clean, white smile. As a parent, you must find ways to make brushing more fun. There are plenty of ways to do this especially with toothbrushes and toothpastes designed for younger kids. Here are some tips for keeping brushing teeth fun.

The first tip is to make it fun! You can do this by purchasing bright color toothbrushes or a brush with their favorite cartoon character on it. A lot of brushes are now designed for children. You can also let your kids pick out their favorite toothbrush from the store. Toothpaste it also made the same way, in bright colors, fun flavors, and characters on the toothpaste tube. Listening to music or brushing your teeth with your kids will also make it more fun.

Another great tip is to introduce brushing gradually. You should start by teaching your kids how to brush on a doll for example. You should also start with water and then introduced toothpaste at a later time. A lot of parents want to brush their kids’ teeth for them, but you should allow them to brush their own teeth as well. You can always follow up and brush for them after they have tried it themselves. Just as you brush your kids’ teeth, you can let them brush your teeth.

Introducing toothpaste should be done around 2 years old. Do not use a paste made for adults because the flavor can be too strong or spicy and this will make brushing a dreaded task instead of a fun one. Kid’s pastes are gentler and usually in a fun flavor such as bubble gum. Just use a dab at the beginning and then increase the amount when they are used to it.

While making teeth brushing fun, you should also teach your kids the proper technique. You can show them by brushing your teeth with them. Sometimes, the way you brush is more important than the amount you brush for. It can be a challenge to keep your kids brushing their teeth for a few minutes after every meal. This is where playing music can be a fun idea too. Play a short song while they are brushing, and when the song is over they will know they have brushed for long enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
What are the Symptoms of tooth Decay?
I have a kinda of a whole in my tooth.
I brush Everyday
I floss but don’t floss between where it it Decaying away because It doesn’t hurt but its makes me start shivering when i do it.
I cant go to the Dentist.
Will My tooth ever grow back or it will be like this forever?
If so How much would it cost to get this one tooth removed and get a new tooth.
- ANSWER:
  If there is pain, you will have a gum infection, or the decay has gone through the enamel of the tooth to the root. If this decay has hit the root, you will need a root canal, and a crown.
  
  Either way, go see your Dentist ASAP.
  
  The pain does not go away on it’s own.
QUESTION:
what is remedy for the disease symptoms decay tooth ,broken nail?
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
If symptoms of tooth decay are obvious, is it necessary for dentists to take that many x-rays?
The reason I ask this is that, my parents went to South America, and while there, my mom went to the dentist to get her teeth fixed, cause here in US it’s too expensive (they said it’d cost her total of 00). Anyways, when she went to a dentist there, it only cost her 0 for everything. She didn’t have to have a root canal or anything like they told her here. I asked my parents if they took x-rays and they said NO. Why? Because the doctor said that they are able to tell just by looking at a decayed tooth, in need of a root canal.

So, I googled, and here is the list of the symptoms of a tooth decay:
-Severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure
-Prolonged sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
-Discoloration (a darkening) of the tooth
-Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums
-A persistent or recurring pimple on the gums

You can tell just by reading the above that it’s obvious when a person needs a root canal, just by asking the patient. But when I went to my dentist, she took 4 or 5 x-rays, for pulling out a tooth and a root canal.

So why do dentists take so many x-rays? To be safe? To make money out of it? Or what?
- ANSWER:
  sometimes it is necessary because they want to see if it spread down to the root of your tooth. This can cause infections in your gum and if left unchecked it can spread through your body and cause other complications
QUESTION:
Can tooth decay cause neurological side effects?
I have been suffering from depersonalization disorder and have been unable to recover. My dad asked today if I had any dental problems. I have a wisdom tooth that came in sideways and has basically become a giant cavity because I cannot get the tooth brush to reach. I haven’t had it removed due to finances and he suggested that maybe this was attributing to my depersonalization symptoms. I know that tooth decay can cause physical health problems but wasn’t sure if it could cause neurological side effects. Anyone know the answer to this?
- ANSWER:
  Your mouth can effect alot in your body and your mouth health indicated your health all over, but it sounds like you knew that. any way stranger things have happened but I do believe that it can have a neurological effect, but I am only a dental assistant. If it is pressing on a nerve(which there are alot around and the pulp) then it is very very possible to be contributing to your problem. And would absolutely bring it up to your doctor the next time you go!! Hope I helped!!
QUESTION:
Tooth decay or wisdom teeth?
I’m not sure if the pain in my upper molar is caused by a tooth decay or wisdom teeth. When I chew anything, my teeth don’t hurt at all. My furthest upper molar hurts once in a while, but the pain goes away. So… what do you guys think and what are some symptoms of tooth decay and wisdom teeth?

P.S. I’m going to the dentist next week
- ANSWER:
  Of course, only your dentist can tell for sure where your pain is coming from. He’ll take some x-rays and talk to you about it.
  
  Most people describe the pain that comes with wisdom teeth as “pressure”. It kinda makes that side of your mouth hurt.
  
  The pain from decay is more likely to be felt in a specific area.
  
  Best wishes!
QUESTION:
Does this mean I have a tooth decay?
Just today I felt that when I chewed on food sometimes my upper jaw would hurt is this a symptom of tooth decay?
- ANSWER:
  Have you got or had gingivitis? because if so then it could be an gum infection that has spread to your jaw. Go and see a dentist and not a doctor.
QUESTION:
How can you tell if a tooth has decayed all the way to the root of the tooth. What are the symptoms?
I have a tooth in the back of my mouth that has a huge hole in it but I can not tell if the pain that I am having is because it has hit the root or not but everytime cold air or something like that hits it I have a throbbing pain for like 20 minutes.
- ANSWER:
  I have had the very same symptoms on teeth that were perfectly fine, just sensitive so it’s difficult to tell from symptoms. There may be a hole that looks big but is not deep. Just try and keep food away from that area until you get to a dentist. Good luck
QUESTION:
What symptoms can teeth decay in dogs cause?
My toy poodle mix is three years old, a year ago, I started noticing that his teeth were starting to decay, my dad and I went to the vet to check it out and the vet gave us a treatment plan, but it was 0, my dad cheaped out and convinced himself that he’s just a ‘dog’ and that the teeth decay will get better by itself, it’s been a year and I’ve notices his canines and his fourth premolars are much worse than before even though I’ve been brushing it every single day. I’m trying to convince my dad go to the vet to get another checkup, but he’s convinced it’ll go away if it’s ignored, or maybe he just wants to avoid spending money on the dog.
So my question is: what is the worst case scenario of diseases due to decayed teeth in dogs? And is there any way I can lessen the chances of these symptoms?
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
Are there always symptoms of an abcessed tooth?
I have a decayed tooth that’s been going on for a while…the tooth is basically gone except for a little tiny bit. Are there always symptoms before it gets infected or a time table of how long? I would get it treated but right now I’m a little short on cash. Thanks for any help.
- ANSWER:
  If the abscess has established a drainage tract, the infection will drain into the mouth and often there will be no pain. But if the drainage should block up the infection will cause swelling and pain. You are sitting on a ticking time bomb and I would attend to the tooth asap.
QUESTION:
is it possible to have a hole with no decay in your tooth?
i think i can feel a hole or gap in the side crease of a tooth. there is no dark brown or black or decay like symptom. it just feels like a gap. has anyone experienced this? thanks.
- ANSWER:
  I’m a certified dental assistant, and I actually have this on a couple of my teeth. Some teeth just have very deep grooves and it may feel like a hole. Also, teeth can have notches or enamel defects that just need to be watched because they can turn into cavities. If the spot on your tooth is not decay but still bothers you ask your dentist about getting a sealant. Just remember brush 3 times a day and floss at least once a day!!
QUESTION:
Is there a link between tooth decay and cardiovascular disease?
What exactly is the correlation between tooth decay and heart disease??? Does is include the young as well, or is it an indicator/symptom of just older people???
HELP!
- ANSWER:
  First it includes younger people as well as older people.
  
  The most well established link between the gums and heart disease is related to bacterial endocarditis. This is a serious infection of the lining of the heart. It has long been known that anything that causes bleeding in the mouth can seed bacteria into the bloodstream. Normally these germs are cleaned out of the blood stream by white blood cells within a few minutes. But in some people with some types of pre-existing heart disease (usually valvular heart disease or prosthetic heart valves) there is a predisposition to having these bacteria latch on to the damaged heart tissue, causing this serious infection. For this reason, it is recommended that patients with these kinds of heart damage be placed on antibiotics prior to having any dental treatment that is likely to cause bleeding.
  
  Your teeth and gums, it seems, speak volumes about your well-being. For starters, cavities and gum disease may point to diabetes or heart disease, and loose teeth could be a sign of osteoporosis.
  
  Bleeding gums, dry mouth, fungal infections, cavities. These oral signs might clue your dentist into a serious health issue: diabetes. And these symptoms also might suggest other serious conditions, such as HIV and leukemia.
  
  Diabetes and your mouth have blood sugar in common. If blood sugar levels are out of control in your body because you don’t know you have diabetes, they’re out of control in your mouth. With sugar to feed on, bacteria find a happy home in which to grow and thrive. The bacteria then attack the protective enamel layer on your teeth, and over time as the enamel breaks down, cavities develop which are one of the dental signs of diabetes.
  
  Good question by the way.
  Best wishes to you.
  
  Click these links for interesting articles regarding this:
  
  http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection
  
  http://www.dentistry.com/pbitesizeissues_02.asp
  
  http://www.aarp.org/bulletin/yourhealth/a2004-03-02-gumming.html
QUESTION:
Tooth decay causing eye pain?
My right eye feels very droopy, tired, pressured and it hurts when I look up or when I close my eyes.

Coincidentally, my top right tooth is very decayed and needs a root canal.

Can decayed tooth cause the symptoms I listed above?

I’m 20, male, healthy with ni other Illnesses
- ANSWER:
  Well no a decayed tooth cannot cause such a problem, but an infected tooth can cause a sinus infection which would lead to the symptoms you describe and I would recommend asking your dentist to check over and see if you need antibiotics because sinus infections from infected teeth can mean the bacteria is spreading which could end up in an abscess in the brain.
  
  hope this helps,
  3rd Year Dental Student
QUESTION:
Can a tooth decay cause medical problems?
Can a rotting wisdom tooth cause any medical problems? I have had medical problems for the past 2 years and no doctor has ever been ever to diagnose me. Symptoms included a low roaring back pain, urinary symptoms, pains into legs, burning on hands and feet and a stiff neck. Then i remembered i havn’t seen a dentist for a while. Then i noticed there is a wisdom tooth causing bad breath and it looks almost black. Is there any chance this could be the cause?
- ANSWER:
  It could. Tooth decay, if not taken care of, can get into your blood stream and cause all kinds of problems. Go to your dentist and see what he says.
QUESTION:
Is it true if Dentist leaves little decay inside a tooth while filling that eventually it will go away it self?
My dentist said she left a little decay inside because its near the nerve..And said if u get symptoms then it needs to be taken out or if u dont get them then the decay will go away on its own and no trouble at all..Is this possible?

Its bottom wisdom booth by the way at the back.

Thanks guys!.
- ANSWER:
  Your dentist is doing a “hail Mary” procedure called an indirect pulp cap. The theory is that calcium hydroxide is placed in this deep area. With time it will cause the nerve (pulp), to recede and in the future, the tooth can be gone into and the remaining decay removed without drilling into the pulp and for certain causing the need to have a root canal done. My guess is that you may have a 25% chance of this working. She may be giving it every possible chance to heal and be okay without needing a root canal (which I would never do on a wisdom tooth) or an extraction. Good luck to you.
QUESTION:
I have bad teeth. tooth decay and gingivitis. no dental insurance. Can tooth decay affect other parts of body?
I have had high blood pressure for the past two years and my teeth may be the problem. Other symptoms may be muscle pains and spasms,constant exhaustion, anxiety, foul taste in mouth after eating, etc. Any help from someone with similar problem would be appreciated.Could this be the root cause?What about chest pains and nervous system effects?
- ANSWER:
  the bacteria from your mouth(due to tooth decay) can go to any part of your body. remember the nerve in your tooth is connected to many body parts. and yeah it can get into your bloodstream as well and do a whole lot of damage to your body. so try to get it fixed soon.
QUESTION:
About tooth decay??
Is it true that Streptococcus mutans is the main bacteria that is the cause of tooth decay. How does Streptococcus mutans invade the human body and what system does it affect?? What are the symptoms that are associated with this disease?? Is the disease fatal or can it be treated?? If it can be treated, how long does it take to get over the illness??
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
PLEASE HELP! 16 MONTH OLD BABY TOOTH DECAY?
I think my 16 month old baby has tooth decay? Two of his pointy teeth started coming in. At first they were coming out white, but earlier I brushed my sons teeth and notice they were brown and blood was coming out!! His whole top gum seems swollen! He was crying and screaming when I tried touching his teeth. He won’t chew anything. I do give him milk in a bottle. But I do brush his teeth twice a day. I know that doesn’t make up for me being a horrible mom. But is it tooth decay? If he has tooth decay, how is it treated? Does giving water in a bottle cause tooth decay? Does tooth decay cause fevers? He has had a fever since Sunday, but doctor says he’s fine. Cause he doesn’t have any other symptoms and he’s active. I AM CALLING THE DENTIST AND PEDIATRICIAN TOMORROW!
- ANSWER:
  His gums being swollen and bleeding sounds more like an infection to me. Also coupled with the fever. I doubt it’s decay, but I hope he’s okay. Good luck at the dentist~
QUESTION:
How can I slow down tooth decay / Do I need a root canal?
I went to the dentist today to determine if a hole in my tooth was a cavity. It was, and he also found 3 other smaller cavities. These three are going to be filled, but he said the deep one is close to the pulp, which means it might require a root canal (he said he won’t know for sure until he drills). I have an appointment on April 30th to get three of them, including the deep one, taken care of.

Today is April 18th. I don’t know if I’m being paranoid, but the last thing I want is for the deep cavity to get infected or progress further.

The only time it hurts is when something hard gets forced into it, then I bite down again and put pressure on it. No swelling of the gums, no extra sensitivity, no other symptoms that would indicate infection. So my questions would be 1) What can slow the decay, if anything?, and 2) How can I determine if I NEED a root canal (i.e. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on something I don’t absolutely need)?
- ANSWER:
  hey, well you need 3 things for tooth decay to occur
  1) sugar
  2) a tooth
  3) time
  
  All i can suggest is that you continue to brush you r teeth 2x a day and floss between your teeth and rinse with mouthwash. mouthwash and toothpaste contain fluoride whigh help strengthen the tooths surface. also avoid a sugary diet.
  
  Ultimately you cant tell if you need a root canal treatment. the tooth may not be sore now as it is borderline. if the tooth is tender to bite on it is suggestive of an infection at the root end of the tooth, meaning the decay has reached the nerve and the tooth is dying so it needs a root canal treatment.
  speaking as a dentist, sometimes on an xray decay can look very close to the nerve of the tooth. it is only by opening up the tooth and cleaning away all the decay that we can determine if the nerve of the tooth is exposed so i think your dentist wants to invetigate the situation.
  
  hope i helped you.
  good lcuk with treatment
  mx
QUESTION:
Dental caries, tooth decay: Define and causes… (easy 10 points!)?
Hey there I have an assignment on Dental Caries. Here are the questions:

1)Definition and the causes

2)Symptoms

3)HOW DIET CAN BE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF THE DISEASE.

I am just trying to get more ideas to help me out. Thank you so much! bestt detailed answer get an easy 10p :) ty!!!
- ANSWER:
  Pretty much all there is to say to the topic:
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_caries
QUESTION:
tooth ache but no decay?
so about 5 days ago i developed a slight dull tooth ache on one of my upper right molars. i suspected it was a cavity because i hadnt been to the dentist in a few years. so today i went to the dentist, he felt the tooth and took xrays. he said theres no sign of decay. he did however say that the sinuses are suppose to show up dark on the xray, but mine showed up white and cloudy meaning that they could be inflamed or infected, however I have no sinus infection symptoms except for a bit of pain now (which i thought was from my tooth). my tooth ache is getting worse now though. it hurts much more, and now hurts when i chew which it didnt before. im worried that he may of missed it or something and i actually do have a cavity. Does his theory make sence (sinus infection) even though I have no congestion or any other symptom?? Thanks!
- ANSWER:
  I had the same problem. And I went to the dentist today and told him, now he is having me get my wisdom teeth pulled out
  Maybe on your end, you should try that sensitive tooth paste… that stuff that builds up sensitive teeth? idk I’m not a dentist lol
QUESTION:
Is it serious if i have a little dull tooth ache during sleep but goes away during the day?
I had a bottom wisdom tooth filling about 5 days ago..The Dentist did she say she left little decay in because it was near the nervve and that i might get symptoms…I only get a little dull ache when am lying down but still can sleep a bit, but wake up every 3 hours or so..But goes away during day..Is this normal? i mean wouldnt the pain get worse durig day if it was that bad?.

Thanks.
- ANSWER:
  You probably clench your teeth during sleep.
QUESTION:
How do you know if you have a cavity or are in need of a root canal?
All of a sudden yesterday while eating a popsicle my upper left tooth started throbbing. Now the pain comes and goes, and it’s worse when eating. But I can’t tell which tooth it is as none are sensitive to touch, and it feels like it’s radiating to my bottom teeth.

I’m trying to judge the severity of my situation, and I’m just wondering what the differences are between just needing a cavity filled or having tooth decay so bad that you need a root canal. What are the symptoms of each?
- ANSWER:
  if the pain is coming from pressure on the tooth, like chewing food, it means the root is fractured and you need a root canal.
  
  the dentist can tell very quickly whether it’s decay, abscess, or a damaged tooth. Don’t mess around. I know it’s bothersome and expensive but you’ll only have one set of teeth.
QUESTION:
Treatment for cracked tooth? Help!?
Below are my symptoms that was diagnosed as cracked tooth on my first upper molar

1) No visible signs of cracks/tooth decay upon physical examination
2) X-rays do not show up anything unusual (for eg no abscess, no signs of
cracks, no tooth decay)
3) Pain when bite
4) Tooth is sensitive to cold
5) Light can only pass through half/one side of the molar (upon shining the luminous blue torch light,)

What are the alternative treatments other than root canal/crowning?
If light can only pass through half/one side of the molar (upon shining the luminous blue torch light,) does it really that the tooth is cracked? or it can be due to other causes?
i also gotten periodic sharp pain on teeth, tho’ its not persistant. Would i be able to avoid root canal and just do a crowning?
- ANSWER:
  That’s a pretty good description that you give. Depending on how much the root canal is affected (how sensitive to cold it is), you may not need the root canal treatment. However I would still recommend a crown for sure… I know of no other good treatments for this kind of thing besides a crown. A basic rule of thumb regarding cold sensitivity on teeth: if you get cold on it, but then you take the cold off, and the tooth continues to be irritated… if the tooth continues to be irritated for 10 seconds or longer, that is often an indication that the tooth will need a root canal (usually at this point, the tooth just continues to get more and more sensitive until it turns into a toothache). If the tooth is irritated for less than 10 seconds, lots of times it will get better [For other readers, this is in regards to a cracked tooth without caries...don't use this rule of thumb for other types of cold sensitivity.]. This would be monitored over time. In your case, if cold sensitivity was borderline, my recommendation probably would be to do a temporary crown in to see if the sensitivity got better. If it did not, I would recommend a root canal. If it did get better I would just do the crown.
  
  I suppose an alternate treatment would be a full coverage silver filling (amalgam), but even with this the crack could continue to propagate and you could still end up losing the tooth. And just so you know, there isn’t a 100% guarantee that the crown will work… much depends on how far the crack has gone. The sooner you do the crown the better chance that the crack will not run all the way through the tooth in the long run. Best wishes.
  
  PS the other answer is also correct…Extracting the tooth is an option. An implant may also be an option depending on the location and the amount of bone available.
QUESTION:
Will brushing your teeth right after throwing up prevent enamel decay?
They say that a symptom from Bulimia is yellow teeth because the acid in throw up destroys your tooth enamel. Wouldn’t brushing your teeth after throwing up just prevent that my cleaning the acid out of your mouth though…?
- ANSWER:
  No, the acid from your stomach has already ruined your teeth upon impact.
QUESTION:
how do you know if you have an abscessed tooth?
My gum was swollen couple times before but it went away on its own and I also used salt water like 2 years ago to get rid of it after that my gum was never swollen..

But I happened to find slightly pink/whitish bump on my gum on top of my mouth and i had it for couple days now. i basically used salt water to make it go away listerine.. it is slowly dissolving and its getting smaller

I have gingivitis. I spent the couple days trying to floss and bush my teeth as thoroughly as I can.

But how do I know if its an abscessed tooth for sure? I don’t feel any symptoms or pain at all.. It kind of tickles when I touch my mouth. Although I do have a tooth that feels tickly as well.

2 years ago the dentist nearly tried to destroy my tooth and causing me to feel alot of pain cuz he stuck a needle in between my gum and teeth and it hurt when I ate sometimes especially when I drank something cold, It hurt like crazy.

ALso if the abscessed tooth goes away, is there any side effects or is there something bad going to happen like tooth decay even if it is slowly going away?

I am planning to see the dentist when it gets smaller and goes away which it is slowly doing.
- ANSWER:
  yes your gum will swell.swelling wont go down on its own.you have to go to the dentist and he gives you antibiotics
QUESTION:
My 4 month old puppy has a broken, rotten looking canine and what appears to be a small hole in a diff tooth?
I have a half min pin half yorkie who is 4 months old. When I got him (at 10 weeks) he had a broken canine that also looks rotten. He got a slight eye infection and I took him to the vet. The vet told me his eye infection was not a problem and was not severe enough to worry about. When i showed him the tooth he looked around the puppies mouth and found a hole or indent in one of his front teeth. The vet told me that it is not normal for a dog his age to have tooth decay like that (the hole.) He left the room and came back with a print out from google and told me my puppy has Distemper. I read the print out and it said that the puppy would have runny nose, calusus on his feet etc. It does state that Distemper effects the teeth but my puppy doesn’t have any of the other symptoms. Should I believe the vet? I have separated him from my other dog in fear she would get sick from him. Would there be any other reason his teeth would be in such bad shape? When I called the breeder she said that Yorkies are known for their bad teeth, is that true? At such a young age? Please help!! Im scared for my lil guy
- ANSWER:
  While reading this I had to wonder what kind of diet he was on before you got him,because it can affect their teeth. I agree doesn’t sound like distemper to me and I saw plenty of it. Yeah that is way too young, You sound like a pretty smart cookie to me. You know I’m so old I remember when a mixed dog like that was called mutt. Now people sell them. Times sure do change don’t they.
QUESTION:
Was it wise to have Wisdom tooth removed?
I have had a troubled lower right 7th molar problem, as quarter of the tooth fell out due to decay. I saw a few dentists and they all recommended to have it removed to allow my lower right 8th molar (wisdom tooth) come in it’s place. They also suggested to have the other 3 wisdom teeth removed due to crowding of me teeth, yet all 3 wisdom teeth are growing normally vertically.

I had to wait two months to get these teeth removed yet during that time I questioned if I ACTUALLY NEED to remove the wisdom teeth as they were fine in terms of growing vertically and the top were discoloured yet I was told by my dentist that they were rotting, which now I know was total BS! As there is no pain and symptoms associated with decay. Also the price getting teeth removed in Australia is pretty high, that also played on my mind. If it was even necessary!

So it came down to having the bad lower right 7th molar removed and my top right 8th molar (wisdom tooth) removed (as food did get stuck in this tooth after eating and I am a bit of a lazy bones when it comes to brushing that far.) Now I regret getting my wisdom tooth removed as it was a totally health tooth.

I know this removal doesn’t directly affect my health yet I don’t believe removal of the wisdom tooth will benefit my teeth in having more room for my top teeth. I now think braces would help to fully correct my alignment and over bite of my teeth.

If you have any experience in dentistry what is your opinion on removal of wisdom teeth for overcrowding? or If you have had wisdom teeth removed for overcrowding has it helped you after the removal?
- ANSWER:
  i think you were right to remove the upper right 8. and i do personally think that removal of the other 2 wisdom teeth would have been a good idea – baring in mind what you have said:
  
  the lower right 8 is now going to function as the lower right 7.
  
  you have admitted to being a lazy bones when it comes to cleaning far back in your mouth and the fact that the 7 had rotted so badly that it needed extracted backs up your dentist saying you already have early decay in the other wisdom teeth. He wouldn’t lie about that – you don’t always have pain from decay, usually when it gets really bad, so early decay wouldn’t provide symptoms.
  
  It’s easy to think that dentists suggest treatments only to make money, and maybe there are certain cases where this might happen, but in this situation removal of these teeth will save you a lot of money in the future. Your situation sounds like a potential gold mine…decaying wisdom teeth, and over crowding leading to braces (which in most cases call for removal of teeth) is going to earn a dentist a lot more money than simple wisdom tooth removal.
  
  There are 3 molar teeth (6, 7, and on each side of the mouth. The wisdom teeth on the left side of your mouth might very well be coming in straight but as you have now lost the 7 on the right hand side , and the 8 taking it’s place, upsets the symmetry of your dentition. This will cause drifting and uneaven-ness. the centre line of the teeth can move.
  
  Don’t feel bad about your decision to go ahead with the one wisdom tooth removal. It was right to take it out. Also, if you have the money and time, i would reconsider removal of the other 2 .
QUESTION:
What are the cavity symptoms?
I have a small black dot on my tooth. The tooth is not decayed. There is no pain on the tooth. I tried to brush it off but nothing. I drink a lot of soda with caffiene is it just a stain? I overeact to everything btw.
How big could it get in a week? My appointment is next week.
- ANSWER:
  It’s probably a cavity…but a VEEEERRRYYY tiny tiny one. I had one juuuust like it, and I got it fixed without a needle, and trust me it didn’t hurt ONE BIT, (this coming from someone who overreacts and obsesses about things…! ) Visit your dentist to get it fixed before it get’s bigger.
QUESTION:
Unexplained headaches, can my tooth be causing it?
I’ve done all kinds of testings over the years. MRI’S, CT SCANS, X-RAYS, BLOOD WORK, ETC. They can’t find a cause of my headache.

I’ve always had a really decayed tooth on my upper right, but never payed much attention to it because it came and went. However, lately the tooth has gotten extremely painful and I plan on seeing the dentist tomorrow.

However, I’m reluctant to see him because I don’t have dental insurance (yet) and I’d rather not ‘waste’ any money if possible.

Now as far as my symptoms goes; My headache feels like a dull pinched nerve. My eye is very droopy as if the nerves won’t allow it to open up. I feel it on the right side of my head around the temples, above the eyes, behind the head and ontop of the head. I don’t really feel any ‘shooting’ pains, it’s more of a constant tight/pinched feeling.

Second, my right ear feels full. Everytime I swallow, my ears pop really uncomfortable and I occasionally get shooting pains .

Third, my right shoulder gets sore and has unexplained muscle knots on it.

Fourth, my right jaw is achy.

All my symptoms are right-sided, which my infected tooth happens to be coincidentally on the upper right. Coincidence or probable?
- ANSWER:
  If the pain is not coming from an infected tooth, the next two things to consider in order of probability is TMJ disease, and then a sinus infection. Good luck
QUESTION:
Could teeth grinding do all this damage?
symptoms
sore jaw
shifting teeth
gum recession
teeth decay
And i dont have wisdom teeth
My dentist says my teeth grinding caused all of this? Is it possible
Ive had trouble with dentists in the past
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
Can a molar that has had a root canal & covered with a crown become infected?
What symptoms should I look for? I’ve been told the original tooth is starting to decay. I have no pain no swelling, but achiness in the thoracic area, I also hav e Asthma & experiencing difficulty breathing shortness of breath. have had an EKG yesterday, it was good
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
I am 25 years old, and have major health problems such as thinning hair, decaying teeth, dry skin, and fatigue?
I am all of 110 pounds and tried to gain weight as well. Im just wondering if all of these symptoms could be related? I have tried iron Pills, please someone help!
- ANSWER:
  Have you had your thyroid checked? These symptoms could be related to an underactive thyroid. Some of these symptoms can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies. Depending on any prescription/over the counter medicine (you mentioned iron) that you take, you might try a daily multivitamin if you feel your diet may not be as balanced as it should be. I would see a doctor soon in case it is your thyroid, left untreated can lead to some more serious health concerns. Good luck and good health!
QUESTION:
What Are The Symptoms…?
What are the symptoms of a cavity?

What are the symptoms of a root canal?

Does a lingering slight aching-throbbing pain always indicate root canal is needed?

If xrays were taken in October that show no decay near the pulp,… could it have progressed to the pulp by now?

Does tapping always indicate root canal is needed?

Are there any tests I can do that will determine that root canal is likely needed… i.e.: Ice test, tap test, heat test?

My symptoms are: As of yesterday an old filled tooth started hurting after eating cold cereal. A alight aching-throb is best to describe it. It still hurts a little. It is not sensitive to heat. Tap is a little sensitive. Any advice is very appreciated. Going to DDS next week. Thanks.
- ANSWER:
  More than likely your filling is eroding, my dentist said that they do that. If it is a big filling you sill probably need to have it removed and the tooth crowned. You normally only need a root canal in the case of an infection which usually is noticeable because you would be in a lot of pain with facial swelling.
QUESTION:
7 months pregnant and have a sore thoart what should I do?
22 years old, 7 months pregnant my symptoms are:

sore throat* hurts when i swallow
the back of my throat is red
fatigue
i have 2 cavaitys in my mouth & the two teeth are decaying.

I want to make a dr. apt. asap but since it’s the weekend & the 4th of July is on Monday no one is opened. What should I do ?
- ANSWER:
  Get some of that numbing spray from wal greens or cvs or ur local drug store. That numbing spray makes it feel all better and yes, it’s made for ur throat! Suck on ice cubes, eat Popsicles or ice cream something cold:)
QUESTION:
Abcessed tooth while Pregnant?
I’ve had a troublesome wisdom tooth for quite some time now. Eventually it broke off and is now decaying. Or should I say, all the way decayed. Gross I know :/ I didn’t previously have dental insurance and it cost too much to treat.

Now the tooth is pretty much all the way gone but my whole mouth is KILLING me. and it’s very sensitive to touch. Also, there’s a nasty taste I get in my mouth, and food gets stuck back there all the time. It’s so disgusting.

I am now 6 weeks pregnant, is there anything I can do?! Or did I wait to long?

Are these, in fact, symptoms of an abcessed tooth? If so, what needs to be done since the tooth is already gone?!
- ANSWER:
  Call your dentsit ASAP, first treatment is antibiotics for the infection then the tooth will need to be removed. Only your dentist can assess exactly what needs to be done and when.
QUESTION:
Fever for 3 days now?
I have a soon-to-be 2 year old who has been running a fever for about 3 days now(fevers are responding to Motrin) He really has no other symptoms except an order coming from his mouth while nursing. He does have some tooth decay(bottle related carries) which is in the process of being treated but never have I noticed an order coming from his nose before while he was nursing. I am contemplating taking him to ER as I a concerned he may have some sort of infection.
Any input will be greatly appreciated!
- ANSWER:
  A fever is generally the body’s way of fighting infection. The caries could be causing the odour – and quite possibly the fever too. Have you tried infant paracetamol? Otherwise he’s so young – it might be best to have him checked out. Prolonged fever in one so young shouldn’t be ignored.
QUESTION:
drug addiction advice?
what drug causes these symptoms
1, weight loss
2, greyish skin colour
3,tooth decay
4,(possibly slurring words)
- ANSWER:
  Once an error is clearly and fully understood, it need not be repeated. Addiction is to the false Self. Drugs and Alcohol are just self-medication trying to alleviate the pain caused by that addiction…
  Find more tips about drug addiction treatment here:
  
  http://the-drug-addiction-treatment.blogspot.com/
QUESTION:
is this normal with braces?
I have had my braces for just over a month and my tightening is next month, is it normal that there is some sensitivity when i eat there is no pain associated just a little uncomfortable at times and it pushes hard but there is no real pain. Also I have one tooth at the top which is a little loose but its not wiggling its just moving a little, is this because of the braces straightening and moving the teeth? Also what are the symptoms of decay associated with braces, I dont think i have it i just want to make sure.
- ANSWER:
QUESTION:
Tooth Infection and Health dangers? 3 years of infection…?
Im so curious to know if my bad tooth damaged any part of my body as there was no visible symptoms…
three years ago my tooth broke and it was empty…as I was so lazy and dentist was so far from me I never went to doctor…till a week ago that another part of it broke too and it was difficult me for now to eat food…
now its treated and filled…doctor told me the root was so inflamed and decayed…

I wonder in 3 years what damaged it did to my body…expect that food was always stuck in the cavity…and jaw and gum around the area had a minor pain and bad smell!!!!
- ANSWER:
  If it was going to have done something it probably would have done it and you would have noticed.
  
  But yea.. yuck..
QUESTION:
Do you know health? If so answer these questions?
A one-ounce slice of boiled ham has 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. What is the total number of calories found in the ham?

40 calories
55 calories
65 calories
90 calories

24. Bulimia is a condition described by which of the following?

self-imposed starvation
a binge-purge regime to control weight
a metabolic disorder in which the victim cannot break down food
intake of excessive vitamins and minerals

25. What are the effects of exercise on the bones?

It increases calcium deposits in the bones.
It weakens the muscles that support the bones.
It increases the risk of arthritis in the joints.
It makes bones brittle, weak, and subject to fracture.

26. What is the recommendation by the New Food Guide Pyramid for the amount of physical activity a teenager should get weekly?

be physically active one to two times a week for 45 to 60 minutes
be physically active four times a week for 15 minutes each
be physically active every day or most days for 60 minutes
be physically active seven days a week for 90 minutes

27. What is your appetite?

desire for food
physical need for food
illness caused by the lack of nutrients
basal metabolic rate

28. If an athlete experiences low blood pressure, thirst, dry skin, and mental confusion, what nutrient may be lacking?

protein
carbohydrates
fats
water

29. Which of the following is a long-term benefit of aerobic exercise?

decreased energy expenditure
decreased levels of stress
increased heart rate
increased blood pressure

30. What effect does exercise have on a person?

It decreases the amount of oxygen needed by the blood.
It decreases the heart size, increasing the strength of the contractions.
It decreases the heart output and work the heart muscle must do.
It decreases the amount of cholesterol/fat in the blood vessels.

31. Which of the following activities provides the greatest aerobic benefits?

baseball
golf
swimming
tennis

32. Sue Jane tries to do thirteen sit-ups and then cannot do any more. What component of Sue Jane’s fitness needs to be improved?

body composition
flexibility
strength
endurance

33. Robert tries to reach behind his back and finds out that he can’t do it. What component of Robert’s fitness needs to be improved?

body composition
flexibility
strength
endurance

34. What disorder is associated with self-imposed starvation and an obsession with thinness?

obesity
anorexia nervosa
bulimia nervosa
binge eating

35. Brendan wants to improve the health of his heart. What type of exercise would you recommend to him?

flexibility
strength
anaerobic exercise
cardiovascular endurance

36. What Body Mass Index range is normal?

13-19
20-27
28-35
36-45

37. Andrea has been feeling very tired and she looks pale. What mineral should she take to increase the number of red blood cells her body produces as well as her oxygen-carrying capacity?

fluoride
calcium
potassium
iron

38. Which of the following is NOT a sign or symptom of anorexia nervosa?

loss of menstrual cycles or periods
low blood pressure
increased sore throats and tooth decay
increased dry, scaly, cold skin

39. In America, what is the MOST significant factor which unconsciously encourages eating disorders?

The availability and low cost of food
The current trend of physical fitness and health
The emphasis on being thin and social acceptance
The advertisements for organic foods and products

40. What type of body tissue burns the most calories, even when the person is sleeping?

bone
fat
nervous tissue
muscle

41. What seems to be a major cause of eating disorders?

low self-esteem
excellent organizational skills
good family relationships
a positive outlook on life

42. Which disorder is characterized by a craving to eat non-foods due to a mineral deficiency?

pica
obesity
bulimia nervosa
anorexia nervosa

43. Which disorder is related to OCD and causes a person to be overly concerned with a body defect?

binge eating
obesity
body dysmorphic disorder
anorexia nervosa

44. Which of the following is a complication of bulimia nervosa?

tooth decay
growth of lanugo
los
- ANSWER:
  I found this great new website, all you have to do is type in your questions, and you immediately get all the answers you need. It’s called www.google.com
QUESTION:
Any Dentists out there, I have several questions please help!?
I need an actual dentist to answer this for me please. I am 30 year old female, I have 3 children. I have very bad teeth. I always brushed them but they started to decay during my first pregnancy. The decay almost always starts from the gum line. I have had 6 teeth pulled so far and as far as I can tell, almost every tooth left has started to, or is well into, decay. Slivers come out, sometimes chunks. Brushing them hurts beyond words even with sensitive toothpaste. I do smoke (in process of quitting now go nicorette gum!) and I do drink soda. I was told by my last dentist that it was cause of my pregnancies, now another dentist is saying it isn’t and actually said it looked like ‘meth mouth’ but I do not and have never done meth or any other drugs. I took vitamins during pregnancy, my kids are close in age (9,11,12). Most of my family either has teeth bad, worse or none at all left. I was told by this dentist to use a spin brush, I just got one finally (yes i’m poor), and i had a good sized chunk fall out an hour later. I’m constantly with abscess’s and swallowing the poison from the infections. I have no symptoms of mouth cancer or gingivitis though. Could this be genetic and what would it be called? Can pregnancy cause tooth decay? What are the different disorders or diseases that could be the cause of this decay? Please, if there is a dentist out there can you answer these questions? I am about to take updated pictures of my teeth if a dentist needs to see it. Also if anyone has suggestions for financial assistance to get them fixed or even dentures at this point, that would be awesome.

To add here. I have been on many different kinds of bi-polar/depression/anxiety meds, I’ve taken hydrocodone more often than not throughout the past 12 years just for this as well as chronic pain and migraines. I’ve taken enough antibiotics to kill a herd of horses. I used to eat sweets often but during the past three years I rarely do and during the past year i may eat a total of one cookie every two weeks if that cause it hurts too much. I used to drink sweet tea all the time. I do still brush but very very carefully and only once a day with very little paste cause of the pain.
I was planning on taking updated pictures but I can’t, webcam is horrible.
In response to Dr. Miller. I know my teeth won’t get better..its just one of those parts of the body that cannot heal after the damage is done and I accept that. The only reason i am condoning myself to dentures is because at least right now i cannot afford to get several root canals and caps, bridge work, fillings and the like. I also blame myself for part of the reason they are like they are but my hygeine only got less here recent when it became too painful to brush like i would normally. When i brush like normal there is instant sharp pain that shoots through my mouth from different caries going through the bones of my face, down my throat and to my temples, it will last for hours afterwards. I did as a dentist said and used the spin brush only to have more chunks fall out but I’m going to keep using it. I just wanted to know if and what the name of the disorder/disease is that can be passed on genetically that can cause what I have.
- ANSWER:
  Pregnancy does not cause tooth decay nor does it cause the “calcium to be sucked from your teeth” as I have heard as an excuse for poor oral hygiene over the years. Hormones from pregnancy can cause gingivitis, but that’s about it.
  
  Contributing factors to your decay can include your meds. A lot of meds cause dry mouth which speeds up the process of dental decay.
  
  Another factor is diet. You said you used to eat sweets and drink sodas a lot. Decay at the gumlines is usually seen in people who constantly bathe their teeth in sugars. I also see it in meth mouth.
  
  The biggest factor is poor hygiene. From your description, your hygiene is not where it should be. A dentist can instruct you on what you need to do.
  
  Finally it sounds like you have rampant decay everywhere. I am also guessing you have not gotten this fixed. Dentistry never gets cheaper or less invasive over time. Don’t condemn yourself to dentures by not restoring your mouth. Don’t expect things to get better either.
  
  Good luck to you.
QUESTION:
Chest tightness…?
Could having chest tightness for several weeks still be heart related? I have had this tightness for several weeks, off and on…mainly on. It doesn’t hurt, it just feels a bit tight. I am not having trouble breathing. I have no other bothersome symptoms. I did quit smoking right before this started…I don’t know if that’s related. I do have tooth decay in my mouth…which is getting fixed next week…seriously wondering if that could be related. I do have some issues with panic and anxiety. In fact, since this started, I have been having panic attacks up to 4 and 5 times a day.

Go to the doctor…I KNOW. Unfortunetly, my insurance will not kick in til the end of the month. Looking for some ideas now…Any suggestions and opionions are welcomed…serious answers only.

THANKS TO ALL!
Detail I should have added…if I press on my chest it feels more sore….I don’t know if that makes a difference.
- ANSWER:
  It can be anything. Heart attack…Maybe pericarditis (inflamation of the heart, membrane around the heart fills with liquid) Pericarditis is usually caused by an infection nose,mouth that can travel down to the heart.
  
  Dont know if they can work on your mouth if you are suffering from chest pains.
  
  Go to your local fire house. Firefighters have heart monitor and tell them what you are feeling. They’ll probably (strongly) recommend you go to the hospital, if they give you the option, or take you themselves.
  GO TO the hospital, you can be causing yourself more problems by waiting.
  NO hospital will not accept you for not having insurrance, especially if you are having chest pains….
QUESTION:
What is wrong with me? Hypothyroidism? Pituitary hypothyroidism? Hashimoto’s? Leukemia? ?
I’m 19, about 5 feet tall, 116 lbs. African-American.
History: Most of the symptoms I have I’ve had for years, but being raised in a family that pushed me to “just deal with it” whenever I complained about feeling sick Iwas forced to push myself. I’m in a much better situation, but since I’ve been here my health has consistently been declining and I’ve developed anxitey which keeps getting worse. Life before this year was pretty close to unbearably stressful including freuqent sporadic bouts of homelessness all throughout my life as well as other traumatic events. I thought maybe it could be ptsd or GAD, but the anxitey just began now that I’m removed from the stressful situation and placed into a stable one, same with my body pretty much breaking down. Through-out my developmental years I abused a variety of pills (Been clean for awhile.) as well as ingesting mass amounts of soy (vegetarian for eight years) and starting birth control at 14. Family has a history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, addiction. Possibly a history of hypothyroid, but only one family member is officially diagnosed ,four people total with parallel symptoms though.

Symptoms including, but not limited to: Dry, brittle hair & scalp, hair loss, dry skin, several different kinds of recurring headaches (center of head between ears mostly), weight flucuations ,Hirsutism, irregular periods, infertility, acne, visual disturbances (three dots in a triangular formation), bleeding gums, tooth decay, sporadic dizziness, loss of motor control, slurred speech, fevers (past 2 month), menstrual irregularities, infertility, sinuses hurt constantly throughout ears and face, several serious sinus infections over the years, “lump stuck in throat” feeling, swelling under her chin sometimes, heartburn, stabbing chest pains (really painful almost incapacitating), heart palpitations, back & shoulder pain (excruciating, chronic), trouble digesting food, no appetite, possible gall bladder problems, daily nausea, muscle weakness, joint pain, chronic yeast infections over the years (generally very prone to infection), “tingling” in limbs kind of like they fell asleep but more intense of a pins & needles feeling, lack of energy, shortness of breath., lump on her arm about a centimeter or so high, what feels like carpal tunnel, insomnia, serious anxiety. Temperature. is very low in the morning and high at night. She’s extremely sensitive to cold, sensitive to light(sometimes it causes her to vomit or pass out)
We’re worried that the ranges of normality might be off considering she’s a pretty tiny person and i guess wouldn’t have the same range of normality as someone who is of average height and weight or someone that hasn’t been on birth control on and off since they were 14

Theories have been put forth that it could be either depression in general (it absolutely isn’t), 1.pituitary or secondary hypothyroid, 2.Adrenal failure originating in the pituitary gland( due to what seems like bouncing between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid) 3. Leukemia (due to her wbc being on the high end and her rbc being on the low end) or some Autoimmune disease (due to her lymphocyte count being on the high end and her monocyte count being on the low end)
Doctors are just pretty much refusing to listen to her tell them her symptoms or perform tests, especially if they know her history. Or they tell her it’s anxiety or depression because her results are “within range”.
Here are a lot of test results, if you can make any sense out of them I’d really appreciate it:
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 13
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 48 (IU/L)
LDH 115 (IU/L)
AST (SGOT) 15 (IU/L)
ALT (SGPT) 14 (IU/L)
pH 6.0
Free T4 1.28 (ng/dL)
TSH 1.051 (uIU/mL)
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab <10 (IU/mL)
free t3 3.3 (pg/mL)
antithyroglobulin ab siemens (DPC) ICMA Method <20 IU/ML --40
WBC 8.6 (x10E3/uL)
RBC 4.13 (x10E6/uL)
Hemoglobin 12.3 (g/dL)
Hematocrit 36.2 (%)
RDW 12.7 (%)
Platelets 344 (x10E3/uL)
Neutrophils 46 (%)
Lymphs 49 (%)
Monocytes 4 (%)
Eos 1 (%)
Basos 0 (%)
Neutrophils (Absolute) 4.0 (x10E3/uL)
Lymphs (Absolute) 4.2 (x10E3/uL)
Monocytes (Absolute) 0.3 (x10E3/uL)
Eos (Absolute) 0.1 (x10E3/uL)
Baso (Absolute) 0.0

I forgot to clarify a few things. The tooth decay is recent, most of the enamel on my teeth is gone. I don't have insurance at all. I can't work and I can't go to school. And I'm no longer a vegetarian as of one year ago.
Also, I've been all over the vitamins situation. All kinds of D, B, B12, A and some other multi as well as iron supplements.
- ANSWER:
  Hello…your test results mean nothing to us if you don’t include the lab ranges. Thats because every lab has a different method of testing and have different ranges. So I am unsure what is low or high.
  
  I have a pituitary condition AND Hashimotos. Before I was able to find a Dr. that would listen, I had many of the symptoms you describe and was told I was just depressed. I found a good Dr. that realized I might have the 2 conditions and combined they were making some of the lab results look normal (one condition was pulling them down, the other up). And he said “OF course your depressed, your very sick!” Why isn’t IGF 1 including in your test results? Thats a very important test to determine pituitary functioning. All your symptoms point to a pituitary problem. You need to find a good Endocrinologist who specializes in pituitary disorders. Go to www.pituitary.org and look through Dr. listings. I’m not sure what you should do about the financial issue but maybe someone can help you out.
QUESTION:
Nausea, weighloss, lump in throat feeling. What is wrong with me?
Okay, I have been sick for more than a year now, and my doctors have no idea why. It all started after four rounds of antibiotics for tonsillitis.

Here are my symptoms. I have no idea if any are connected.

Nausea, comes and goes, usually worse at night, and sometimes after I eat anything.

Loss of appetite, I cannot eat hardly anything.

Acid reflux that comes and goes.

Lump in throat feeling, usually worse at night and while lying down. Usually accompanied by nausea.

Weight loss, I’ve lost 60lbs in 14 months without doing anything. It seems to be getting worse.

Increased cold sensitivity, always cold.

Hear flutters, comes at random times, usually short of breath and dizzy after.

Bad sinus drainage, constant, worse at night.

Random lymph node swelling in neck/jaw. Sometimes accompanied by faint ear and/or throat pain. Usually goes away within a few days.

Abdominal pain, usually on the left side. A dull burning pain that comes and goes.

Joint pain, mostly in left knee, no injuries.

Hair loss.

Tooth decay.

Dizziness / near fainting when standing.

Ringing in ears, usually after a dizzy spell.

Vertigo that comes and goes.

Easy bruising / unexplained bruising. Usually on knees and thighs.

Eye pain, comes and goes.

Headaches.

Sinus pain.

Unexplained sores on skin.

Constipation and diarrhea. Comes and goes.

Okay, now for the tests I’ve had done.

Hida scan. – Normal.

Ultrasound of uterus and gallbladder. – Normal.

CT scan. – Showed what looked like inflammation of the large bowel. But was noted that it was probably due to the fact that I couldn’t drink all of the barium.

Blood work. – I am not sure what all they tested for, but it all was normal.

SED Rate. – Normal.

Stool sample. – Normal, no h. pylori or any other bacteria.

Tested for Celiac. – Negative.

Tested for syphilis. – Negative.

Endoscopy. – Normal, no signs of GERD, inflammation, ulcers or infection.

Small bowel and stomach biopsies. – Normal.

Okay, now the medication I’ve been on.

Prevacid [ for nausea. ] – No help.

Zantac [ for nausea. ] – Helped the nausea and acid reflux slightly.

Nexium [ for nausea. ] – Helped quite a bit with the nausea and acid reflux.

Flagyl [ for the suspected bowel inflammation. ] – Just made everything 20x worse. Stopped taking it after four days.

Cipro [ for the suspected bowel inflammation. ] – Noticed no difference or side effects.

Amitriptyline [ for a sleep aid. ] – Helped with sleeping, but left me dehydrated and produced a nasty taste in my mouth. I stopped taking it after 3 weeks.
Amoxicillin [ replacement for Flagyl. ] – Noticed no difference or side effects.

Zofran [ for nausea. ] – Helped tremendously, but I ran out.

And now the medication I have taken on my own.

Benadryl [ For sinus drainage and a sleep aid. ] – Works as a sleep aid, but doesn’t stop the drainage. I have become used to it, so now it has no affect what so ever.

Pepto [ for nausea, acid reflux and lump in throat feeling. ] – Works for a little while. Has no affect on the lump in throat feeling.

Multi vitamin [ for hair loss, joint pain and tooth decay. ] – No effect so far, but I’ve only been on it for 4 days.

Over the counter acid reducer [ for nausea, acid reflux and lump in throat feeling. ] – Works the same as Zantac. No effect on the lump on throat feeling.

Ginger [ for nausea. ] – Helps slightly.

Probiotics – Made everything worse. Stopped taking after 4 days.

Now for what I know I DON’T have.

Celiac.

Gluten allergy.

GERD.

Ulcers.

Gallbladder disease.

Gastritis.

Hiatal hernia.

H. pylori.

Colitis.

Medical history / conditions.

Asthma. I’ve had it since I was 4. I use an albuterol inhaler.

Allergies. I’m allergic to most animals, dust, certain metals, pollen and dander.

I used to have chronic ear infections when I was growing up.

I had my tongue clipped when I was 13.

I had groin hernia surgery when I was 2.

I’ve had pneumonia once.

I’ve had tonsillitis.

I used to be allergic to Eggs when I was 5. I am not anymore.

No known allergies to any medication.

I’ve had my right eardrum bust twice due to ear infections.
I have a history of breast cancer and other kinds of cancer in my family.

I have reoccurring ovarian cysts.

Okay, now here are some other helpful facts.

I smoke about half a pack to a pack a day.

I do not do drugs of any kind and never have.

I don’t drink.

I hardly exercise.

I drink about 3 cokes a day.

I do not drink water, whatsoever.

I have a poor sleep pattern. I go to sleep around 4 – 5AM and get up around noon.

I live in a house with 3 dogs, 3 birds, 1 caged mouse, 1 rabbit, 1 guinea pig and 7 outdoor cats.

I live in a house with a mouse and cockroach infestation.

I live in a dusty house.

My sister works at a horse barn.

I live directly behind a g
- ANSWER:
  Oh dear you need a non fictional Dr. House!
  
  And I do realize that is not going to help you at all (sorry) but what can you really expect from Yahoo answers when doctors are already trying…
  
  Anyway Good Luck and I hope you feel better ASAP!
QUESTION:
What is wrong with me? Hypothyroidism, Pituitary hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s? Added ranges for results.?
I’m 19, about 5 feet tall, 116 lbs. African-American.
History: Most of the symptoms I have I’ve had for years, but being raised in a family that pushed me to “just deal with it” whenever I complained about feeling sick I was forced to push myself. I’m in a much better situation, but since I’ve been here my health has consistently been declining and I’ve developed anxiety which keeps getting worse. Life before this year was pretty close to unbearably stressful including frequent sporadic bouts of homelessness all throughout my life as well as other traumatic events. I thought maybe it could be ptsd or GAD, but the anxiety just began now that I’m removed from the stressful situation and placed into a stable one, same with my body pretty much breaking down. Through-out my developmental years I abused a variety of pills (Been clean for awhile.) as well as ingesting mass amounts of soy (vegetarian for eight years) and starting birth control at 14. Family has a history of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, addiction. Possibly a history of hypothyroid, but only one family member is officially diagnosed ,four people total with parallel symptoms though.

Symptoms including, but not limited to: Dry, brittle hair & scalp, hair loss, dry skin, several different kinds of recurring headaches (center of head between ears mostly), weight fluctuationss ,Hirsutism, irregular periods, infertility, acne, visual disturbances (three dots in a triangular formation), bleeding gums, tooth decay, sporadic dizziness, loss of motor control, slurred speech, fevers (past 2 month), menstrual irregularities, infertility, sinuses hurt constantly throughout ears and face, several serious sinus infections over the years, “lump stuck in throat” feeling, swelling under her chin sometimes, heartburn, stabbing chest pains (really painful almost incapacitating), heart palpitations, back & shoulder pain (excruciating, chronic), trouble digesting food, no appetite, possible gall bladder problems, daily nausea, muscle weakness, joint pain, chronic yeast infections over the years (generally very prone to infection), “tingling” in limbs kind of like they fell asleep but more intense of a pins & needles feeling, lack of energy, shortness of breath., lump on her arm about a centimeter or so high, what feels like carpal tunnel, insomnia, serious anxiety. Temperature. is very low in the morning and high at night. She’s extremely sensitive to cold, sensitive to light(sometimes it causes her to vomit or pass out)
We’re worried that the ranges of normality might be off considering she’s a pretty tiny person and i guess wouldn’t have the same range of normality as someone who is of average height and weight or someone that hasn’t been on birth control on and off since they were 14

Theories have been put forth that it could be either depression in general (it absolutely isn’t), 1.pituitary or secondary hypothyroid, 2.Adrenal failure originating in the pituitary gland( due to what seems like bouncing between hyperthyroid and hypothyroid) 3. Leukemia (due to my wbc being on the high end and my rbc being on the low end) or some Autoimmune disease (due to my lymphocyte count being on the high end and my monocyte count being on the low end)
Doctors are just pretty much refusing to listen to her tell them her symptoms or perform tests, especially if they know her history. Or they tell her it’s anxiety or depression because her results are “within range”.
Here are a lot of test results, if you can make any sense out of them I’d really appreciate it:
BUN/Creatinine Ratio 13 mmol/L Range – 8-27
Alkaline Phosphatase, S 48 (IU/L) 60-400
LDH 115 (IU/L) 100-250
AST (SGOT) 15 (IU/L) 0-40
ALT (SGPT) 14 (IU/L) 0-55
pH 6.0
Free T4 1.28 (ng/dL) 0.61-1.76
TSH 1.051 (uIU/mL) 0.450-4.500
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab <10 (IU/mL) 0-34
free t3 3.3 (pg/mL) 2.3-4.2
antithyroglobulin ab siemens (DPC) ICMA Method <20 IU/ML 0-40
WBC 8.6 (x10E3/uL) 4.0-10.5
RBC 4.13 (x10E6/uL) 4.10-5.60
Hemoglobin 12.3 (g/dL) 12.5-17.0
Hematocrit 36.2 (%) 36.0-50.0
RDW 12.7 (%) 11.7-15.0
Platelets 344 (x10E3/uL) 140-415
Neutrophils 46 (%) 40-74
Lymphs 49 (%)14-46
Monocytes 4 (%) 4-13
Eos 1 (%) 0-7
Basos 0 (%) 0-3
Neutrophils (Absolute) 4.0 (x10E3/uL) 1.8-7.8
Lymphs (Absolute) 4.2 (x10E3/uL) 0.7-4.5
Monocytes (Absolute) 0.3 (x10E3/uL) 0.1-1.0
Eos (Absolute) 0.1 (x10E3/uL) 0.0-02
Baso (Absolute) 0.0 0.0-0.4

Additional Details

I forgot to clarify a few things. The tooth decay is recent, most of the enamel on my teeth is gone. I don't have insurance at all. I can't work and I can't go to school. And I'm no longer a vegetarian as of one year ago.

Also, I've been all over the vitamins situation. All kinds of D, B, B12, A and some other multi as well as iron supplements.
Not diabetic. Been having trouble feeling my peehole and trouble peeing.
- ANSWER:
  I would ask for a serum ferritin test. Anemia often shows up in the ferritin (storage iron) before it is apparent in other iron tests. With your hemoglobin slightly below range, your hematocrit at the bottom of its range, and your history of vegetarianism, I would suspect that many of your symptoms are due to anemia. If you were a vegetarian for very long, you may have lost your ability to digest meat.
  I would add that soy binds thyroid hormone and prevents it from being absorbed into your cells. If you still eat any soy at all, you can be hypothyroid on the tissue level, even though your blood levels look OK.
  The lump in the throat might be a thyroid nodule, which should be watched with ultrasound imaging.
QUESTION:
Enlarged but not swollen nodes?
First of all
MEDICAL BACKGROUND
1 year ago chlamydia tracomatis (treated)
5 years prolonged chronic infection and tooth decay (treated)
very huge tonsils, right one bigger than left (untreated, undiagnosed)
possibly mono or cmv (kind of felt symptoms but never got tested)
Had flu/fever maybe once or twice in a year
3 day stomach infection/diahrrea due to food poisoning

Most of the above happened all in a year besides my teeth I had them all messed up for like 5 years ever since I was little.

My nodes under my jaw are the biggest ones, I feel like 1 large one under eache side and various tiny tiny small ones. I have a pea sized one directly under chin. On my left jawbone right near my teeth on the lower cheek is another one, pea sized too. If I patiently feel around ill find some behind my ears and throughout my neck on both sides. All are pretty small varying from a grain of rice to a pea besides the under the jaw ones.

If I stick my fingers/hand up in my armpits to feel around If I press deeply and search in there I can find very tiny node more like little patches of rubber. But i cant feel an actually little lump or node.

My groin nodes on the right side are pretty enlarged. 2 of them are pea sized and the rest are like the size of a BB. They seem like they are in a chain going all the way up to my hip. On the left side I can feel a few BB size bumps if press down on the skin on the pelvis area.

I have 3 on the back of my head. one pointy right in the center on the back of my head shrunk down to size. But on the left side of the back of my head near my ear I feel a pretty enlarged node, on the right side I can feel it too but not as large. The back of my head is actually very bumpy.

One more on my inner left thigh I have a node/lump the size of a full-size lima bean or an almond. This one is the biggest yet only on my left leg. Felt it for years but never bothers me so I havent thought much about it.

None of them are suprisingly hard or immovable. I can easily move most of them and none of them hurt or I dont get pain from them ever. Under my jaw I might get the occasional pain but the rest seem to be painless and un-irritating, just the fact that they are there bothers me and makes me think I have all kinds of diseases. Most of these have been swollen/enlarged for a long period of time. 1year some even more.

Could these nodes be just scarred lymph nodes from previous infections and touching them, shotty lymph nodes just because they never went back down since initial infection, or could it just be that Im skinny and i can feel them.

Tested negative for hiv at 3 weeks then at 7 months

btw im 17 years old, 5’10, 130lbs
- ANSWER:
  *You sound like a hypochondriac
  
  go to a doctor if you are seriously concerned. Enlarged lymph nodes could be very bad, or it could be nothing, or it could just be your imagination.
QUESTION:
im really worried about something?
i was reading someone elses question and someone posted these symptoms of being underweight and i have a alot of them: what should i do??

these were the symptoms:
Physical

* Stunted growth
* Endocrine disorder, leading to cessation of periods in girls (amenorrhoea)
* Decreased libido; impotence in males
* Starvation symptoms, such as reduced metabolism, slow heart rate (bradycardia), hypotension, hypothermia and anemia
* Abnormalities of mineral and electrolyte levels in the body
* Thinning of the hair (makes your hair look weird and ugly)
* Growth of lanugo hair over the body
* Constantly feeling “cold”
* Zinc deficiency
* Reduction in white blood cell count
* Reduced immune system function (increases chance of getting several diseases, usually harmless diseases like flue may put your health at risk)
* Pallid complexion and sunken eyes
* Creaking joints and bones
* Collection of fluid in ankles during the day and around eyes during the night
* Tooth decay
* Constipation
* Dry skin
* Dry or chapped lips
* Poor circulation, resulting in common attacks of ‘pins and needles’ and purple extremities
* In cases of extreme weight loss, there can be nerve deterioration, leading to difficulty in moving the feet
* Headaches
* Brittle fingernails
* Bruising easily

Psychological

* Distorted body image
* Poor insight
* Self-evaluation largely, or even exclusively, in terms of their shape and weight
* Pre-occupation or obsessive thoughts about food and weight
* Perfectionism
* Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
* Belief that control over food/body is synonymous with being in control of one’s life
* Refusal to accept that one’s weight is dangerously low even when it could be deadly
* Refusal to accept that one’s weight is normal, or healthy

Emotional

* Low self-esteem and self-efficacy
* Intense fear about becoming overweight
* Clinical depression or chronically low mood
* Mood swings

Some of these causes of being underweight may sometimes not occur before you get older. Like for example bone problems.

Other causes are loss of menstruation, risk of becoming sterile, stomach pain, delayed/abnormal puberty and wounds will also heal slower, and easier get infected, due to a weak immune system.
- ANSWER:
  If you feel you are at an unhealthy weight, start eating more and slowly put on pounds. I would suggest going to the doctor because they can put together a specific eating plan that can help you reach your goal. They can also figure out how underweight you are, give you a physical to make sure that things are ok, and tell you how much weight you should gain. Good luck!
QUESTION:
Stress? Diabetes even? Help!..?
So I really just feel crap these days. But it is difficult to split symptoms and causes.

I feel stressed and constantly run down. I sleep very badly. I eat bad food and am moderately overweight. I have very regular headaches, that can hurt a lot. I also feel sick and retch every morning.

Some of these symtoms sound a bit like diabetes (but I know it is easy to worry yourself looking on the net). I do drink and pee a lot, not every half an hour, but maybe up to once and hour in the day and sometimes once or twice in the night (but often not at all as I have learned to go right before and just as I get up). Also, aren’t you supposed to lose weight?.. I was always skinny but have got fatter over the past few years. Plus I am 27 and most sites say it is more likely in over forties. Another symptom is genital itching, which I might well have, it is difficult to know if how I feel is a normal level of itchyness or not!

I am a vegetarian (who eats cart loads of cheese things and chips). I look a bit yellow, I must have a low immune system as I regularly get cold sores and even had a wart on my forehead recently which went thank god after treating with vinegar. I have untreated athletes foot that seems to have got in to a couple of toe nails and is mildly on my hands. Even though I am very clean. I have a lot of tooth decay and receeded gums, even though I brush twice a day and always have.

I guess I am kind of depressed, and have a lot of glum feelings – about work and where I am going in life, but I don’t feel like I have the drive to tackle my various problems, and I have a demanding job that gets in the way. I dream of giving it up and sorting myself out.

So – are these all symtoms of poor lifestyle and work stress? Or could there be an underlying issue underpinning my problems that came before the work stress? (e.g. my foggy head makes work go more slowly and it piles up making things worse).. It would be particularly useful if someone could rule out things like Diabetes.

I know the obvious answer is go to your doctor, but I don’t have a full time one, and the last couple of times I have been to one (split over a number of years) they seem pretty condescending – if you have no cast iron sympton to talk about it is like you are wasting their time.
- ANSWER:
  Excuses – excuses – excuses. There’s always an excuse for bad behavior. You need to get your s hit together, Bubba, before you DO suffer serious health problems that could be irreversible. Get yourself to a medical doctor for evaluation & follow his advice to the letter to get yourself in tip top shape. It will take dedication, determination & discipline – but you will never realize your full potential if you give up too soon. Life is not always the way it’s supposed to be. It’s just the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.
QUESTION:
WHATS WRONG WITH ME?? I KEEP ON THROWING UP?
Okay so, before you think I’m sick with something. I’m not. I don’t have the flu or anything. I throw up PURPOSELY. And I’m scared.

See, ever since I ate ice cream around 9:30ish (Idk what had gotten into me) a few nights I started freaking out and then the next day after that ice cream incident I started throwing up every thing I ate after school. After school I would have a small meal. And after I ate everything I would throw it up. And now (like 2 days later) I threw up again. This is the first time THROWING up as has been a “habit” it’s not really a habit cause I’ve only done it for 2 days. But I just do because I think I ate too much and stuff. Before this Ive had signs of anorexia nervosa but I’m not gonna list them. Now I’m worried I have bulimia???

): I KNOW, I already KNOW, throwing will cause: tooth decay, burned up throat, hair loss, dry skin. And other problems, but icant, CAN NOT help throwing up!! It’s like … Like it’s part of my schedule or something???

I fit most the symptoms for anorexia. Also I feel as if after I threw up, a burden/worry was off my shoulders. And I just felt accomplished? Idk…

Btw I’m 13. And a girl. And PLEASE DON’T SAY STUFF LIKE: “just think about your family first”, “just try not to throw up and be glad for who you are”, “you’re beautiful in your own way”, “try and gain some self confidence”, “you’re skinny don’t worry”. IF I WAS ABLE TO DO THOSE THINGS, I would have already done them by now!!! I wouldn’t be here throwing up and stuff if I was able to do those things! But the problem is, is that I can’t! I just can’t. So if you know nothing about eating disorders then please don’t answer cause it’s not something a few words can fix. Thanks. Btw I’m 5″8 and 112lbs. My doctor said I was at a healthy weight. So don’t worry about me being underweight or anything. And I did not say I have an eating disorder, I’m just telling you I fit most of the symptoms. I thought I had an eating disorder but I was just over reacting..
Out of all people. Lol me….. Nah I don’t have one. But if you think you can help on whatever I have please email me: iWouldWhisperItSoftly@gmail.com

Thanks
- ANSWER:
  Thanks for answering my Q! answer to yours: You need to see a counselor or therapist or talk to somebody. Doing stuff like that is really dangerous. It sounds like you are doing it on purpose but you want to stop. It’s great that you want to stop. You should go online to find either a chatroom, online support group, not online support group, therapist, or you could go and talk to your doctor. they will be able to recommend some more ideas. If doing those seems scary now, tell a friend or you parents. Somebody close to you. It will be much less intimidating than talking to a stranger. Good luck! Feel better!
QUESTION:
Having very bad chest pain and I don’t know why, what do I do?
about a few weeks ago i went to the Emergency Room with really bad chest pain, I woke up at 3am in a cold sweat with extremely bad chest pain, i was short of breath and i thought i was having an asthma attack. My mother drove me to the emergency room and i described my pain to the doctor, I described the pain as kind of tight or pressure on my chest and i felt the pain in my upper shoulders, my jaw (i have no history of cavity or tooth decay or anything like that) and upper abdomen area. The doctor told me immediately that it was acid reflux (which does run in my family), I was given an X-ray of my upper abdomen, weird pinkish gray medical cocktail and a shot and was sent home with a prescription of antacids to help deal with the pain. I filled the prescription and do take the antacids as prescribed but the pain didn’t stop. Over the past few weeks i kept having the chest pain like I did when i went to the emergency room, the pain occurs randomly during the day (or night) regardless if i am taking a walk with my dog or laying down and watching TV. The pain can last all day and will get worse after about an hour or so.
I did do some research and my symptoms point to possibly heart angina, heart disease does run in my family, my 3 year old niece and a few of my cousins have heart disease.
I did talk to my mom about my symptoms and she said acid reflux can make you feel like you are having a heart attack but deep down I know something just isn’t right and chest pressure isn’t something you just ignore but I cant get my mom to listen or side with me and she ends up saying im paranoid when I know something is wrong.
I have no idea what to do, I am 18 so i could go to the emergency room myself but I just lost my job (I got laid off) so I have no money right now but I don’t want to sit and wait around for the pain to get real bad and I end up dropping dead because there was a problem so what should I do?
- ANSWER:
  Don’t worry, I had that too and I really freaked out. I know it’s scary, and I didn’t believe it could be reflux because it didn’t feel like I would expect, but that’s what it is. It can be set off by being pregnant, over-weight, or eating foods you have allergies to. Mine was from dairy allergies, and it felt nasty. I asked my mother about it when I first got it, and she told me that staying away from dairy and certain other foods would help it. Stay away from: Tomatoes, dairy products (Even if you don’t have dairy allergies dairy is bad for reflux), anything with carbonation, coffee, fatty foods, and eating late at night. My father had it very badly and the doctor told him that he should go to bed three hours or more after eating. Standing up is better than sitting down. When I had it I bought some pills for acid reduction, not prescription or anything. It took a few months, but it ended up going away. And you should really stay away from those foods until it’s gone, because if it get really, really bad, you can get acid in your lungs which causes ‘Loringo spasms’. A loringo spasm is when your wind pipe closes for a bit. It cannot kill you, but you can’t breathe when that happens. They are very, very rare, and I only know one person who had one. (My dad.) You might pass out, (Unusual), but you WILL survive them. Best of luck!
  ~Kristabelle