making dental care accessible

about me:

hey, my name is cj (he/they)! i’m a spoonie (autistic, adhd, ocd, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and hypermobility spectrum disorder) located in the united states.

i’ve worked in dentistry since i was 19. fell into it completely by accident, and it became an unexpected passion of mine. now i want to use my knowledge to help my fellow spoonies take care of their teeth so we can all have healthy smiles for the rest of our lives!!!

on this blog i’ll be posting and reblogging educational information about oral health, and answering questions about teeth and how to care for them.

my ask box is open and, since dental health can be a sensitive subject for a lot of us, anon is enabled.

They didn't bleed when I started doing it but now they do bleed a bit sometimes. I'm not being rough, it doesn't hurt and they don't bleed when I brush.

Am I doing something wrong??

(ask received 12/21/25)

hi anon, first of all congrats on committing to a daily flossing routine!! it really is hard to start that habit, especially when you have a physical limitation, and i am so proud of you for making it happen :)

bleeding gums can have a lot of causes, so as always the best thing to do is to visit a dentist to have them take a look and narrow it down. after a month, your gums shouldn't be reacting solely to a new flossing routine, but it's possible that you've developed some gingivitis or periodontal disease. the bacteria from underlying gum disease is extremely difficult to get rid of with even the best homecare, which is why it's so important to get regular cleanings from a professional hygienist. the tools and products they use are much more effective at cleaning the entire surface of the teeth and gums, and treating that bacteria.

hormones can also be a factor, especially in people that menstruate. researchers believe that progesterone is the main cause of menstrual and pregnancy-related gingivitis, so if you menstruate you may find that your gums are more likely to bleed during your period. this is completely normal and should resolve itself in the days following your period.

finally, bleeding gums may not necessarily be related to your oral health at all, and instead might be an early warning sign of a systemic health issue. this is unfortunately a bit harder to determine, as many things from from vitamin deficiencies to diabetes to lukemia are associated with bleeding gums.

i would start with a visit to the dentist to either diagnose or rule out gingivitis/periodontitis, get a cleaning if you're due, and go from there.

i apologize for the time it took me to answer this, i hope this has improved for you in the meantime!! but i figured i should still answer in case not, and to help anyone else who sees this.

best of luck and happy flossing!!!

Take care of yourself however you can and forgive yourself for whatever you can't. ❤️‍🩹

hello friends and followers. you may have noticed my recent absence from this blog, especially if you've sent an ask. i am dealing with some pretty heavy burnout at the moment exacerbated by a medical emergency in my family, seasonal depression, and worsening pain and fatigue. i'm also local to the twin cities and ICE has been very present in the communities where i live and work, so i'm doing what i can to support my neighbors during this time, which is of course taking up a lot of the time and energy i would normally be putting into this blog.

all this to say i haven't abandoned this project. i have an inbox full of asks that i still plan to get to and lots of thoughts and updates to share when time and energy allows. thanks for being patient with me while i take some time to try to pull myself out of some dark stuff.

i actually answered a really similar ask here, so go ahead and check that out!!

i would say weekly cleaning would be good to aim for, though there's not really such a thing as cleaning an appliance too often. the main thing to keep in mind is that using a toothbrush and toothpaste can actually damage it, so using something gentle like a cloth and antibacterial soap is your best bet. you don't have to go too crazy on it; a quick scrub in the sink after taking it out or in the shower is perfectly fine!!

you can get mini ultrasonic cleaners like this one if you want to, but that's largely unnecessary for most people, as long as you're cleaning it regularly. you can also ask your hygienist if they can put your appliance in their ultrasonic machine at your cleanings. some offices will do this for a small fee, some will do it at no charge if you're already getting a cleaning, and some won't do it at all. it never hurts to ask!!

hey anon, amazing job on brushing and flossing for five days in a row!!! that's worth a pat on the back :)

it sounds like anterior crowns are a great option for you, both from a clinical and aesthetic standpoint. the great thing about them is that they look pretty much exactly like natural teeth, and function largely the same, too!! it might take you a couple weeks to adjust to your teeth being shaped a bit differently than you're used to, but it shouldn't have any major impact on your function. if it does, let your dentist know ASAP so they can make adjustments.

the lifespan of a crown is largely dependent on how well it's taken care of, so now is a great time to build a sustainable, consistent homecare routine to ensure they last as long as possible before needing to be replaced. generally speaking, a well-cared for crown can go untouched for 15-20 years before it needs to be redone!!

no need to kick bubble tea out of your life!! but, if you can add a habit of rinsing your mouth with water or fluoride mouthwash after you finish your tea, that will go a long way in keeping the sugar from sticking to your teeth and causing problems.

i'm excited for you!! i hope you love how they turn out, and your new smile will serve you well for years to come :)

It really makes me feel stick to my stomach just thinking about it, so I was wondering if there is a way to avoid it or somehow get over it.

hi, anon. i'm so sorry you're dealing with this. intrusive thoughts are notoriously difficult to manage, and no one knows that better than me. i truly wish i had the ultimate how-to guide on getting them to shut up.

unfortunately, i don't. the best recommendation i can make is to communicate with your providers that you have these fears, and that you will need them to take extra care. you may find it eases your mind a bit if they wash and/or sanitize their hands in the room with you, and put on fresh gloves in front of you before beginning your exam. i've had patients request this in the past. it may also be helpful to state that you'd prefer they minimize as much as possible how much they're using their hands to make contact with your mouth.

but, as with any intrusive thought pattern, the more you feed it, the more it will bother you. sometimes the only way to quiet them is to grit our teeth (no pun intended) and get through it as best we can. once you're on the other side of it, you may find it easier next time. i have a post that goes over some strategies for coping with severe anxiety/panic at a dental visit that might be useful - that anon was asking from a place of being nervous about shots, but i find that some coping strategies tend to be largely universal, no matter what the specific fear is.

i really wish i could be more helpful. but, since that particular part of the dental visit is pretty much unavoidable, the best thing to do is find a way to get through it. whatever that looks like for you. best of luck, my friend!! i believe in you!!!

me: hi i’m calling to ask about credentialing, our tax ID and NPI are [REDACTED]

rep: that’s not pulling any matches, can you please give me the correct tax ID and NPI?

me: those are the correct IDs, so something is wrong in the system, which is why i’m calling. to correct it.

rep: can you please give me the dr name and office address?

me: [gives that info]

rep: no, that’s not the correct address. we have two listed. [gives the addresses of two offices where my dr previously practiced, one of which is halfway across the country]

me: those are old addresses. you don’t have any of our information correct despite us having provided it multiple times. how can we correct this?

rep: you’ll have to talk to the credentialing department.

me: i thought this was the credentialing department? i selected “credentialing” from the automated menu and when you answered i said i’m calling about credentialing.

rep: no i’m not credentialing. i’ll get you their phone number. [puts me on hold for 2-3 minutes]

and folks. when the rep came back on the line. she gave me the same phone number i had called to talk to her.