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Brushing teeth with hypos

J

Jelaca

Well-Known Member
Messages
225
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi all,

I hope you’re all okay. I’ve recently been having a lot of hypos (far too many for my liking!) and during the night I’m so concerned about the sugar damage to my teeth. Obviously I will always try to brush them when possible, but a ometimes if I’m staying with people it’s not convenient to do so if I have a low in the night, so I wondered if anyone knows of any edible toothpaste tabs or gum that might be a good alternative during these times?

Thanks in advance!
Jessica
 
The advice I was given was to keep water by your bed and rinse out your mouth with water after treating a hypo.
If you are conscientious about dental hygiene, the risk of tooth decay is minimal - most of us are happy to eat between tooth cleaning during the day.
 
I just rinse with water. I can not be doing with waiting 15 mins to see if I need anything else to raise my BG and then waiting another 15 mins/30 mins to brush my teeth. Non merci :D
 
sleepster said:
I just rinse with water. I can not be doing with waiting 15 mins to see if I need anything else to raise my BG and then waiting another 15 mins/30 mins to brush my teeth. Non merci :D
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I know, it so frustrating sometimes!
Okay great, water sounds good, thank you both
 
Jelaca said:
I know, it so frustrating sometimes!
Okay great, water sounds good, thank you both
Click to expand...
It really is a pain isn't it? especially if hypos are happening frequently. I don't know about you but if I don't have enough sleep I'm high and insulin resistant the next day.
Somebody else might have a suggestion for something other than water but I think as long as you give your mouth a good rinse or 2 you should be ok.
One thing I try and do if I'm hypo during the night is have a carton of apple juice with a straw and put the straw so that it avoids my teeth, and then have a good swish around with water. I don't always remember to replenish my bedside juice though, so sometimes it's jellybabies and a couple of rinses with water.
 
Hi,

Now oddly, years ago. There was a whole "thing" about juice from straws affecting & localising acid decay on kids teeth?
A quick search on straws & teeth throw up contradictory advice on this subject..

So, during night hypos, I've always chased whatever eaten with milk.. It's advice from when I was a kid regarding hypo treatment.. (In a whole lotta "Janet & John feel funny" on hypoglycemia blurb I was given as an 8 year old?)
You'd think the calcium may neutralise acidity? But even that throws up conflicting dental "advice" regarding tooth decay & lactose.? Ho hum..

Personally, the Oral B is the last thing on my mind.
I just wanna fix the low. Go back to sleep, then deal with the oral hygiene a couple of hours later come the morning..
 
Advice from my dentist is to eat cheese as it neutralises the sugar acids in your mouth, it would be a bit weird doing it at night, particularly when your head is fuzzy from the hypo, but my personal advice is to look at why you are going hypo during the night particularly as you've been having a few, does your basal need reducing, any ideas ?
 
I just get rid of any hypos anything else doesn’t enter my mind, I’m lucky cos most of my teeth are already in water ( in a glass in the bathroom ) hehehe
 
Juicyj said:
Advice from my dentist is to eat cheese as it neutralises the sugar acids in your mouth, it would be a bit weird doing it at night, particularly when your head is fuzzy from the hypo
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One time when I was hypo I ate a dairylea dunker that had been sitting in an unused handbag for a good few months, I was too lazy to chuck it out and it seemed like a great idea to my hypo-addled brain. Don't try that at home kids :D
 
Jelaca said:
Hi all,

I hope you’re all okay. I’ve recently been having a lot of hypos (far too many for my liking!) and during the night I’m so concerned about the sugar damage to my teeth. Obviously I will always try to brush them when possible, but a ometimes if I’m staying with people it’s not convenient to do so if I have a low in the night, so I wondered if anyone knows of any edible toothpaste tabs or gum that might be a good alternative during these times?

Thanks in advance!
Jessica
Click to expand...
Thank you Jessica

I have recently been thinking the exact same thing been getting more going low or downward markers on my libre before bed. Just goes to prove no question is a stupid question
 
Spoke to my dentist about this. Under no circumstances brush your teeth. This just erodes the enamel as it is covered in Sugar. Slush with water (I always do this without getting out of bed) then turn over and go back to sleep.
Then it goes without saying establish the reason for the increase in hypos. A boring annoying pursuit.
 
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