Sensitive teeth

[mspinder]

I am almost 2 weeks post op and am having terrible pain in my teeth. Anything hot or cold that goes over them really hurts for about a minute or so and goes away. I tried brushing with a toothpaste for sesitive teeth and a mouth wash in case it is bacterial. Has anyone else had this problem. Maybe the meds?

 

[Dina]

Maybe. Post -op it could be almost anything. Just try some of that Sensodyne toothpaste for now,and if it doesnt go away in awhile or gets unbearable,then check it out. Well,thats what I would do.
Wishing you a good post-op recovery!
OOPs -sorry! Just saw that you are already using the special toothpaste. Still,I think thats
about the best thing to do for now anyway. Who wants to go to the dentist post op?
Only thing is to be careful if you have any cavities or infection/inflammation-this can be dangerous if you have an infection in your mouth. I use peroxide as a mouthwash to cleanse my mouth sometimes.
BTW-Did you get a dental check up before OHS? Most people do , just to make sure there is no infection lurking.

 

[tmaricev]

Hi, I am dentist myself and I am also today 2 weeks post op AVR (mechanical St. Jude implanted). In agree that post op can be almost anything, I am experiencing things that I didn’t have prior to op also. Sensodyne seems as a good choice but be aware that it is needed couple of days if not a week for Sensodyne to start work. If your problem persists and it is unbearable see your doctor.
BR
Tom

 

[tobagotwo]

My dentist has me on Colgate 5000 (prescription), which is basically a topical flouride treatment. It has helped sensitivity in my teeth quite a bit.

I often wonder of there is a calcium metabolism issue for many who have valve problems, which also affects our teeth. We have noted a decline in the hardness of my teeth over time, since the valve business began. It could stem from a lack of vitamin D or from the chemical backlash of building apatite deposits on our valves.

Best wishes,

 

[ottagal]

I am wondering if you are clenching or grinding your teeth? This can also result in generalized tooth sensitivity. However, I don't like that heat is bothering them. My teeth felt very pitted and like they had fuzzy slippers on them for 7 days post op and no matter how much I brushed I couldn't get that pitted feeling off my teeth. I attributed this to be on the ventilator for 15 hours with my mouth open (no saliva to wash over the teeth during that time to keep them moist).
I hope you get some resolution soon. Wouldn't hurt to pay a visit to your dentist.

 

[Philip B]

Tooth Pain

Tooth Pain

My teeth hurt for a few weeks after surgery, but I think it was due to my efforts to chew through the vent tube while I was in the ICCU.

The nursing staff stuck bite blocks in my mouth when I didn't respond to their efforts to get me to stop gnawing on the tube. I guess I didn't stop gnawing because I had a broken tooth when I got home.

Like others have said, it's hard to pinpoint the causes of post op aches and pains. OHS is a pretty traumatic overall experience for your body. They pump a lot of chemicals into you. Your body has to adjust to a wide variety of medications. In most cases you're chest is split open and bones are bent in a direction that's unnatural.

If the sensitivity of your teeth continues to be a problem, see a good dentist.

-Philip

 

[Mentu]

I agree with Philip that there are a number of minor issues that can crop up after OHS. My most bothersome issue was hypersensitivity across my chest but I have also had tooth pain including a capped tooth that does not touch the tooth above it. My surgeon said it isn't possible to predict what any given patient will experience as the body recovers from surgery and the body begins adjusting to dramatically different heart function. He did encourage me to talk with him, however, if any of these complaints should become intense.

Larry

 

[Dorsai]

I had the exact same problem - in fact, I also posted here about it a month or so ago.

I don't know for certain what caused it, but I suspect it had to do with the severe dry mouth I experienced in recovery. The pain went away on its own by about the second week post-op (I'm at five weeks now), and I've had no problems since then.

 

[Maryka]

This is probably not related, but the breathing tube really messed up my throat. I can only imagine how the tube could impact teeth! (I eventually had to have surgery to cut out a big scar-tissue growth that was caused by the breathing tube. Yuck!)