A MUM in her 30s has revealed the awful ordeal that led to her having 23 teeth removed, and having to wear dentures.
During Samantha Cox's pregnancy with her first child, she started to feel sharp pains in her teeth.
She went to the dentists and got root canals and fillings, hoping that this would be the end of the story.
However, during the 37 year-old second pregnancy, the pain return and her teeth began to 'shatter'.
After her third pregnancy, 37 year-old Samantha was told she should get teeth implants.
Due to the costs, the mum-of-four opted to have dentures instead.
Speaking to What's The Jam, the customer service assistant said: "I spent more time at the dentist during my pregnancies, than I did at my doctors' office.
“I was scared and confused as to why the dental work I kept having done would fail me only a short time later.
“My teeth were just soft and brittle.
“I had tooth pain and my mouth was being cut by the broken teeth.
“They were so sensitive and hurt each time I ate or had a drink.
“I was so embarrassed and I stopped smiling, as well as showing them, after a while.
“No one could tell how bad my teeth were.
“I had to suffer silently and alone.”
Before she got pregnant, Samantha received a diagnosis of malabsorption.
This means that nutrients from the food she consumes are not absorbed correctly, which causes issues with dental enamel, ulcers and cavity lesions.
Samantha, who is mum to Tony, 21, Ellie, eight, Lily, six, and Emmy, four explained that, as her condition worsened, it began to impact her life significantly.
She said: “I was doing everything right but still couldn’t stop them from hurting.
“I was in constant pain with my teeth.
“I have had countless sleepless nights, lying awake, unable to ease the pain.
“And I’ve stayed home from events for my children due to the pain.
“I couldn’t drink straight from a cup because my mouth would hurt.
“I always had to use a straw.
“Mentally, I felt defeated and depressed over my teeth.
“I brushed I flossed I went to the dentist regularly but still I felt like my teeth hated me.
“I’d fix the issue, and move on until I had to fix them again and again.
“But by fixing, I was prolonging the inevitable.”
In February, Samantha has 23 of her teeth removed, and dentures fitted, which cost her £1,950.
To help raise awareness of her condition, the mum, from Ohio USA shared her journey on TikTok in a post that amassed over 440,000 views and 7,000 likes.
Are you brushing your teeth correctly?
Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day, ideally in the morning and before bedtime.
Dr Rhona Eskander, dentist and co-founder of PÄRLA Toothpaste Tabs, says: “Brushing should last for approximately two minutes each time.
“Brush gently in circular motions, ensuring you cover all tooth surfaces.”
Not too hard
Dentist Dr Alfonso Rao, or Define Clinic, Beaconsfield, Bucks said it's essential to find a balance between brushing effectively and not applying too much pressure.
"Brushing too hard can cause harm to the soft tissues and tooth surface," he said.
Which toothpaste?
Dr Eskhander recommends using a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste as fluoride helps prevent tooth decay.
“You can also choose toothpaste with ingredients like baking soda for whitening or potassium nitrate for sensitivity."
Don't spit
Faizan Zaheer, from Bupa Dental Care, says: “People tend to rinse their mouths after brushing.
"However, this causes the removal of fluoride from the teeth, which means it can’t benefit by strengthening the minerals in the enamel.”
Rinsing with mouthwash is another habit to drop.
Faizan says: “It usually has a lower fluoride concentration than toothpaste.
"Therefore, it will dilute the fluoride concentration in the mouth if used after brushing.”
Wait after eating
It's not uncommon for people to brush their teeth right after breakfast. But wait at least half an hour before doing this, experts say.
Celebrity Harley Street dentist Dr Richard Marques said: “The precious enamel that coats the teeth is temporarily weakened after eating due to the acids present in food, so by brushing right after you eat, you risk damaging it.”
Floss every day
Using floss or small interdental brushes removes bacteria between your teeth.
Change toothrush head
It's recommended to change your toothbrush head on electric toothbrushes at least once every three months.
Dr Viren Vithlani, specialist periodontist and co-founder of MyMouth, explained: “The main reason for that is that you tend to find the bristles of the brush flare over time and then they become less effective, so you’re not removing plaque and bacteria as effectively.
“That means you’re leaving potentially more bacteria on the teeth which is increasing your risk of gum problems or decay.
“The second reason is from a hygiene perspective.
“Most people will leave brushes out and not covered so you tend to get bacteria colonising on the brush bristles themselves.”
Tongue cleaning
Your tongue can also harbour bacteria, which can lead to bad breath, so keeping it clean is vital.
You can use a tongue scraper for this, or even your toothbrush.
Gently brush side to side as well and back and forth, before rinsing out your mouth with water or a mouthwash.
Social media users flocked to the video's comments section to share their thoughts, with many commending Samantha for her bravery.
Angela said: “I think the pair you have now look great.”
Devin commented: “I personally think they are beautiful!”
Tasha added: “I think they look amazing.”
Katie said: “People don't realise the stress of dental issues until it's them, you look great!” [sic]
Christine wrote: “I truly think you look amazing.”
Discussing her new dentures, Samantha said: “My mouth feels amazing all things considered.
“I don’t have tooth pain, I can smile with an open mouth again, I can laugh – it’s amazing.
“My children think I’m cooler now because my teeth [have] come out and they’ve made sure to tell everyone that their mum has got dentures.
“One thing I’ve noticed while going through this is that there is a stigma with dentures.
“It’s the only prosthetic that is openly bullied.
“I have had so many people reach out to me over being embarrassed by their teeth and how they don’t want anyone to know.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“A body part of mine failed me – so I replaced them – nothing more, nothing less.”
Fabulous will pay for your exclusive stories. Just email: fabulousdigital@the-sun.co.uk and pop EXCLUSIVE in the subject line.