Worn enamel! Help!!

[runaround]

Recently my almost 24 year old son moved back home after losing his job, breaking up with his girlfriend, and depleting all of his money! I have just become aware that the enamel on all of his teeth is completely worn away and decaying near the gumline! I was horrified, this is a child that NEVER even had one cavity when he lived with us until age 19! While he was away, he never went to the dentist for cleanings or anything....drank non-diet soda by the gallon, and rarely i am assuming brushed his teeth. Now he is jobless and broke, no health or dental insurance and too old to put on our insurance policies....Any suggestions of what to do? We certainly cannot afford the cost it will take to correct the problem. I am just sick over this! Any help appreciated!!!

[alseedus]

That sounds like "Meth-mouth" to me, but I'm not a doctor...

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I would suggest that he goes to a dental school if you have one in the area or a teaching hospital that has a dental residency program associated with it. In both places there are fees but I think it might be workable for him. He also has to change his eating and oral hygiene habits.