Table 8 Experiences of oral disease before becoming a regular user of GC Tooth Mousse Plus^®

Historical dimension: refers to participants' dental history, their experience of oral disease overtime

Not having access to a dentist while growing up

“Well I grew up in the country, and we were a long way from a dentist; so, I suppose as a small child, I would have seen the dentist once every 10 years.” ID8, female, 65 years or older, dental caries

Not being encouraged to take care of my teeth

“In my childhood, I wasn't encouraged to take care of my teeth and so I didn't.” ID10, female, 55–64 years old, dental caries

Biological dimension: refers to participants’ experiences of oral health and disease as clinical signs and symptoms

Having sensitivity

"My teeth were quite sensitive; I couldn't eat ice-cream or go out in the cold winter months." ID7, female, 65 years or older, dry mouth

Having a dry mouth [no saliva]

“I was treated for mouth and throat cancer [radiation therapy], which affected my mouth in a number of ways; it killed off my saliva glands.” ID14, male, 45–54 years old, dry mouth

Having teeth breaking off

“I couldn’t chew anything without a bit breaking off and I thought that I was looking at getting dentures.” ID3, female, 45–54 years old, sensitivity

Financial dimension: refers to the financial burden of oral disease

Needing treatment at every appointment

“Every time I went to the dentist there was some treatment that needed doing and a cost.” ID7, female, 65 years or older, dry mouth

Being unable to afford restorative treatment

“I just got so sick of those huge dental bills; I was a single parent…I couldn’t afford to have all the dental work that they were predicting I was going to have.” ID4, female, 55–64 years old, brittle teeth and sensitivity

Psychosocial dimension: refers to the psychological and social aspects of participants’ experiences, including patients’ emotional suffering due to oral disease

Feeling disappointed

“It was disappointing that I just kept cracking my teeth.” ID3, female, 45–54 years old, sensitivity

Wanting to keep my teeth

“I want to keep them [my teeth] until I take my last breath.” ID11, male, 65 years or older, sensitivity and dry mouth

Habitual dimension: refers to customary activities related to or consequences of oral disease

Not being a regular visitor to a dentist

“I wasn't a regular visitor to the dentist … dental visits were always prolonged, there was more work to be done because I hadn't taken care of my teeth.” ID10, female, 55–64 years old, dental caries

Being accustomed to have repeated fillings

“I’ve always had to go regularly to the dentist and have surface fillings put on probably nearly all of my teeth over the years. So, I was used to keep getting more and more fillings.” ID12, female, 55–64 years old, Sjogren's syndrome