Gum Disease Symptoms

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   What are the symptoms of gum disease?
   Specifically, are bleeding gums a symptom of gum disease? What else is a symptom?

   • ANSWER:

2. QUESTION:
   What types of health physical problems/symptoms can you experience due to gum disease?
   I have not been feeling well and I’m trying to explore if my symptoms could be related to gum disease. I am a diabetic and have other health problems. My symptoms are difficult to define, but include: shakyness or a type of tremor right when I wake up in the am, naucea, cold sweats. Can symptoms like this be related to gum disease or cavities?

   • ANSWER:
     A situation that you need to be aware of is subacutebacterialendocarditis (SBE). This is a bacterial infection that has a portal of entry through your gums. It attacks your mitral valve of your heart and is serious. See your dentist right away.

3. QUESTION:
   I am 27 years old and I my teeth/mouth is showing signs and symptoms of gum disease.?
   I have no dental insurance and I have an appointment to see a Dentist next week. The one reason I am going to the dentist is because he is offering a free day. What are the forms of treatment to cure this? Am I going to be wearing dentures at the age of 27? Should I go to Mexico for cheap dental work?

   • ANSWER:
     You may need a procedure that is called scaling and root planing. That is when they take their instruments and remove all the infected tissues and calculus that is on your teeth under your gums. It can be very expensive (but well worth the cost) and you may need it done a couple of times. I PROMISE you, the last thing you want is dentures!!!!!!!!!! If you can’t afford it at the dental office, try to find a dental school or hygiene school and get it done. If that is what you need and don’t get it done, you have a high probability that you will end up in dentures.

4. QUESTION:
   What are the symptoms of gum disease…help!?
   The last two days my gums have been killing me!! It will really hurt for about an hour or so and then wear off for a little from the asprin, which by the way I have been popping like candy because of the pain. What can I do treat this? I just changed my toothbrush, but damn my gums hurt. Help!

   • ANSWER:

5. QUESTION:
   do i have gum disease? the symptoms might be indicating…?
   i have dark purple gums which i find really weird (but i have dark skin so maybe people with dark skin always have purple gums as opposed to pink gums). There is always some blood when I brush my teeth and today when i was eating a pear, my gums felt kind of sore. I’m worried I have gum disease. what should i do? ill b booking an appointment with a dentist soon but wht r tips for dental care? like should i floss regularly? or eat certain foods or do something special after brushing? please help.

   • ANSWER:
     Whatever you do, don’t continue to use floride toothpaste. Floride toothe paste that you use every day may contain toxins that have been linked to cancer, blindness, and even death. Have you checked out the ingredients in your toothpaste or mouthwash lately?
     Check out this article about toothpaste: http://www.oramd.com/hiddendangers.htm

     You may want to try oramd… It worked for my bleeding gums and many of my family and friends love it! =)

     http://www.oramd.com

6. QUESTION:
   How do I know if I have gum disease?
   What are the symptoms of gum disease?
   Do teeth ache if you have gum disease?
   How long after brushing your teeth/flossing does your breath start to smell bad, after few minutes, hours, is it immediate or does it always smells bad?

   • ANSWER:
     It all depends on the stage of the disease..
     Gum Scaling (not teeth scaling) would help prevent/slow down the progress.. And wash with bicarbonate of soda and salt water.

     Also use a gum stimulator to massage your gums.

7. QUESTION:
   symptoms of gum disease or infection?

   • ANSWER:
     The first signs of gingivitis is if you bleed when you floss and your gums become irritated and inflamed.

     Keep brushing gently, even if it hurts. Keep flossing everyday too. The sore gums will heal in probably a few days (up to a week) if you are taking care of them everyday. A waterpik is a bonus.

     Gingivitis is easily reversible in the early stages.

8. QUESTION:
   how do you know if you have gum disease?
   i have never been to the dentist b4 because i always keep my mouth clean, but my friend said that i could have gum disease and not even know it, is that true? like wouldn’t my gums hurt, and bleed all the time and stuff? so whats the symptoms of gum disease?

   • ANSWER:
     Bleeding gums
     Sore gums
     Gums may even be recessed
     Bad breath

9. QUESTION:
   what are the symptoms of early gum disease?

   • ANSWER:
     When your gums start turning loose from your teeth. Sometimes your gums are red, sore at times and even bleeds when you brush your teeth. It can also make your teeth more sensitive, since more of your teeth are exposed to cold and hot drinks and food that you eat. Your teeth also maybe loose. Bad breath is another sign of gum disease.

     Gum disease ranges from gingivitis, a mild and common form that causes inflammation of the tissue around the teeth – to more serious forms like periodontitis, where the inflammation affects the connective tissue supporting the teeth.

     Gum disease is caused by the bacteria that are normally in the mouth. When allowed to build up, these bacteria accumulate where the gum meets the teeth.

     Did you know that gum disease can cause heart disease? Also people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease.

     Hope this helps to answer some of your questions.

10. QUESTION:
    gum disease?
    I have a dentist appointment once a year(check up) and my dentist hasn’t said anythuing bout gum disease but i think i may have it? What are the symptoms and is there medecation/cure? I understand some of the symptoms but not others! All answers appreciated-apart from nasty ones!please? Thanks
    also, i have tiny(pin prick size!)white spots on mu gums, at the front x

    • ANSWER:
      If you do have sore gums that bleed when you brush and floss, you may have a tooth brush with harder bristles than you need. Many people forget to look at what bristle strength is when they buy a tooth brush. Get one with soft or extra soft bristles, that will help you to not bleed as much. But that is not the only factor. My dentist mentioned to me, that the way I brush my teeth may cause the bleeding, and soreness too, which leads to gum recession. Which is where your tooth root starts becoming visible. That is also somewhat painful. If you brush your teeth with the idea that you are massaging your teeth, then your teeth won’t hurt as much. Its recommended that you divide your mouth into 4 areas, and that each area is brushed for about 1-2 minutes. However, if you have an electric toothbrush, you can cut that time down to 30 seconds to a minute.
      To help get rid of and prevent gum disease and something called gingivitus, there is listerine mouth wash, which should be used at least 2 times a day. Also there are toothpastes that help protect your teeth. Look into Collgate total with gingivitus and gum disease protection. Or look at a new tooth paste Crest pro health. My dentist just gave me a sample, otherwise I’d never known about it. But its great!

11. QUESTION:
    What happens once you have ADVANCEd GUM DISEASE?
    My teeth are loose, and became very loose just in the past few weeks. I havent seen the dentist yet, my appt is tomorrow. All my symptoms point to Advanced Gum disease. Will they have to remove all my teeth? What happens now, can my teeth and gums be saved? Please help i am so stressed
    My teeth are loose, and became very loose just in the past few weeks. I havent seen the dentist yet, my appt is tomorrow. All my symptoms point to Advanced Gum disease. Will they have to remove all my teeth? What happens now, can my teeth and gums be saved? Please help i am so stressed. I brush my teeth regularly, i floss and rinse. I have had bad teeth my whole life. Can they save yourteeth once they are LOOSE?

    • ANSWER:
      Try not to worry so much till you see your dentist , they have seen this many times before and will guide you through treatment options .

12. QUESTION:
    What disease causes the following symptoms: bleeding gums, loose teeth, painful and swollen joints?
    What disease causes the following symptoms: bleeding gums loose teeth painful and swollen joints and how do you cure them with natural remedies found on the Cape Verde islands?

    • ANSWER:
      it’s gum disease or periodontal disease in the advanced state which is periodontitis. taking care of your gums could entail only paying close attention to proper oral hygiene like proper brushing and careful flossing every after meal. this can help remove plaque that get stuck on teeth. having a regular dental check up and regular dental cleanings can make sure that teeth and gums stay healthy. water has a lot of health benefits and this can be advantageous to oral and dental health. make sure that you drink adequate amount of water to be able to keep bad bacteria in the mouth at bay. visit http://www.themouthdoctor.com for more gum care tips.

13. QUESTION:
    What are the odds of me having gum disease?
    hi, a part of my gum seems a little darker but i do not feel any pain and there are no other strange symptoms. What are the odds of me having gum disease and is treatment painful? I have a dentist appointment but i am just very paranoid

    • ANSWER:
      I had the beginning signs of gingivitus during my braces years. Since the doctor caught it early i was able to treat it with listerine mouth wash twice a day until it finally dissapeared while brushing my gums gently daily.

      Since your gums don’t bleed when you brush your teeth and its not painful to eat chances are if you do have gum disease it’s not severe.

      But see your dentist soon, if you do have early gum disease you maybe able to treat it with out any severe treatment, perhaps listerine maybe

      —my grandma and dad had gum disease. In order for them to clean out the bacteria they had to cut into the gums and clean out the infection. Of course it doesnt hurt during the process because your numbed with lots of novacane. After surgery there will be some throbbing where you had the oral surgery but pain medication can fix that. Plus gums heal rather quickly, nothing to fear.

14. QUESTION:
    What Are The Symptom’s of Gum Disease?
    Hi This Is Anna, Nikki’s sis. I Brush my teeth Averagely. But… I think I Might Have gum Disease

    I have… lets say not white teeth, I get tons of plaque build up, I have two teeth that never fell out, that are loose, but won’t fall out, it’s odd.

    I was wondering what the symptoms are, and if my teeth problems relate to anything… gum disease.

    Thank All<3 Alt3

    • ANSWER:
      Early stage of gum disease= they bleed easy while brushing or right after. or flossed.
      Gums that pull away from teeth easy.
      Persistent bad breath.
      Pus coming out.
      A change in the bite.
      Change in how teeth look together.
      Loose teeth.

15. QUESTION:
    I have Diabetes 2, good control with pills so far and a good diet. Can floaters in my eyes, frequent gum probl?
    I just developed floaters in my eyes, my feet on occassion swell with red spots on the tops, my teeth are a constant problem with gum disease. All symptoms are gradually increasing! My doctors are just watching and I take pills. Opinion?

    • ANSWER:
      Gum problems are usual in a diabetic. That’s why it is important to take good care of them.

      About the floaters in your eyes you should consult an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) to see what’s the best treatment for you ( if you need surgery or not).

      Your swelling feet might be a sign of kidney damage that usually happen when diabetic.

16. QUESTION:
    Gum disease symptom? Plz help?
    Hey, this has been happening every time I started to floss. When I floss other teeth everything is fine up until I reach this one tooth where when I start to floss, the gums sort of peels off of the tooth on one side, but then it seems to reattach after I pull the flossing wire out. Is this normal? My gums look healthy, they are pink and not swollen. None of my teeth or gums bleed except for a little bit at that particular tooth. Is this normal? Should I be worried?

    Also I wear braces.

    • ANSWER:
      With Braces it’s common to have gingiva on a tooth that detaches. It isn’t o.k. or healthy, just can be common. Good For you for flossing with braces!! That’s a chore. I would keep the area as clean as possible, DO NOT brush too hard. And ask your orthodontist to look at it next time you go in. It MAY be something they have to just laser off once your ortho treatment is done.
      Sorry couldn’t be more help, it’s hard to say without seeing it.

17. QUESTION:
    Gum disease?
    My husband has really bad breath almost all the time, his gums bleed when he brushes, he wakes up every morning with reddish-brownish stuff on his teeth and his mouth stinks. His nose is always runny (all year round – not sure if this has anything to do with it). He had a metal brace fitted at the back of his teeth 12 years ago – i’m not sure if that has caused the problem. He uses strong paste and mouthwash regularly but still the symptoms persist. Any idea what is going on and what can be done? He has seen as oral hygienist and all she did was clean his teeth and told him how to look after them! Its so hard to find a proper dentist that will do their job – any advice will be helpful. Many thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      He needs to see a Periodontist, they have a whole arsenal of methods to treat his gums, if his gum infection is bad enough they can place an antibiotic right inside the gums, as well as other method. A dentist is great for your teeth a periodontist specializes in the health of your gums.

18. QUESTION:
    Does gum disease heal by itself?
    Hey guys,

    I’ve been showing symptoms of gum disease (my gums are red near some of my teeth), so I began treating it by telling my mom to buy mouthwash and an appropriate toothpaste, and also started flossing.

    So my question is, if I treat it well, will my gums recover and go back to looking the way they did before it started? (aside from the redness, I heard it slowly “eats up” your gums)

    • ANSWER:
      Your best bet is to visit the dentist. You might need some deep cleaning to remove all of the tartar from your gums and teeth. Mouthwashes will only help temporarily with the swelling and redness. The longer you wait the worse it may get.

19. QUESTION:
    Do I have Gum disease?
    I constantly have bad breath, like always, fresh for about 30 mins after I brush, but then goes all stale again. Every now and then i can push my front teeth with my tongue and they feel a bit loose aswell. I heard these are both symptoms of Gum Disease. I do not feel any pain in my gums.

    If this is the case, should I be taking corsodyl mouthwash, and if i do take this, how long will it take to sort the problem out?

    Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      The reason you always have bad breath is because you are not cleaning your tongue. Look in the mirror at the top of your tongue for some white stuff, especially on the back one-third of your tongue. This white stuff must be cleaned off to get rid of bad breath. I use OraBrush tongue cleaner because it is designed to clean the back of your tongue. Your toothbrush is designed to clean your teeth, not your tongue. I have used OraBrush for about 6 months with great success. It works great for me. It will also help you cure your bad breath.

20. QUESTION:
    dentist said i have gum disease i need help please..?
    Right guys , so a couple of days ago i went to the dentist for my usual 6month check up and the dentist said i needed to brush better in order for my gums to get in better condition. after spending some time on the internet reading about the bleeding gums symptoms i asked my dentist if i had gum disease to which she replied.. however she didnt tell me how severe it was..she only prescribed me toothpaste and gave me some corsodyl mini toothbrushes to brush between my teeth with.. however i chose to start flossing as well and i have been flossing and using the mini toothbrushes for 4 days now and i can see improvement.. the thing is next time im going which is the 25th september she is going to be doing cleaning and polishing of my teeth. does that mean i wont lose my teeth and hoping it will get better?im really scared that by the 25th september the gums might get worse although theyre currently improving by regular flossing and using mouthwash at night and morning.is there any hope at this stage ? thanks guys
    also would it be suitable for me to use crest whitening strips in the mean time or do i wait until the gingivitis is gone and my gums have healed before i bleach them ?
    i forgot to mention that my mother has had gum disease since she was 16 and shes now 41 and her teeth are in perfect condition ..i guess its genetic

    • ANSWER:
      If you already have gingivitis, the whitening strips are going to sting like hadies. Do not use these until you have this problem cleared up. Keep doing exactly as you have been instructed. You can always improve your teeth and gums but there are no guarantees that you won’t lose your teeth in the future. By having regular dentist check-ups and following your dentists advice on care of your teeth, you reduce your chances of losing your teeth early. And, if there are any future problems, you can get this diagnosed early via regular check ups and get it treated properly.

21. QUESTION:
    Dentist said i have gum disease i need help please..?
    Right guys , so a couple of days ago i went to the dentist for my usual 6month check up and the dentist said i needed to brush better in order for my gums to get in better condition. after spending some time on the internet reading about the bleeding gums symptoms i asked my dentist if i had gum disease to which she replied.. however she didnt tell me how severe it was..she only prescribed me toothpaste and gave me some corsodyl mini toothbrushes to brush between my teeth with.. however i chose to start flossing as well and i have been flossing and using the mini toothbrushes for 4 days now and i can see improvement.. the thing is next time im going which is the 25th september she is going to be doing cleaning and polishing of my teeth. does that mean i wont lose my teeth and hoping it will get better?im really scared that by the 25th september the gums might get worse although theyre currently improving by regular flossing and using mouthwash at night and morning.is there any hope at this stage ? thanks guys
    also would it be suitable for me to use crest whitening strips in the mean time or do i wait until the gingivitis is gone and my gums have healed before i bleach them ?

    • ANSWER:
      i have had this for about 4 years, i always brushed my teeth and everything and still got it, i was so upset but there is absolutly nothing you can do about it, so just keep regulary brushing your teeth and everything else then you know your doing everything you can and if you keep on top of it you wont lose any teeth and i ahve to have scale and polishing every six month to clean any plaque in my teeth just try not to brush too hard because it makes it worse good luck

22. QUESTION:
    Diagnosing Gum Disease?
    Yesterday I went in for my first dental exam for a very long time. I had a cleaning and a dental exam done.

    When I saw the dentist, I mentioned that I had a slightly loose tooth. I showed him which one it was. The dentist asked if I had been hit there and I’d said “a few times” because I take martial arts. But before I could say that I didn’t think the hits I took there were bad enough to do damage to my teeth, he more or less said that he wasn’t that concerned with the tooth. He didn’t wiggle it at all, nor measure any pockets for possible gum disease.

    I’ve had some of the symptoms of gum disease in the past: swelling, bleeding gums when brushing or eating things like apples, bad breath, at one point the gum near the tooth in question got swollen really bad, looked like it had a different texture to it and was starting to pull away from the tooth a little. Once I started boosting my dental hygine this all went back to normal within 24 hours.

    Should I just take the dentists word that its okay even though he didn’t wiggle the tooth or test the gum with a measure for gum disease? I had a traditional teeth cleaning done and the only thing the dental hygenist mentioned to me was that my gums were inflamed from the plaque accumulated under the gums, but she never mentioned gum disease nor gum recession. I don’t know if she happened to try to measure pockets either because I couldn’t see what she was doing, but I was pretty sure it was just scaling and polishing.

    Is gum disease something that is tested for every time you go into the dentist and maybe I just missed the hygenist doing the test? Wouldn’t she have mentioned something to the dentist if she thought I needed to have my gum condition looked into? Would the dentist have tested me if he thought a gum problem might be an issue?

    I just really want to make sure that the slightly loose tooth is a result of me getting smacked around in class and not something more serious such as gum disease.

    • ANSWER:
      My advice to you is to get a second opinion. Generally when x-rays are taken, a complete oral exam is done, including measuring pockets. This is done with a slightly bent, slightly sharp tool called a perio probe that the dentist or hygienist puts between the teeth and the gums. They should be measuring every tooth. You would be able to feel this as it is a little bit uncomfortable.

      Chances are, if you have had gum decease in the past, and it has been a long time since your last cleaning, then you have it again.

      Ask a friend for a referral to a new dentist for a second opinion.

23. QUESTION:
    How can I treat my kitten’s gum disease from home?
    He’s a feral stray and was abandoned by his mother. He’s approx 4 months old and has the worst breath imaginable. Last night I discovered clusters of swollen lymph nodes on both sides of his throat and his gums and teeth seem to be infected. He shows no other symptoms related to a more serious ailment such as loss of appetite, lethargy, diarehea, vomiting, etc…
    I’m sure the problem is in his mouth but I can’t afford a vet right now! Help!!! Any at-home remedy suggestions??

    • ANSWER:
      Take it to the PDSA or an RSPCA animal hospital.
      Free veterinary services. I’ve used them and they are very good.

24. QUESTION:
    what are the symptoms of gum diseases in the teeth?

    • ANSWER:

25. QUESTION:
    why is there slow wound healing, blurred vision, gum disease in diabetic patients?
    why is there slow wound healing, blurred vision, gum disease in diabetic patients? i mean, what exactly happens inside the body that causes these signs and symptoms in patients? pls tell me one by one…thanks a lot:) 10pts and 5stars for the most informative:)

    • ANSWER:
      Diabetics have a multitude of health issues that can be bad according to how they take care of their condition and how they eat. The reason they get wounds that don’t real is because diabetics tend to have circulation problems and get infections easily especially in the lower limbs(legs).Why is Wound Healing Reduced Because of Diabetes?
      Wounds:
      When you have elevated blood sugar, one of the primary problems associated with these levels is that you have a reduced ability to heal properly. There are a number of reasons for this connection. One is poor circulation. When you have elevated blood sugar, fatty deposits can end up building up on artery walls. The extra sugars can end up damaging proteins along the lining of the arteries as well. When the blood can’t circulate efficiently, especially to extremities like the feet, healing is minimized.

      Another problem can be nerve damage. Neuropathy is a complication of elevated blood sugar. When this occurs, you may not notice right away when you have an injury. This means that the injury could become more severe and more difficult to heal. This also means that the chances for infection are higher.

      Even more importantly is that the immune system simply doesn’t work well in the presence of elevated blood sugar. As a result, wound healing is slower. Infections are also common because of the slowed healing, making the infection harder to get rid of once it develops.

      Problems Associated with Slow Wound Healing

      If you have a small cut on your arm that seems to heal too slowly, you might not think anything of it. However, elevated blood sugar does not always cause minor complications like this. Let’s say you develop a blister on your foot. For most people, this is not a serious problem. For people with elevated blood sugar levels, however, that blister can continue to worsen without proper healing. If it becomes infected, a person could literally lose a foot if that infection spreads.
      This is where circulation gets the worst and I believe that hypertension is a root problem here. Diabetics have changes that occur in the retina of the eye and will change their vision and if the sugar is high in the blood it will also cause blurred vison to happen.
      Gum Disease:
      People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because diabetics are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes. Those people who don’t have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.

      A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that poorly controlled type 2 diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease than well-controlled diabetics are.

      Research has emerged that suggests that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways – periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

      Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts diabetics at increased risk for diabetic complications. Thus, diabetics who have periodontal disease should be treated to eliminate the periodontal infection.

      The Eyes:
      Diabetes and Blurred Vision
      Don’t buy a new pair of glasses when you notice you have blurred vision. It could just be a temporary problem that develops rapidly and is caused by high blood sugar levels.
      There are changes in the retina when a person has diabetes.
      High blood sugar causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of blurred vision, you need to get your blood sugar back into the target range (80-140 mg/dL before meals, and 100-160 mg/dL before bedtime snack). It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal.

26. QUESTION:
    I think I may have gum disease..?
    What are the symptoms? My gums bleed EVERY TIME I brush my teeth and they’ve been red and really puffy. Is gum disease curable? How?

    • ANSWER:
      Sure sounds like gum disease. The cure starts with a visit to a dentist.

27. QUESTION:
    How can you make your breath smell ok when you have peridontal disease?
    I have gum disease and one of the symptoms is bad breathe. How can I make my breath smell ok in spite of it?

    • ANSWER:
      Any mouthrinse that’s ALCOHOL FREE! Alcohol kills the good and the bad bacteria, and since alcohol is a sugar, it makes your breath smell worse. Oasis was a brand of mouthrinse that I tried that helped keep my mouth moist Sugar free gum and candies can help. Bad breath is caused when the mouth dries out, so keep water or diet drinks on hand.

28. QUESTION:
    DO I HAVE GUM DISEASE?
    I’m 15, and here’s some symptoms;

    -Swollen Gums
    -Sore Gums
    -Changes in the way I bit
    -Clear stuff coming from my gums
    -Gums separated
    -Teeth appear loner
    -Teeth are loose
    -Gingivitis
    -Bad breathe/Bad taste(in mouth)
    -Gums formed a pocket below the gum line
    -Dentist said I have to get my teeth pulled

    I know I have to go to Dentist , and just tell me if I have it or not. I have to wait until Monday, and I have to know NOW!

    Question: Do I have Periodontitis’ (Gum Disease)?

    If I do have it: Am I going to die from it?
    Is there a way to get rid of it?
    I meant to put BITE

    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like you do have periodontal disease symptoms, but I would need to see your gums/teeth to say defiantly, so let your dentist do that on Monday.

      Why do people get perio?
      1) Correct Bacteria- you need specific bacteria in your mouth to get gum disease and different ones cause different types of gum disease.
      2) A susceptible host- ie it runs in family’s do your parents, uncles, aunties , brothers, sisters have it?
      3) Substrate- so sugar, for the bacteria to feed off.

      You need all 3 to get gum disease.

      What can you do?
      i) Have excellent oral hygiene, so brush for 2 mins twice a day with a fluoridated tooth paste. (colgate total is good as it has an antibacterial property the others don’t have)
      ii) Brush in between your teeth, either using floss or inter dental brushes, ask your hygienist/dentist to show you how to use them.
      iii) Go to the hygienist. 30 mins after you brush bacteria stick to your teeth and form a biofilm over your teeth, this has protective properties but if left to build up can create a perfect place for bad bacteria to live. Over time this biofilm calcifies and becomes a hard substance called plaque. You can’t remove this by brushing alone, so you need the hygienist to use scalers (instruments) to scrap away this debris.
      iv) Don’t smoke. Smokers are at higher risks of getting perio, especially ANUG.
      v)The dentist may prescribe you antibiotics to clear up the worst of the bacteria.
      vi) Deep pockets can hurt and be painful.

      Some Advice
      - If your teeth bleed when you floss/brush them it tells you your doing it right, as there is active inflammation/infection. Keep at it and it should stop within a few days, amazing things gums!!
      - Get some disclosing tablets and find out were the ares are that you are missing.
      - Get some corsodyl mouth wash and use it once a day but wait 20 mins before brushing as the toothpaste will deactivate it. (Only use for 2 weeks max)
      -Ask your dentist why they are removing your teeth, ask if there are alternative because your kinda young to be losing them….

      Don’t worry you can’t die form gum disease. Some people with heart conditions can be at increased risk due to the higher bacterial load in your mouth.

29. QUESTION:
    Help! Do I have gingivitis/gum disease (pics included)?
    Okay, I’d just like to start off by saying that I’ve been brushing twice a day, flossing once or twice a day, and using antiseptic mouthwash daily. However, recently I’ve discovered a few days ago that I had not been flossing the back my third upper right molar (I assumed that my gum was covering the crown, like my lower rearmost molars).

    I have been a bit more meticulous about my flossing and have paid special attention to that particular spot of my mouth, and a few days later I started bleeding and feeling pain during my flossing and brushing. Here are some pictures of that area:

    

    

    Now, I’ve done some a bit of reading about gingivitis and gum disease, and I’ve been really scared to see that I’ve matched up with a couple of the symptoms: bleeding, soft gums that are painless except when pressure is applied, slightly redder hue in comparison to the rest of the gum. However, I’ve looked at images of mouths with gingivitis, but mine didn’t really bear a whole lot of resemblance to them. In fact, it looks kind of like a canker sore or mouth ulcer placed beside a tooth.

    It’s been a few days now, and I’ve been intensifying my oral hygiene efforts, but the situation has not diminished. I’m scheduled for a dentist appointment next month, but I’m afraid that if I don’t act quickly I might descend into a more serious condition.

    Do I have gingivitis or some other gum disease? What should I do to alleviate it? Is it possible that my brushing/flossing/mouthrinse might be exacerbating the problem? Should I be really concerned?

    • ANSWER:
      I have followed a technique developed by Dr. Keyes some years back. Which is to simply mix baking soda, peroxide and salt together into a paste form and brush with it. It healed and toughen up my gums. So you might try this insted of harsh brushing etc. that may be abusing your mouth and gums.

30. QUESTION:
    how do i know if i have gum disease?
    ok so the last couple of days there has been this sort of swollen spot on the inside of my mouth. it started off small then expanded. so i looked at it in the mirror using another small mirror (because its on the roof of my mouth right behind my front teeth. and i think i saw some sort of small black spot. not exactly sure though. it doesnt really hurt that much. i usually try to brush my teeth an average once a day but forget often and now i noticed some tar or whatcha callit on one of my teeth. and ive done some research on other symptoms. sometimes my gums bleed if i brush dont brush them for a while then start again. but then it goes away. also none of my teeth feel as though they are loose. and i think my gums are a normal color and i dont have bad breath. its this swelling nd black spot that have me worried. i tried brushing my teeth more often and now im gonna try and rinse with warm salt water and possibly start flossing. is this gum disease? if sohow do i treat it without going to the dentist? if i have to go to the dentist how much would it cost in canada to get them fixed? cleaned?

    • ANSWER:

31. QUESTION:
    Gum disease w/ out the inflammation of the gums and bleeding easily? I NEED HELP!!?
    So at the root of some of my teeth theres a white line on them and one of my teeth has a very little pocket between the gums and the tooth. but when i touch through the pocket, its hard and it doesn’t hurt. I don’t understand whats going on there, but I don’t think its normal to have a pocket like that cause it wasn’t there before. I went to a dentist a month ago and they said my teeth were fine though they noticed the white parts and told me to use dental hygiene more. but it just came as a shock today when i was scratching my teeth with my nails from the roots up, and i felt a small separation. should i go straight to the dentist or are there a great natural remedy I can use? I’d prefer that, because going to the dentist is expensive and I dont want to get my mom mad (I’m 15). I’m not sure if its gum disease.. cause the only symptom I’ve noticed was the receding of that one tooth (if it even is receding. otherwise why was there that hard part through the hole?). and its only at a sliver on the front of the tooth. the back of it is sealed and the tooth isn’t wiggly, and doesn’t hurt I think. ugh what do I do? The tooth is my first premolar on my left side (bottom tooth). I’m not sure if its a baby tooth trying to come out though. I mean when i lost teeth before they were wiggly and I dont remember spaces being between the gums and the teeth. are premolars even replaceable by a permanent tooth? i dont even remember if i lost it already. im just freaked out and would like some help, please! if you can give me a natural remedy to whatever I have, then at what point should I go to the dentist if things aren’t going the right way? how long do i wait til there’s results, basically.

    finally, is this the best way to have good oral hygeine? brush my teeth, floss, then use mouth wash. my mom says i should floss before I brush.. but idk.

    Thanks sooooooooo much. I dont wanna be toothless! lol

    • ANSWER:
      IMHO, premolars are worse than a month

32. QUESTION:
    What is wrong with my health? gum disease? hiv? PLEASE HELP?
    HELP I can no longer live in constant fear of my health! I’m an 18 year old female college freshman. End of september or beginning of october one day my gums started bleeding out of no where i thought it was weird but didn’t think much of it. Few days later i started getting swollen glands, at first they were growing and painful but then just kind of stayed the same size, at this time i was having every symptom of mono and felt confident that was the problem, got blood tests and i did not have mono, didn’t have the flu or strep either. Also at this time (begining-mid october) i started having really itchy armpits not constantly itchy but once i started the itch was extreme.
    Since then, my gums bled randomly a few times they were tender and painful (especially front on bottom gums) the moment i would begin to brush my teeth my gums would start bleeding very much. my gums pushed down and my bottom front teeth definitely appear longer. my gums no longer bleed and aren’t really tender but once again the front of my bottom row of teeth are effected, the teeth have space between them that was never there before, they don’t look different but i can breathe through the small spaces and also have developed a habit of constantly rubbing the tip of my tongue up and down the spaces, which i believe to be the cause of constant canker sores on my tongue. I have all the signs of gum disease and even though i’m young i wouldn’t be surprised at all if i have gum disease. I’ll admit my entire life i’ve had poor dental hygiene, i’ve had many cavities/fillings a root canal which i never got a cap for it fell out a few years later, tooth got infected and had to be pulled out, so you get the picture. I definitely have some dental issues that i plan to get checked out and honestly the realization that i am the poster child for gum disease just came to me. My other symptoms may be a separate issue or all combined they might piece together a completely different puzzle. As for glands they went down after about a week, except underneath my chin. I usually have a pretty defined jaw line but for months now the whole area underneath my chin to neck (not just along jaw bone but the in between area too) is puffy and swollen, that area never went back to normal with the rest of my glands. This area doesn’t hurt or feel like swollen glands and it’s definitely not due to weight gain. So I went to the dr. (my campus health center which is poor quality) back when i was convinced i had mono, at this point my glands had started going down and the dr. couldn’t feel them (usually my swollen glands feel like balls you can move around but this time it was just like entire swollenness that doesn’t really move around) which is probably why the dr. couldn’t feel the glands that well. I didn’t have mono but the dr. scheduled me a follow up appt about a week or so later. At my next appointment i explained to the dr. about my confusion and frustration for not knowing what was wrong with me. I told her all of my different symptoms and health abnormalities and held back tears explaining that i just knew there is something wrong with my health something is not right (i have always been very in tune with my body i can tell when i’m just starting to get an infection or sick i just can feel when something wrong) i also told her even if she couldn’t feel much swelling in my glands before it was there and that the underneath of my chin never went back to normal and had been swollen for some time now. i didn’t have mono, strep, flu, sinus or respiratory infection so i didn’t understand why my glands were chronically swollen. What the dr. said next is the scariest thing i’ve ever heard, she asked if i think i have hiv. I told her i don’t think i have hiv because i’m not really sexually active but it is possible, and i asked why she asked about hiv of all stds. She told me puffy swollen glands for no reason is a sign of hiv, i didn’t get tested that day because i did not want my mom getting that bill. Theres a thin line between denial and paranoid and i’m not sure where i fall, i don’t have sex often but i’ve had a moderate amount of partners and haven’t always used protection, so i have thought that having an std was a possibility but i never in a million years thought hiv. Since then ive tried to ignore that hiv even exists but i can only deny and ignore my fears for so long because in reality that is the most terrifying thought i could ever have. My armpit itch never went away it isnt constant but i will break out in an extreeme itch sometimes its multiple times a days sometimes i wont notice for a day or two (pits are lymph nodes too). so currently under my chin is puffy my armpits get very itchy my teeth are spaced and i always have canker sores on my tongue. My intuition tells me somethings wrong with my health and these symptoms are persistent. S

    • ANSWER:

33. QUESTION:
    Question about gum disease and setting up appointment?
    I’m pretty sure I have gum disease. I have all the signs and symptoms of periodontitis. Anyways, I have no dental insurance and I’m pregnant and I mostly need a consultation. I have two questions though. My first is, is it common for dentists/periodontal specialists to give you a consultation? I don’t make a ton of money and i really need to get this done soon, but I have little to no money left after bills so if I could get a free consultation to know my price it would be good. Also, should I make an appointment with a dentist or periodontal specialist? If I’m pretty sure I know I have the disease?

    • ANSWER:
      I too had gum disease and when I found out, I did not have dental insurance. The consultation was free. The subsequent treatments were NOT, they were very expensive. So to your first question, I think a lot of dentists will in fact do a free consultation- in fact I think I googled “Free dental consultation” and that is how I came up with my dentist!

      Second, I think you should go to a dentist first and let THEM diagnose you. Further, the dentist might be able to help you with the costs or might know someone who can help you at a lower cost. My dentist set me up with a company that gave a loan for dental care that gave me one year to pay back with no interest, and after the year very low interest. I didn’t end up using it (I got a job and was able to pay out of pocket, which PS was tax deductible and I got sooo much money back in April!).

      There are options out there- don’t give up. Healthy gums are so important for you and for your unborn baby! Check out this website for some direction:

      http://www.hrsa.gov/help/default.htm

34. QUESTION:
    What should I feed a pregnant chihuahua with gum disease?
    I’ve been baby sitting my niece’s dog for a couple of months, she is pregnant and should be due in a month or two.She is about 5 years old. Recently we just discovered that most of her teeth were loose and and some had fallen out, which explained why she would hardly eat. Then we looked up the symptoms which all signaled to advanced gum disease. We began feeding her soft canned food and moistened kibble. Is that enough nutrition for her and the puppies?

    Oh! We haven’t taken her to the vet because we know that they won’t be able to do much because she is pregnant. Any suggestions of food and home remedies?

    • ANSWER:
      This dog needs to be seen by a vet now!!! Severe gum disease and possible infected teeth can cause a dog to become septic. it can affect her heart among other internal organs.

      A vet can do a lot…one thing they can do is make sure she is pregnant and give a guess as to how far along she is. This knowledge is very very important ..it is vital to the dog 7 any puppies she may be having. You need to be prepared. She was not in proper condition health wise or age wise to be bred in the first place..she needs appropriate prenatal vet care.
      There are no safe or good home remedies.

35. QUESTION:
    what are some symptoms of TB disease?
    i’m caughing, sneezing, very ichy on my skin, my gum has bump, my tonge hurts, and my period is abnormal… is this a serious disease?

    • ANSWER:
      Symptoms of TB depend on where in the body the TB bacteria are growing. TB bacteria usually grow in the lungs. TB in the lungs may cause symptoms such as:
      a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
      pain in the chest
      coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm from deep inside the lungs)
      Other symptoms of active TB disease are:
      weakness or fatigue
      weight loss
      no appetite
      chills
      fever
      sweating at night
      Were you exposed to someone with active TB? The best thing you can do is to go see your Dr. and get a tb test.
      Itchy skin, bump on gum, and abnormal period have nothing to do with TB. You need to go see a dr. and let them tell you what is wrong….

36. QUESTION:
    worried about gum disease? help?
    So I always used a manuel toothbrush until I decided to buy a power or automatic toothbrush. I have noticed more recently now that my gums have started to bleed quite often when I brush usually leaving cuts. My Father told me its because of the toothbrush because I rarely had this problem when using my old toothbrush,but It kinda frightened me when I typed in Bleeding gums on Google and every link came up about gingivitis and gum disease.

    Should I be worried or is there any other symptoms of gingivitis?

    Also, I brush twice a day

    • ANSWER:

37. QUESTION:
    Gum Disease, Any Help?
    I went to the Dentist for the first time ever just over 3 weeks ago. She did a cleaning/x-rays etc.

    I got told i had slight gum disease (some gums around my teeth bleed, when i brush,eat,spit)

    Ive been using corsodyl and doing salt water rinses, my gums still bleed but not as much. Will continuing with the corsodyl sort this or will i always have these symptoms?

    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Hello,

      Here is a link to our blog that will discuss 7 tips for preventing Gum Disease. I hope these tips help you. There is other useful information for you here. http://blog.tlc4gums.com/2011/05/02/7-tips-to-prevent-gum-disease/

      Good Luck!

38. QUESTION:
    I may have Periodontal disease, what will happen to my mouth?
    I think I have this tooth/gum disease, I am making an appt for a dentist bc I just figured out I CAN use my insurance thanks to the people that answered my question about it since I am completely clueless about insurances and stuff. My gums bleed everytime I brush and get really swollen which are major symptoms of that. If I do have this what will they do, I mean, dont laugh but, they wont take all my teeth out will they?

    • ANSWER:
      Your dentist will take a look and evaluate your condition. Don’t be afraid.

      Will you lose all your teeth? It depends on how well you are keeping your teeth. They will probably set you up for some deep cleaning before they can do anything else. They will simply clean deep down around the roots.

      Let them bleed!! Many people don’t realize that is how your gums clean themselves. You see blood? Keep brushing! Keep flossing!

      Good luck. It’s not an uncommon thing, and I work in pediatrics! I’m sure you will get the care you need.

39. QUESTION:
    gum disease and loose teeth, cancer?
    I had a deep cleaning treatment done last month to treat my gum disease. I was in a huge amount of pain at first, but not so much anymore. I’m a light/medium smoker, about 5-10 cigarettes a day. I smoke on one side of my mouth and the exact area that I smoke on has two very loose teeth and my gums are very tender and very swollen only in that area. It’s been a month now and it’s not getting better. My dentist sent me to a gum specialist for the loose teeth because normally there would be bone loss on my jaw causing the loose teeth, but there isn’t. The gum specialist didn’t find any problems, even looked for std symptoms, but didn’t find anything. He just told me to quit smoking, which I am. Just today i’m noticing a small amount of white stuff coming from my gums between my two loose teeth.
    I’m starting to be more concerned that this might be cancer, or maybe an std. Of course i’m going to have this checked out more but I was curious if anyone might have any advice or have had a similar problem?
    I was also prescribed tetracycline which hasn’t seemed to do much good.
    They took more xrays and finally found the infection, i need a root canal.

    • ANSWER:
      It sounds like the white stuff is still some infection present . It is not cancer or a std. But I think other antibiotics beside tetracycline would be much more effective. In the meantime rinse the area every 2 hours with a warm saline solution. good luck.

40. QUESTION:
    Pericoronitis and gum disease?
    A few months ago, I went to the dentist and found out I have periodontal disease. I was treated with a scaling/planing procedure for this. However, I still have my wisdom teeth, which are a bit impacted, and I’m now experiencing symptoms of pericoronitis. I don’t have dental insurance, so I don’t want to make another visit to the dentist unless it seems for sure I have pericoronitis and should be getting antibiotics for it (my symptoms are a very tight, hard-to-open jaw, pain in my jaw from time to time, and swollen lymph nodes under my chin). Are pericoronitis and periodontal disease related in any way (meaning, could my gum disease have caused an infection around my wisdom teeth) and does it sound like my symptoms really might be related to pericoronitis?

    • ANSWER:
      HELLO,
      PERICORINITIS IS NOT RELATED TO PERIODONTITIS.
      THE PERICORINITIS IS CAUSED WHEN WISDOM TEETH ERUPT AND ARE NOT RELATED TO THE OTHER AT ALL. THE WISDOM TOOTH(ETH) WITH IS SHOULD HAVE EITHER THE INFECTED GUM CUT AWAY (GINGIVECTOMY), ASSUMING THE TOOTH IS COMING IN STRAIGHT OR THE WHOLE TOOTH EXTRACTED.

41. QUESTION:
    Mouth Infection? Gum Disease? STD?
    I’ll start with a brief overview of me; I’m 19 years old, am sexually active, am prescribed to 20mg of Adderall XR, and have used chewing tobacco for a little over a year however I have recently quit and haven’t dipped in 3 weeks, and I also previously had a lip piercing but I took it out about 3 or 4 months ago . A little over a month ago I discovered a tiny pimple sized white thing on my lingual frenum (2 or 3 days after engaging in unprotected sex) and it disappeared in about 2 or 3 days. I was tested for strep throat and mono about 2 weeks later due to persistence and progression of symptoms. They both came back negative. My symptoms were; stuffy nose, drainage of mucus onto tongue, swollen tongue and papillae on back of tongue, puffy cheeks, swollen glands in neck, mildly swollen and red tonsils, sore throat, mild fatigue, and mild baggage under eyes.

    Now it’s been about a month and 2 weeks and I’m still sick even though I feel better. I know still have drainage onto tongue, greenish hairy tongue, mild sore throat, and the facial swelling has gone down. However I know experience a new symptom which is a dry mouth. I wake up every morning with a pretty dry mouth, red gums, and have to drink a glass of water. I also now have increased thirst.

    I was wondering if this could be an oral STD, an infection, gum disease from previously dipping or from my wisdom teeth coming in, or maybe a result of Hypothryoidism? I read Adderall and other ADHD stimulants can cause this, and I do have numerous symptoms however they go hand-in-hand with ADHD and ADD..

    I am going to the doctor again next week but I’m kinda scared and would like some information sooner if possible! Thanks in advance!

    • ANSWER:
      all i know is that the greenish hairy toungue is from chewing tobacco

42. QUESTION:
    What could cause gum/lip pain?
    For the last couple of days, the part of my mouth where my lip meets the gum has been really sore, and irritated. My gums don’t bleed or anything when I brush my teeth, and I don’t chew tobacco. I am pretty sure I remember it starting after I ate a dish with WAY too much garlic powder and salt and spices. Could that have caused the irritation? When I look in the mirror, I don’t see anything abnormal, but to be honest, I never really looked at that part of my body before so I don’t know exactly what normal would look like. I soaked a piece of paper towel in rum (hahaha redneck) and stuck it down in there, because I didn’t have any orajel and it feels better briefly, but then the pain returns. Should I just ignore it? I don’t have any symptoms of gum disease, and the area close to my teeth does not hurt, it is just the little pocket inside my lip. Mostly one side. Thoughts? Anything I should put on it (besides rum!) I feel like it’s raw, and if I eat anything or brush my teeth, it kind of irritates it more.

    • ANSWER:
      maybe you’ve cut it some other way? you should go to your dentist and make sure it wasn’t an ulcer or something and to make sure it wont get infected. my lip got infected and was really really sore so you should get it checked out. good luck!

43. QUESTION:
    I have inflamed gums, should I wait until Monday when the dentists opens?
    It’s the right side of my mouth, not causing too much of an annoyance. Should I ring an out of hours telephone service or wait and book an appointment on Monday? I’ve heard that inflamed gums is the first symptom of gum disease. What should I do?

    • ANSWER:
      Nobody ever died suddenly from inflamed gums, you will be fine until monday. Of course, if you find yourself in IMMENSE pain then get looked after.

44. QUESTION:
    Cat Disease Symptoms?
    My mom got me a new kitten a few weeks ago, and when we got him his paws were pink. Like bubble-gum pink. Yesterday, they were still that colour. I looked at him today and his nose and paws(Or the pads on the paws and toes) had faded to almost white. Is this a disease of some sort, or the beginning of one?
    Edit:

    The cat is acting normally and eats and drinks regularly, And does roughhouse. He takes on my 28 pound cat Smudge and my 14 pound cat Cuddles. – Thanks Connie S.

    And his gums are getting a bit paler too, So I will try to check with the vet.

    • ANSWER:
      it could be a signal of anemia. That kit could be in serious trouble. If it were mine, I’d be schedualling a vet visit especially if the cat is not eating, or is lethargic… at that point I don’t think I’d even waste time calling, Id be on their door step.

      If the kitty is acting normal and eating and just seems a little paler, try getting it to rough house. Maybe a little extra blood flow will pink things up again… if not see the first paragraph

45. QUESTION:
    Name this disease with these Symptoms:?
    Name this disease with these Symptoms:
    1. Your nose bleeds
    2. Your gum bleeds
    3. Your stomach hurts
    4. You often feel like vomiting
    5. The only way to heal it is to have a lung transplant..?

    I am not so sure of the actual symptoms. I saw it in a tv show. I really want to know the name because i’m writing a story and i don’t want to use cancer.

    • ANSWER:
      i don’t know that nose bleeds or bleeding gums comes with the territory….

      but try Cystic Fibrosis for your story…

      It’s a lung disease usually only cured by a lung transplant. With CF, the lungs fill with mucus which has to be expelled every day….usually by beating the back and chest to loosen the junk from the wall of the lungs….

46. QUESTION:
    How do you get rid of gingivitis?
    What are the symptoms of gingivitis (gum disease) and how can you get rid of it?

    • ANSWER:
      Symptoms you would notice are red areas on the gums around the teeth, soreness of the gums and bleeding gums. You may also notice a foul taste or continual bad breath. The Dentist or Hygienist may notice loss of attachment of the gums to the tooth.
      Easiest way to get rid of gum disease is to not get it in the first place. Regular brushing after meals and flossing avoid and eliminate most gum disease in its early stages. As gum disease progresses there are other procedures that can be done by your Dentist or Hygienist to help you control the disease.

      Dr. Dan

47. QUESTION:
    Do I have gum disease?
    My teeth have been bleeding for a long time every time I brush my teeth, which i always ignored. Until recently. Now they bleed from eating, touching, or even sometimes just randomly for no reason. Some of them hurt now as well. Everything on the internet with these symptoms points to Periodontitis, but I hope thats not the case. Could it just be gingivitis? I go to the dentist on wednesday im just worried, I really hope I dont have peridontitis. I admit I never floss and often forget to brush my teeth, but that will change now. I have looked at pictures of people with periodontitis and their mouths look a lot worse then mine….but even if i have the early stages then I still have to do root scaling and stuff which is not fun at all. Could it be anything else? Im hoping its just gingivitis but that is not supposed to be painful and shouldnt bleed just from eating.

    • ANSWER:
      you have a bad gum problem, just by touching you get bleeding shows the severity of infection. Since your teeth hurts shows that it has become mobile. Its a clear sign of chronic to acute periodontists. You need to take some antibiotics containing metronidizol to take care of anaerobes, full radiograph & may need minor surgery.

48. QUESTION:
    the symptoms of which deficiency disease are reddning of gums & eye balls,fatigue?

    • ANSWER:
      mouth and gum diease

49. QUESTION:
    I dip and have some weird symptoms?
    As you already know I dip and recently i have had some weird symptoms like sensative teeth. My lips also go numb extremely quick when I put ice in my lip (dont ask). i was just wondering if this was gum disease or what. (I really doubt its cancer ive only dipped for like 2 years lol.

    • ANSWER:
      You are damaging your teeth gums, and nerves. You may have periodontal disease and cancer is a possibility. You need to have the area looked out and possibly biopsied.

50. QUESTION:
    My dog is 18 and experiencing all the symptoms of old age, i dont want her to suffer should I put her down?
    My dog is 18, she’s blind, deaf, has hip dyspepsia (you can see where it comes undone), a gum disease and is either sleeping or running into walls all day. I don’t want her to suffer she’s been part of the family for a long time which makes this decision even harder

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, sadly it is time. When we ask that kind of question on an internet board it was probably time yesterday. If your vet agrees you can be sure it is the right decision made at the right time.
      When one of my dogs gets to that point I always ask myself whether I would want to be hanging around if the positions were reversed. Treasure your dog in the time that remains and be glad that she has lived a happy life with the family for all those years. Let her legacy be that you will promise to teach your next dog all the things you learned from her.