Signs Of Gum Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   what are the signs of gum disease?
   and what will happen if its not treated? i heard it can cause heart disease?

   • ANSWER:
     Sore gums and bleeding around the gumline re symptoms.
     The byproducts of gum disease can affect the heart.

2. QUESTION:
   What are the signs of gum disease?
   My dentist said I need to spend 0 for treatment using antibiotics called arestin. Why so expensive?

   • ANSWER:
     Gums that bleed, gums that have receeded, bad breath, loose teeth, painful or sore gums….

     http://www.umm.edu/oralhealth/perio.htm

3. QUESTION:
   What are signs of Gum Disease?

   • ANSWER:

4. QUESTION:
   do these sound like signs of GUM DISEASE?
   loosness
   yellow tinge
   ooth aches
   bleeding when brushing teeth sometimes

   • ANSWER:
     If your gums bleed when you brush, that’s gingivitis, or mild gum disease.

     The other symptoms you describe could be signs of much more serious problems. A toothache means that there’s something causing the nerve to hurt. Maybe a deep cavity, maybe an abscess, or maybe just weakened enamel.

     You need to see a dentist for a thorough examination, diagnosis, & treatment.

5. QUESTION:
   Is this a sign of gum disease?
   I have a strange bump on my gums. Right under that strange bump, there is a loose tooth. I have a horrible feeling that the strange bump means that part of my gum is diseased, and that’s why the tooth is rotten, and falling out.

   This is pretty much just a follow up to my last question. I’ve had this bump for a while now. I haven’t exactly had time to go to the dentist, and when I do, my parents are busy. I really just want to break down and go to the dentist, but now I’m really afraid that if it is gum disease, it’s gotten a lot worse. I’m pretty much hoping that it’s just an abcess tooth. I won’t have time to go to the dentist until Friday. I’m looking for some new answers. What do you think?

   • ANSWER:
     it sounds very mysterious to me…you still need to go to the dentist and have it checked out. who knows; you might be able to cure it before it causes even bigger problems! does the bump hurt? if it feels fleshy, it might be gum disease or similar. if it is hard, it might just be another tooth. is the loose tooth a baby, or has it been replaced with an adult tooth?

6. QUESTION:
   is one gum being swollen a sign of gum disease?
   i woke up and noticed one gum in my mouth is slightly swollen but all the rest or normal, i dont usually floss but i did last night could that cause it or is this how gum disease starts?

   • ANSWER:
     nooo, you gums arent used to the attention therefore they are probably agitated from flossing, it’s natural for this to happen you’ll notice as you continue to floss they will get used to it and they’ll stop inflaming and hurting, your fine it’s a normal reaction. :]

7. QUESTION:
   Are Bleeding gums automatically a sign of gum disease?
   Everytime I brush my teeth, my gums bleed. I do have a toothbrush with hard bristles. However, if there is a chance of gingivitus I would like to get it fixed.

   • ANSWER:
     Bleeding is a sign of gum disease and is NOT normal. I would think that you might be brushing just a little too hard, but it would actually hurt if you were brushing too hard, and if it is happening EVERY time then I know it is not from something else. While some medications could cause bleeding gums and dilantin hyperplasia (gingival overgrowth), you didn’t say you were taking any medications so I assume you probably just have gingivitis. It is very common, and many people think it is because their gums are weak or soft, however that is not so. Healthy gingiva should be firm and pale pink, not red or swollen. You need to see your dental hygienist to get a cleaning and treat it before it becomes worse. Also, switch to a soft bristled toothbrush. I would also recommend using Listerine to help flush your gingiva from bacteria under your gumline. Be sure and brush at least 2x a day and floss as well:)

8. QUESTION:
   Is this a sign of gum disease/gingivitus?
   I have a strange bump on my gums. Right under that strange bump, there is a loose tooth. I have a horrible feeling that the strange bump means that part of my gum is diseased, and that’s why the tooth is rotten, and falling out.

   • ANSWER:
     you have scurvy. take vitamin c

9. 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.

10. QUESTION:
    is really bad bleeding of the gums a sign of gum disease?
    if I continue to brush them 3 times a day will that help with how sensitive they are? or is it too late

    • ANSWER:
      ususally gingivitis. Floss at least once a day or more. rince your mouth with warm water after flossing

11. QUESTION:
    gum disease?
    i been using dip (smokeless tabacco) for like 2 years now, once in a while my front teeth hurt slightly, but i was wondering how do u know if i got gum disease? what color do the lower gums tunrs? do anybody know of a website that list signs of gum disease (and signs that you are getting it)as well as pics of early stages of it? is beacuse on the internt i only find really advance cases of mouth cancer and gum disease (gross right?), but i want to see the early stages!!
    thanks for your time!!

    • ANSWER:
      Using dip is asking for oral disaster. You should be seeing a dentist twice a year for hygeine treatments, and they should check your gums then too, and check for signs of cancer. Good luck.

12. QUESTION:
    I have sign’s of gum disease.?
    Can anyone help me I have signs of gum disease and, its already starting to effect my gums, will brushing my teeth more properly and longer prevent plaqe, gingivitus, and heal my gums, or will it just remove all the plaqw, gingivitus, and my gum stays the say(not getting worse or better).?
    stay to same*
    not say
    And im only at the stage where my gum start to bleed a little when I brush

    • ANSWER:
      The gunk gets under the gum line, you won’t reach it all with a toothbrush. Why don’t you get it cleaned at the dentist?

13. QUESTION:
    What are bleeding gums a sign of other than gum disease?
    Like the slightest pressure causes them to bleed.

    Biting into food like apples and some times bananas.

    I dont want everyone to post the obvous bleeding guMs is gum disease. What else can cause bleeding gums? Like illnesses or anything? Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      Hello
      bleeding gums can be caused by Injury or trauma such as improper brushing and flossing and irritation from acidic drinks and medicines. Gum disease as you have bypassed. Mouth sores can cause sore gums and clotting disorders of the blood and hemophilia, and leukaemia can cause bleeding as well. Liver and kidney disorders and vitamin C which is low is another possible cause. Being pregnant can make your gums bleed from time to time too. Taking pills can make your gums bleed which thin the blood. So it can be caused by many many things.

14. QUESTION:
    Braces & Gum disease?
    I was wondering what are the signs of gum disease. I’m not sure if I have them or not. I was looking at my gums and like two of them look kinda bigger than the other gums… Their not red in color…. they dont bleed alot… I wear braces as well. I just started wearing braces like for about 3 or 4 months. Does that play a role in my gums? Is it normal ? HELP =[
    Thanks to everyone that tried to help =] much appreciate it

    • ANSWER:
      Your best bet is go back to the dentist who put your braces on and ask this question. By the way great photo.

15. QUESTION:
    gum disease really worried?
    i am going to see the dentist, its just that its really worryin me that ill loose teeth, im even loosing sleep over it.
    ive got signs of gum disease (i think) red bleeding gums, strange taste and very senstive almost throbbing teeth, ive got receding gums mostly on the 2 teeth on the bottom on the front (the ones i am worried about the most) but they are not loose or ne thin. just the gums have got quite low.
    i just would like to know if this problem can most likely be sorted out and if the receding gums can be stopped from receding even further.
    im only 20 so i am hoping time is on my side, and am really worried im gonna loose my teeth.

    • ANSWER:
      Yes, your gum disease can be halted but you have to be religious in your dental care. You can have a deep cleaning done; this involves deadening areas of the gums and removing plaque from beneath the gum line. This allows the gum to heal and tighten up against the teeth like it should be. If the gum disease has progressed past the point that this will help, you can have gum transplants done. You need to never miss flossing and brushing. Mouth wash will help with bacterial growth below the gum line. You really should take excellent care of your gums and teeth, following the recommended cleaning schedule (I suspect you’ll need to go in every 6 months for a regular cleaning after you get the current situation under control). You really don’t want to lose your teeth, and you want to prevent gum disease that will lead to bone loss – which will allow your teeth to just fall out. Good luck!

16. 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:

17. QUESTION:
    I think I have a possible genetic disease that has to deal with my teeth?
    Ever since I was 13 or 14, I went to the dentist and he told me that I may have an unusual genetic teeth disorder, but I can’t remember what he said. Well anyway, I brush my teeth daily but they never get white, and I’m showing signs of gum disease, My dentist years ago asked me about my father and I knew that he had teeth issues also. Now i don’t know if its genetics and or something else. But my teeth don’t get white at all, and I am showing early signs of gum disease. Any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      the risk for gum disease can certainly be linked to family. However that doesn’t mean that if your parents have gum disease you can’t do anything about it. It just means you have to clean better and it will go away.

      Gum disease is just the reaction of your gums to plaque (made form bacteria) growing on your teeth. Technically if you cleaned it all away every day you would never have gum disease, not matter how many of your fathers fathers had it.

      tooth whiteness is something entirely different. Brushing your teeth generally doesn’t make them whiter unless they are covered with filth. The colour of your teeth is the natural colour of your teeth. See a dentist to find out how you can make them whiter. The answer will be bleaching or veneers.

18. QUESTION:
    Are Lumineers suitable for someone who have gum diesease?
    I’m a 19 year old with very sensitive gums and my dentist said I already have signs of gum disease which is so sad. My gums are so sensitive that it moves to the side when I floss, I can even move it with my finger nail. I was wondering If I could even get Lumineers in the future when my teeth worsens. I’m a pretty girl also and I can’t afford to lose my smile!! I floss and brush my teeth daily and use mouthwash.

    • ANSWER:
      I am a dentist and NOOOO lumineers are not suitable for you right now. If you have gum disease you should be getting your teeth cleaned every 4 months, you should be flossing 2 times a day, and rinsing with listerine or chlorhexidine 2 times a day as well as brushing 3 times a day. You should change your diet to avoid as much sugar as possible, avoid soft drinks and eat more healthy. You should also have a deep cleaning if your dentist says you need it. Buy a Sonicare toothbrush. It is 0, but it will save you thousands of dollars in cavities, gum disease treatments and it will help you keep your teeth for the ret of your life. Now about lumineers, if you get the gum problems under control then you could veneer your teeth. Lumineers will only cause your gum problems to get worse. Go to the best cosmetic dentist you can find. The price difference is worth it, trust me. You would not believe how many bad cases we have to redo because patients went to a cheap dentist who didn’t know what they were doing. Also don’t go to an LVI dentist, if you don’t know then just ask the dentist if they are or not. Their philosophy is faulty and your teeth will not be pretty and it will be very expensive. Lumineers are only good for people with flat teeth with not much curvature, or dental term called emergence profile. Some asian people are very good candidates for them, but 90% of people are not although they will tell you that you are. Please do lots of research on veneers before you do it, and demand to see before and after cases of the dentist you choose, otherwise your choice could be a nightmare. Hope this helps

19. QUESTION:
    Gum disease?
    I have had gingivitis from when I was pregnant and it hasn’t fully went away. Now my gum line on one of my teeth is starting to raise. I remember reading that that is a sign for gum disease. What all can happen with gum disease and what would a dentist do for that? I don’t have insurance because I only had insurance for my pregnancy and now I’m no longer pregnant so I got kicked of medicaid. Just wanting some adivice and wondering how serious it can be.

    • ANSWER:
      just a hint :
      every human has gum disease.
      some worse than others but every mouth has it.

20. QUESTION:
    Teeth moving, gum disease?
    i didnt brush my teeth the whole time i was pregnant, the toothpaste made me want to barf. i noticed my gums felt swollen after and also my teeth moved arouhnd. one went sideways and there is bigger spaces between two. I read this is a sign of gum disease. can i get rid of this at home w/. mouth wash etc.?? do i HAVE to got oa detniest? what will i do/?? what does the dentist do

    • ANSWER:
      you are having combined hormonal changes & gum deaseas. Now you need to go in for a flap surgery to strengenthen the gums, try ortho treatment to push back your teeth.

21. QUESTION:
    What can be done for gum disease?
    I was told nearly a year ago by my emergency dentist that i have signs of some kind of gum disease, what can I do to help it stop as i really am scared of dentists?

    • ANSWER:
      It’s going to depend on what stage or how severe your gum disease is now. If it’s in earlier stages with no evidence of bone loss yet, it’s totally treatable. They can do a deep-cleaning and scaling where they deaden the gums and go deep into the gum tissue and scrape and clean and irrigate debris. It heals up really nice. You would probably be put on antibiotics for a little while and that’s pretty much it. However, if you already do have some loose teeth or bone destruction taking place, this will require more work, but still treatable. You may be referred to a periodontist, who specializes in gum disease.

      You really need to get on this now and get it treated because it’s not going to go away on it’s on or even with anything you can do at home. You’ve GOT to go see the dentist and the sooner the better. The longer you wait, the more work and the more expensive it’s going to be.
      Don’t be afraid of the dentist. Let him know how scared you are. He can give you something to relax you or many of them use nitrous oxide gas which will calm you down considerably. Good luck!

22. QUESTION:
    What are the alternatives to being toothless and wearing dentures?
    In a 21C society, are there any alternatives to removing sound and not so sound teeth for someone who shows signs of gum disease?Someone whose father wore dentures says he talked ‘funny’ and they were uncomfortable. He does not want the same experience because there is no reversal after teeth are removed.What do you suggest to such a person?

    • ANSWER:
      More along the line of implants.
      If you have dentures many different types of implants are available. You can put tiny locator snaps on your dentures then snap into place like your jacket buttons. OR, can have a metal bar placed and snap your teeth down on the bar. Or you can go for it and put implants in and screw those teeth down permanently Watch out red lobster.

      If you are thinking about it now, that is good you could plan it so that everytime its’ time to extract a tooth you place an implant eventually you’ll all implants insteead of natural teeth.

23. QUESTION:
    For a 14 year old smoker – Gum disease?
    I’m almost 15 and I just recently started smoking. Since April I’ve smoked about 2 packs. So not very often, Just a lot of stress in my life and I just realized I have a sore above one of my teeth where the gum meets the tooth. It’s kind of red and a little bit bloody (If I mess with it.) It hurts and it feels kind of raw.
    I brush my teeth regularly and I wear a retainer.
    Is this a sign of Gum cancer or disease? Or just brushing too hard?
    How do I fix it?
    Thanks
    Also, the inner part of my lip is a little bit raw, feels almost chapped.and may be a little inflamed.

    • ANSWER:
      You’re only 14.

      Unless you have been smoing since you were 3, I would stop worrying about it for now. But for the love of god man, smoking at your age is absurd.

24. QUESTION:
    how do you know if gum disease has spread?
    i haven’t been to the dentist in 5 years cause of lack of dental insurance i’m finally getting dental insurance in two weeks but i have a lot of problems one being gums disease i didn’t have it before but i’m showing all signs of periodontal disease including receding gums it doesn’t look really bad and my teeth aren’t loose or anything and i don’t know how long iv’e had it i recently noticed my gums receding could it have already spread to my jaw and if it does how would i know its really starting to scare me please help at what point is it time to go to the emergency room

    • ANSWER:

25. QUESTION:
    *detailed question* Gum issue? Abscess or something else?
    For the last several months, I have had reoccurring lumps of sorts on my gums. They started about a day after my last dental visit, where I had x-rays and all of the other usual dentist checkup-y things done and they didn’t find any abscesses or any signs of oral cancer, or anything wrong except for some cavities that needed to be filled and early signs of gum disease due to poor dental care when I was younger and lack of checkups for a year or two. As far as I know abscesses or oral cancer (at least not in the stage of what I would consider to be a tumor, if it were cancer) don’t just “appear” in a day after having x-rays and a full workup done on my mouth. I do have 2 teeth with cavities in the back of my mouth (one on each side, actually below where the lumps are) but the dentist didn’t think either of them were THAT bad, but should be filled as soon as possible, though due to me not having any insurance he didn’t see any reason that with proper personal dental care it couldn’t be taken care of a little bit later when things were more financially stable and I had my insurance issue settled. I do have my wisdom teeth coming in slowly, but they are only coming in on the bottom. For whatever reason, I don’t have top wisdom teeth.

    Anyway, I have these lumps on my gums, and everything I have ever read about abscesses says that they cause pain, usually immense pain, but mine don’t cause any pain at all. They’re not even a tiny bit sore, and they go away intermittently but then raise back up, usually in the morning when I wake up. They are usually always above the back teeth on my gums, the one on the right is about the size of a jellybean, and is newer than the one on the left. The one on the right feels like I can move it with my tongue, like I can push it around and lift up part of it with my tongue, but this is a new thing and before the lump has always just been a solid lump, never anything movable. The one on the left is smaller, and usually less inflamed than the right one usually. They feel as though they’re filled with something, though I’ve read and heard that when an abcess bursts there is a VERY bitter and unpleasant taste in your mouth from the pus. When my… well, whatever they are, go down, I don’t taste anything in my mouth, much less anything bitter or gross, and they don’t hurt when they go away or when they re-appear. They slightly vary in size, but are always smaller than the jellybean size, which is the biggest they ever get, and they don’t get that big very often. As for color… the last I checked they are the same pinkish color of my gums, not white or yellow or anything. I don’t have any underlying conditions, I am otherwise medically healthy.

    Any ideas as to what this is or how to go about treating it? I went on a cycle of antibiotics back in September when I first was terrified I had dental abcesses, but they didn’t go away. My GP thought that maybe they weren’t dental abcesses or a dental infection… but wasn’t sure what they were since there was no pain and they didn’t go away with antibiotics. I read somewhere about some kind of condition where you just get growths on your gums that eventually go down or go away, and I can’t get to my doctor/dentist until March again because of insurance reasons…again.

    • ANSWER:
      Are they behind your last molars, on the tissue where your wisdom teeth will erupt? If you can take a picture and post it, that would be helpful.

      I do not think that they are an abscess because your dentist would have seen an infection on the x-ray. Also, I do not think that they are pyogenic granulomas. These take more than two days to develop.

      It seems that these vesicles are caused by some irritants while you were at your dentist. As long as they go away within two weeks, you shouldn’t worry. If they last longer than two weeks you should probably see you dentist asap to rule out anything serious. (oral cancer doesn’t typically present itself in this manner)

      You may want to rinse with a cup of warm water + 1 tsp. salt. And maintain good oral hygiene!

      EDIT: please note that pyogenic granulomas, like most granulomas or fibromas, are usually caused by chronic irritants (i.e. subgingival calculus aka “tarter”), not going to an hour long appointment.

      Good luck

26. QUESTION:
    *detailed question* Gum issue… don’t believe it to be an abscess or blocked salivary gland?
    For the last several months, I have had reoccurring lumps of sorts on my gums. They started about a day after my last dental visit, where I had x-rays and all of the other usual dentist checkup-y things done and they didn’t find any abscesses or any signs of oral cancer, or anything wrong except for some cavities that needed to be filled and early signs of gum disease due to poor dental care when I was younger and lack of checkups for a year or two. As far as I know abscesses or oral cancer (at least not in the stage of what I would consider to be a tumor, if it were cancer) don’t just “appear” in a day after having x-rays and a full workup done on my mouth. I do have 2 teeth with cavities in the back of my mouth, which I think I have had for a while (one on each side, actually below where the lumps are) but the dentist didn’t think either of them were THAT bad, but should be filled as soon as possible, though due to me not having any insurance he didn’t see any reason that with proper personal dental care it couldn’t be taken care of a little bit later when things were more financially stable and I had my insurance issue settled.. and then I could come in for a deep cleaning because I have relatively bad plaque/tartar buildup on my lower front teeth in the back, possibly elsewhere as else, I honestly don’t remember what he said. I do have my wisdom teeth coming in slowly, but they are ONLY coming in on the bottom, nowhere near where my issues are. For whatever reason, the x-ray showed that I don’t have top wisdom teeth.

    Anyway, I have these lumps on my gums, and everything I have ever read about abscesses says that they cause pain, usually immense pain, but mine don’t cause any pain at all. They’re not even a tiny bit sore, and they go away intermittently but then raise back up, usually in the morning when I wake up. It doesn’t feel like they “drain” so much as inflame or swell. They are usually always above the back teeth on my gums, the one on the right is about the size of a jellybean, and is newer than the one on the left. The one on the right feels like I can move it with my tongue, like I can push it around and lift up part of it with my tongue, almost like it’s leaf shaped with part of it being attached and the remainder of it being movable, but this is a new thing and before the lump has always just been a solid lump, never anything movable. The one on the left is smaller, and usually less inflamed than the right one usually. They feel as though they’re filled with something, though I’ve read and heard that when an abcess bursts there is a VERY bitter and unpleasant taste in your mouth from the pus. When my… well, whatever they are, go down, I don’t taste anything in my mouth, much less anything bitter or gross, and they don’t hurt when they go down or when they re-appear. They slightly vary in size, but are always smaller than a jellybean, which is the biggest they ever get, and they don’t get that big very often. The one on the right is pretty flat, and the ones on the left are usually more lumpy. As for color… the last I checked they are the same pinkish color of my gums, not white or yellow or anything. I don’t have any underlying conditions, I am otherwise medically healthy.

    Any ideas as to what this is or how to go about treating it? I went on a cycle of antibiotics back in September when I first was terrified I had dental abcesses, but they didn’t go away. My GP thought that maybe they weren’t dental abcesses or a dental infection… but wasn’t sure what they were since there was no pain and they didn’t go away with antibiotics. I can’t get to the doctor/dentist again until March at the earliest due to insurance, again.

    EDIT: As I have posted this question a couple of times, a few of the answers I have recieved have believed it to be a clogged salivary gland. The fact that this is on my upper, outer gum leads me to believe it is not in fact a Mucocele, as those are common on the roof of the mouth, under the tongue, and on the bottom lip / possibly cheek, etc. Mine is above my very last tooth on the right side on the top.. it wouldn’t make sense for it to be there I don’t think. Also, everything I have looked up has said that these blocked salivary glands are usually blueish in color, and mine are pink just like the gums around them.

    • ANSWER:
      omg, that’sa lot of words, maybe it’s nothing just listen to ur dentist or docter

27. QUESTION:
    *long, detailed question* Gum issues, unsure as to what this could be?
    For the last several months, I have had reoccurring lumps of sorts on my gums. They started about a day after my last dental visit, where I had x-rays and all of the other usual dentist checkup-y things done and they didn’t find any abscesses or any signs of oral cancer, or anything wrong except for some cavities that needed to be filled and early signs of gum disease due to poor dental care when I was younger and lack of checkups for a year or two. As far as I know abscesses or oral cancer (at least not in the stage of what I would consider to be a tumor, if it were cancer) don’t just “appear” in a day after having x-rays and a full workup done on my mouth. I do have 2 teeth with cavities in the back of my mouth, which I think I have had for a while (one on each side, actually below where the lumps are) but the dentist didn’t think either of them were THAT bad, but should be filled as soon as possible, though due to me not having any insurance he didn’t see any reason that with proper personal dental care it couldn’t be taken care of a little bit later when things were more financially stable and I had my insurance issue settled.. and then I could come in for a deep cleaning because I have relatively bad plaque/tartar buildup on my lower front teeth in the back, possibly elsewhere as else, I honestly don’t remember what he said. I do have my wisdom teeth coming in slowly, but they are ONLY coming in on the bottom, nowhere near where my issues are. For whatever reason, the x-ray showed that I don’t have top wisdom teeth.

    Anyway, I have these lumps on my gums, and everything I have ever read about abscesses says that they cause pain, usually immense pain, but mine don’t cause any pain at all. They’re not even a tiny bit sore, and they go away intermittently but then raise back up, usually in the morning when I wake up. It doesn’t feel like they “drain” so much as inflame or swell. They are usually always above the back teeth on my gums, the one on the right is about the size of a jellybean, and is newer than the one on the left. The one on the right feels like I can move it with my tongue, like I can push it around and lift up part of it with my tongue, almost like it’s leaf shaped with part of it being attached and the remainder of it being movable, but this is a new thing and before the lump has always just been a solid lump, never anything movable. The one on the left is smaller, and usually less inflamed than the right one usually. They feel as though they’re filled with something, though I’ve read and heard that when an abcess bursts there is a VERY bitter and unpleasant taste in your mouth from the pus. When my… well, whatever they are, go down, I don’t taste anything in my mouth, much less anything bitter or gross, and they don’t hurt when they go down or when they re-appear. They slightly vary in size, but are always smaller than a jellybean, which is the biggest they ever get, and they don’t get that big very often. The one on the right is pretty flat, and the ones on the left are usually more lumpy. As for color… the last I checked they are the same pinkish color of my gums, not white or yellow or anything. I don’t have any underlying conditions, I am otherwise medically healthy.

    Any ideas as to what this is or how to go about treating it? I went on a cycle of antibiotics back in September when I first was terrified I had dental abcesses, but they didn’t go away. My GP thought that maybe they weren’t dental abcesses or a dental infection… but wasn’t sure what they were since there was no pain and they didn’t go away with antibiotics. I can’t get to the doctor/dentist again until March at the earliest due to insurance, again.

    EDIT: As I have posted this question a couple of times, a few of the answers I have recieved have believed it to be a clogged salivary gland. The fact that this is on my upper, outer gum leads me to believe it is not in fact a Mucocele, as those are common on the roof of the mouth, under the tongue, and on the bottom lip / possibly cheek, etc. Mine is above my very last tooth on the right side on the top.. it wouldn’t make sense for it to be there I don’t think. Also, everything I have looked up has said that these blocked salivary glands are usually blueish in color, and mine are pink just like the gums around them.
    Oh, in addition to everything I posted, I wanted to state that the one on the right is at the very very top of my gums, almost to a point where it would connect with my cheek but slightly lower than that, still not connected to my cheek. I still feel like I can lift / turn the growth or whatever it is with my tongue, and it feels pretty flat.. almost like a blister that has deflated and flattened.. but is still solid.

    • ANSWER:
      Chronic Abscess…..either the tooth or the gums, similar symptoms…would need to be see by the dentist

      Not necessary to have a bitter taste…..sometimes there is no ‘taste’.

      Also: You need to take care of daily oral hygiene….it is not hard, once you get these taken care of….

      Search this for wonderful information:

      http://www.ada.org/public/topics/alpha.asp

28. QUESTION:
    Receding gum around one tooth?
    My gum seems to be receding around my first premolar at the bottom. It also seems to be receding a bit around the incisor next to it as well. I think this is caused by abrasive brushing because I have no signs of gum disease, and the receding is only around those two teeth. I do tend to brush pretty roughly around this area, however I don’t notice myself doing it until I am almost finished brushing.

    If you had periodontal disease wouldn’t it occur around every tooth instead of just two? Thanks.

    I’m 16 and I don’t smoke, if that’s important.
    It’s not bad enough to have it fixed. It’s only receding at the front too, the back is fine. It’s barely even noticeable, so i’m not going to spend all that money to fix it if it’s not even bad.

    • ANSWER:
      You’ve stated that you brush pretty roughly around the area, so it’s more than likely caused by abrasive brushing. It’s not out of the ordinary for gum recession to occur only around a few teeth, but in your situation, I believe it’s abrasive brushing.

      If you have a hard bristled tooth brush, go to the store and buy a softer one. When you brush your teeth, don’t brush too fast and don’t put so much pressure on the brush. You can also buy some Listerine Antiseptic and rinse your mouth with that twice a day just in case you do have a mild case of gum disease. It’ll clear it up within a few weeks. Good luck.

29. QUESTION:
    *very detailed, hoping for a solid answer* Gum issue?
    For the last several months, I have had reoccurring lumps of sorts on my gums. They started about a day after my last dental visit, where I had x-rays and all of the other usual dentist checkup-y things done and they didn’t find any abscesses or any signs of oral cancer, or anything wrong except for some cavities that needed to be filled and early signs of gum disease due to poor dental care when I was younger and lack of checkups for a year or two. As far as I know abscesses or oral cancer (at least not in the stage of what I would consider to be a tumor, if it were cancer) don’t just “appear” in a day after having x-rays and a full workup done on my mouth. I do have 2 teeth with cavities in the back of my mouth (one on each side, actually below where the lumps are) but the dentist didn’t think either of them were THAT bad, but should be filled as soon as possible, though due to me not having any insurance he didn’t see any reason that with proper personal dental care it couldn’t be taken care of a little bit later when things were more financially stable and I had my insurance issue settled. I do have my wisdom teeth coming in slowly, but they are only coming in on the bottom. For whatever reason, I don’t have top wisdom teeth.

    Anyway, I have these lumps on my gums, and everything I have ever read about abscesses says that they cause pain, usually immense pain, but mine don’t cause any pain at all. They’re not even a tiny bit sore, and they go away intermittently but then raise back up, usually in the morning when I wake up. They are usually always above the back teeth on my gums, the one on the right is about the size of a jellybean, and is newer than the one on the left. The one on the right feels like I can move it with my tongue, like I can push it around and lift up part of it with my tongue, but this is a new thing and before the lump has always just been a solid lump, never anything movable. The one on the left is smaller, and usually less inflamed than the right one usually. They feel as though they’re filled with something, though I’ve read and heard that when an abcess bursts there is a VERY bitter and unpleasant taste in your mouth from the pus. When my… well, whatever they are, go down, I don’t taste anything in my mouth, much less anything bitter or gross, and they don’t hurt when they go away or when they re-appear. They slightly vary in size, but are always smaller than the jellybean size, which is the biggest they ever get, and they don’t get that big very often. As for color… the last I checked they are the same pinkish color of my gums, not white or yellow or anything. I don’t have any underlying conditions, I am otherwise medically healthy.

    Any ideas as to what this is or how to go about treating it? I went on a cycle of antibiotics back in September when I first was terrified I had dental abcesses, but they didn’t go away. My GP thought that maybe they weren’t dental abcesses or a dental infection… but wasn’t sure what they were since there was no pain and they didn’t go away with antibiotics. I read somewhere about some kind of condition where you just get growths on your gums that eventually go down or go away, and I can’t get to my doctor/dentist until March again because of insurance reasons…again.

    • ANSWER:
      ok i didn’t read everything but i read most of it .i had a issue related to that though with my gums it might be infection of a sort dental wise .meaning the dentist made a mistake and caused it .i needed a regular cavity filling and a couple years later my gums started having these bumps sorta like hagging skin of the sort .i had another dentist check it out and he said my previous dentist did something wrong and got it infected .in the end they needed to remove the tooth ……. the gum bumbs were a sign of the tooth deterring or something like that …so ya hope i helped some bit ……… ^-^

30. QUESTION:
    What things happened to your teeth while u were pregnant?
    I was having some pain when eating sweets so went to dentist and he said everything looks fine just that some of my gums in that area are receding a bit and that it could be cause of the pregnancy. All the research I have done does not indicate that u get receding gums during pregnancy all I can come up with is that it’s a sign of gum disease. I am just a bit worried IF it could be the pregnancy and IF it will go away after. Anyone else have this problem while pregnant? and i did it go away after?

    • ANSWER:
      In my first trimester, my gums were bleeding for a week or so.It went away on it own in a week.

31. QUESTION:
    Why Does My Toothbrush Turn Pink After A While?
    I’ve noticed that if I use my toothbrush and put it in a case (any case, I’ve tried it with a few different cases), the day after, the bristles turn pink as well as random areas of the handle. If it is not too pink and I rinse it off, the pink color goes away. When I leave it on the sink exposed, it does not turn pink. It only turns pink if I leave it in the case over night. Is this a sign of gum disease or is it some sort of bacteria? And is it dangerous?

    • ANSWER:
      This sounds to me that the pink stain is being caused by another culprit than what others have already said- a bacteria called Serratia marcescens.

      Serratia marcescens will grow anywhere there is sufficient moisture- a lot of people complain of “pink stain” in their bathtubs or showers, for example. Leaving your toothbrush in it’s case overnight is only a good idea if you let it dry completely BEFORE closing it in the case. Otherwise, the excess moisture will allow Serratia to grow.

      I highly suggest throwing away your toothbrush, and buying a new one. Then be sure to allow it to dry completely before encasing it.

      For more information, see the wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serratia_marcescens

32. QUESTION:
    Bleeding gum………………..?
    I know its the first sign of gum disease, but my dentist was not really bothered advising me on what to do.

    Are there any good products out there that can help?
    Also is it curable? I really don’t want to loose my teeth

    Thanks!
    i always use mouthwash twice a day after brushing

    • ANSWER:
      forget the name it now……corsodyl or something works great,,mouth wash

33. QUESTION:
    How do i get lighter gums?
    it is a sign of gum disease what can i do

    • ANSWER:
      Buy one of those new motorized electric toothbrushes at the grocery store or the drug store. I bought one for less than (an Oral B). Then brush your gums–not too harshly–at least three times per day. This should help to improve the circulation and, in turn, the color and health of your gums. Don’t forget to floss. Also, if you are really serious about doing all you can to improve your gum health, you might want to try CLO-SYS II mouthwash. The hygienist recommended it to me. It’s available only at certain drug stores, like Walgreen’s. Continue to go every 6 months to have your teeth–haaa, your gums–scraped!

34. QUESTION:
    my gums bleed when i brush my teeth?
    Alright it doesn’t bleed on all gums. It only bleeds under this one tooth that has a cavity. I know that bleeding gums is an early sign of gum disease. But my question is could the bleeding gum be due to the cavity or is it something more serious?

    • ANSWER:

35. QUESTION:
    Gum disease and an abscess tooth that is loose…?
    Help! Don’t know what to do but I’m sure that I have gum disease stemming from 5 years back. All of my research indicates that I got it while pregnant with my first daughter. I cracked a molar too during that pregnancy. So now that all of that has happened I never went to the dentist because I was either pregnant or didn’t have insurance. Now the tooth is loose and I can’t chew down on it. It formed some sort of (what I think is an,) abscess on my gums. I can see the signs of my gum wearing away to expose my teeth too, suggesting the worst stage of gum disease. I didn’t know all of this until I started researching. Is there a dentist on here that can inform me of what I have to look forward too? I’m terrified of the dentist, it’s part of the reason I never went.

    • ANSWER:
      Your research almost certainly has told you what you have to look forward to if you don’t get treatment, and it ain’t good. There are dentists that specialize in sedation dentistry, that’s one way of dealing with your fears. You go to sleep in the dentist’s office and wake up with the repairs and cleaning done. Hypnotism is another potential solution. Doing nothing will definitely make things worse. You also need to start practicing good gum hygiene, including waterpicking below the gumline with a fine rubber-tip nozzle.

36. QUESTION:
    Are black spots inside a cat’s mouth normal?
    I have a black traditional “doll-faced” persian who has black spots inside his mouth (not on the tongue but along the roof on his mouth and gumline of the bottom teeth).

    I’ve had him since he was 6 months old and he’s 3 years old now, but the black spots have always been there. They don’t seem to cause him any pain or problems and he seems perfectly happy. He’s fine when he eats hard or crunchy food as well.

    His teeth are white and clean, and don’t rock around or look as if they’re about to fall out or anything. Is this a sign of gum disease or is it just a birthmark?

    By the way he has bad breath and I brush his teeth regularly. It’d be great if you guys could help me out. Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      You brush your cat’s teeth regularly!? Wow. You are a saint.
      I’m not 100%, but I think they’re totally normal – just standard marking. I’ve got two cats, one solid black persian (hey!) and a striped maine coon, and both of them have got colored spots just like you described.

      Have you ever seen a shaved cat? They’ve got spots all over their skin, kind of the same deal.

37. 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

38. QUESTION:
    Is this a sign of gun disease? I have noticed i can see some of my bottom teeth through my gum?!?
    If i pull my lower lip down i can slightly see the root of the tooth through the gum. Not actually that my teeth have come through but that my gum is thin enough to see three of the teeth through. I don’t think i have noticed this before! Should i be worry or is this normal? Thanks

    • ANSWER:
      No i don’t think so, my teeth have always been like that and i’ve never had gum disease, you just naturally have thinner gums there or the roots closer to the surface. If you’re teeth or gums are hurting though then you should make a dental appointment

39. QUESTION:
    What are the first signs of mouth cancer, or other gum and mouth related diseases because of smokeless tobacco?
    I’m quite the dipper. My mouth seems to take it ok but, I don’t want to wake up one morning with half my gum line missing or find a “lump”. What are some things I can look for?

    • ANSWER:
      You may see a white or keratinized area, sometimes it can be silvery. This is not always an indication of cancer, but irritation to the tissue that can later lead to abnormal cell formation. I used to work in an office that offered oral cancer screenings by a machine called a “Velscope”. It is basically a non-invasive oral cancer screening that uses a high intensity light and a filtered scope allowing the clinician to see abnormal cells way before they can be detected by the naked eye. Usually by the time the naked eye can detect something abmormal, the prognosis is poor. I recommend getting a Velscope screening, and doing that once a year just to stay in check. A lot of offices don’t have them though because they are fairly new and very expensive.

      Basically, for the best results, I’d just call the dentists in your area and ask if they offer an “enhanced” oral cancer screening, and specify that you want more than just a visual exam.

      Also, if you are worried about cancer and don’t want to stop chewing, try switching sides to give your tissue a break every now and then.

40. QUESTION:
    Last night my gums started bleeding? What could this be?
    It was weird because I was just sitting there and all the sudden I started tasting a lot of blood in my mouth. It was coming from behind my front 2 teeth. There is no pain there or swelling or anything and I hadn’t brushed my teeth since the morning or eaten anything to provoke it. Is this a sign of gum disease or gingivitis or could it be something else? Btw I brush my teeth twice a day but I don’t floss.

    • ANSWER:
      That is just a stupid answer. Most likely it is gingivitis, You should be flossing your teeth the same amount as you are brushing. Meaning 3 times a day, as well as seeing a Dentist regularly. YOU HAVE TO FLOSS!!! I wasn’t and my dentist told me that if I continued I would lose my teeth by the time I was 26 I am 21 now. Go buy some floss and see the dentist It will solve your problem

41. QUESTION:
    Swolen gums around ONE tooth?
    Okay so I’m 17 and have braces. I floss only a couple times a month because I usually forget. Anyways, last night I decided to floss and I woke up to a slightly swolen gum around one tooth. Behind it, not in the front. I looked it up and everyone is saying early signs of GUM DISEASE which is making me paranoid. Is this just irritation or should I worry?? *Also its not painful at all its just there

    • ANSWER:
      It may just be an irritation. You may have a piece of food in their that is causing the swelling. I would try to floss again and maybe purchase a gum stimulator which can be purchased at a pharmacy and relatively inexpensive, also use mouth wash regularly to try and kill any bacteria. That may help. Also, schedule an appointment with your dentist for a check-up. Some dental plans offer check-ups on a calender year rather than a rolling six months. So even if you went late last year, you could go in soon if you’re really concerned.

42. QUESTION:
    purple gums?
    Somewhat recently and suddenly my gums have turned purple. The gums covering my teeth and the roots appear to be normal and pink but above that the gums and inside of my lip has turned purple. The gums up above my teeth have also sunk back a little bit. This is happening on top and bottom. I saw a dentist and he said it looked normal with no signs of gum disease. I explained to him my gums were pink and thick above my teeth and now they are purple and much thinner. I am only 26 could this be aging?
    All of this happened about 2 months after I started having very dry sinuses and dry nasal passages. Also I think the bottom of my nose is kind of going back where my upper gums have set back.

    • ANSWER:
      Signs and symptoms

      In the earliest stages, periodontal disease causes few signs or symptoms, and you may not be aware of a problem until your gums become soft and bleed slightly when you brush your teeth. As the disease progresses, you may notice more-serious changes, including:

      Swollen, bright red or purple gums
      Gums that feel tender when touched
      Gums that pull away from your teeth (recede), making your teeth look longer than normal
      New spaces developing between your teeth
      Pus between your teeth and gums
      Persistent breath odor or a bad taste in your mouth
      Loose teeth or a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

43. QUESTION:
    White around the gums?
    Two of my teeth have white underneath them at the gum part. I went to the dentist 5 mos. ago and didn’t have any signs of gum disease. But I don’t floss and just started a few days ago and am flossing consistently. Is this a side effect? Or could I possibly be getting gum disease? If so, how can I help from preventing it further before I go see the dentist again?
    I never thought of anemia, I have it off and on, but last time the doctor told me it was gone, maybe it just came back then.
    I do brush my teeth twice a day, sometimes more and I do use the mouth rinse.

    • ANSWER:
      It could just be you. But its also a sign of anemia.

44. QUESTION:
    What can I do to help my gums?
    I’m 19-years-old and was supposed to go get braces in less than 2 weeks, the orthodontist said everything was looking good. I went to my dentist to get my teeth cleaned and he told me there was NO way I’m getting braces right now. He said my gums are in horrible shape, which came to a shock to me because my orthodontist said everything was good. My dentist told me he’s seeing signs of gum disease but can be fixed if I do the right things for myself, he said my gums are in such rough shape they are too weak for braces and my teeth would just fall out from the pressure.

    This was a HUGE wake up call to me and since the appointment I’ve been thoroughly brushing ~6 times a day, flossing like crazy, and using mouth wash. I think I’m actually doing quite well. I never, ever got taught in school how important your gums are so I knew nothing like this.

    Is there anything else I can do for myself to make my gums healthier? (I don’t smoke, don’t drink coffee, I totally cut down on pop, and I don’t drink alcohol.)

    • ANSWER:
      Your going to kill your gums with all that brushing!
      Brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush for 2mins a time and use a high flouride toothpaste(it.s written on the box).eat plenty of fruit.stay away from coffee, black tea as opposed to green tea, alcohol.don’t use a mouth wash unless your totally certain it contains no alcohol.most do more harm than good.stop flossing for the time being as an error can damage the gums.after eating rinse your mouth out with warm water to get ride of loose food between your teeth.
      And MOST of all nothing sugary!this includes all fast food and the usual suspects (chocolate,crisps,sweets and ALL fizzy drinks!).
      You’ll be fine.

45. QUESTION:
    I’m only 18 but have receding gums, why?
    I’m only 18 but have recently noticed my gums are receding. There is no pain or bleeding when brushing, I brush twice a day and use floss and mouthwash. There are no other signs of gum disease, but I have quite pale gums and may have anaemia. Is there any way to cure receding gums? Will I lose my teeth?! If I’m anaemic, will the iron tablets help my gums? I’m really worried and can’t get a dentist appointment until next week!

    • ANSWER:

46. QUESTION:
    my cat’s tooth has fallen out?
    my cat lost his tooth and i think it got knocked loose… he was chasing me up the stairs and he tried to bite my leg and then ran under a chair and i think he hit his mouth cause he made a noise and then i knew somthing was up so i checked his mouth and both teeth were there but then like two hours later he started shaking his head and the tooth fell out…. so i dont think it just fell out of nowhere.. i checked his gums for signs of gum disease to be safe he has a lot of brown spots but he also has brown spots on his nose too cause he is an orange cat they are like lentigos or something not much discoloration on teeth either and he went to vet recently and they did not mention anything i just wanna know if he would be able to eat hard food right now or should i wait and how will it effect the way he eats
    thanks
    he 10 yrs old and lost his canine if that makes any difference….

    • ANSWER:
      I had this problem as well. I switched my cat to soft foods for a while, and if she declined the wet canned food, i just softened her hard food with alittle water. Socks was also orange, and had the brown spots. Unfortunately, I had to rehome her alittle while afterwards. Now I have sugar, another orange cat.

      Both cats, even sugar, have the brown spots on the nose and the gums. My vet told me not to fuss, nothing serious to worry about.

      Just try to switch her food for alittle while. She could also have low vitamins and nutrients right now for some reason., so her teeth her becoming more brittle, and sensitive. Keep an eye out for her stool samples for diarrhea. If it is constant, she doesn’t have enough vitamins or nutrients at the moment.

      GL!

      Edit – Thankfully I always recheck my answers, so maybe it could help you. Maybe his oral hygene is failing. He may not have enough calcium, to keep the teeth healthy enough. However, it could be old age. If it continues to happen with other teeth, best advice anyone could give is to bring him to the vet. Our pets our family, and deserve to see a doctor on a regular basis as well. <3

47. QUESTION:
    Help regarding my dental health.?
    The dentist said that despite crookedness, gaps, abnormalities in terms of shape and canine prominence, my teeth were sturdy and not at risk of becoming loose at any point in the near future. However, the pain I’m in is so considerable that I seriously don’t want to live with it any more. Yes, I appreciate this is a stupid comment to make, but my teeth and gums are so sensitive that the pain is incomprehensible if you’ve never experienced it. I can no longer chew without my mouth hurting, so I have to drink 5 protein shakes a day using a straw in order to stop losing weight.

    I’ve told my dentist how bad this situation is but she just won’t help me. I’ve gone to see two others and they’ve said the same – that until signs of gum disease are noticeable, nothing can be done to help me out. There is no way I can deal with this pain for much longer, so what the hell do I do? Also, what treatments could I end up getting? I’ve done some research and I could end up having to have a full mouth extraction and complete dentures. Would this help with the pain?

    Thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      Several questions come to mind. How old are you? Did any dentist say that you had a lot of decay? Is the pain in your teeth or your jaws? Is the pain in all parts of your mouth or just one side? Does anything make the pain worse? Do your gums bleed when you brush? There is something called trigeminal neuralgia that can cause a lot of pain. It’s rare. You may want to Google it to see if your symptoms are the same.

48. QUESTION:
    10 points for best answer regarding my dental question.?
    Well i’m an 18-year-old guy and have suffered from the most agonising tooth pain for the last 5 or 6 weeks. i’ve been to see my dentist who tells me that my teeth aren’t showing signs of gum disease nor are they are loose enough to cause me any problems. however things have got so bad that i can’t even chew food anymore instead having to drink 5 protein shakes a day through a straw. i’ve tried painkillers and they work but are very short-lasting and i genuinely don’t know what else to do.

    what could happen next in terms of treatment if i go back?

    thanks.

    • ANSWER:
      it may be that you are not done growing. if you havent had wisdom teeth yet that may be it. also, if it hurts normally when chewing on something with higher amounts of sugar, or a gummy food, like a gummy worm, then try to lessen sugar intake. one other suggestion is that my friend had a problem with all of his teeth hurting because of something to do with his teeth being either too sensitive or something and by brushing his teeth too often, it caused him pain

49. QUESTION:
    Have you ever heard of someone getting sick after a deep dental cleaning?
    My dentist had one of the hygenist do a deep cleaning on all four quadrants of my mouth because I hadn’t been in a long time and needed it. He said he wanted her to put an anti biotics cream in there afterwards because he did see signs of gum disease and I had sever bleeding. The hygenist did the cleaning but did not give me the anti biotic, she said she wanted me to come back in 2 weeks and she would do it then. Well, in 2 weeks I was sick and had to cancel my appt and reschedule it. I have a sore throat, sinuses are all backed up, my face hurts, my mouth hurts. I went to the ER and they said I have a viral infection. I didn’t think about the fact that my teeth hurt and my face hurts around my mouth until this morning. A friend suggested that maybe I am sick cause infection was released from the deep cleaning and I wasn’t given the anti biotic.

    • ANSWER:
      I do not intend to have you worried…but your health (maybe life) could be in danger.
      The dental procedure can cause a sever infection of your blood by “Streptococcus” and be fatal eg. lead to Endocarditis.
      A high dose of “Amoxicillin” would be urgent!
      Pls. be careful!

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amoxicillin

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streptococcus

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endocarditis

50. QUESTION:
    I brush, floss, rinse, and do everything my dentist tells me to do… So why do my teeth suck?
    I hate going to my dentist because he’s always finding problems and accusing me of doing crap to care for my teeth. Well he barely speaks English, so maybe I can explain all of this to you people and someone can help me out. I always brush 3 times a day; after breakfast, after work, and before bed. I also rinse when I brush, and I floss every night. I don’t drink soft drinks. I don’t drink acidic juices. My toothbrush is some crazy expensive Rotadent that my dentist insisted I needed. Every review online says it’s practically the best.

    BUT I STILL HAVE CAVITIES AND CRAP TEETH! Plus now he’s saying he sees signs of gum disease. My question is what more can I do? I know people who brush maybe once a day and they don’t have a tenth the problems I do. Since my dentist is content to just badger me and charge me a lot of money for dental care can anyone give me some straight answers?

    And let me just say that dental care is nothing recent for me. My mother was a fiend when it came to proper hygiene, so taking care of my teeth has been my life. It’s only in the past five years or so that my mouth has suddenly been going to hell (I’m 27).

    • ANSWER:
      I think some people are just really unlucky when it comes to teeth. Some of it may be hereditary. You ever see that commercial with the twins, but only one has gingivitis or whatever? Haha. Yeah. I don’t think you’re doing anything wrong… you just got the short end of the stick.

      If your dentist barely speaks English and you’re having trouble communicating your problems with him, it might be a good idea to find a different dentist, if possible.