Gum redness... what is it?
Question:
The gums around my (upper) front teeth are red. The dentist told me to use mouthwash, but it hasn't improved.
They've been like that for well over a year, and they don't hurt or bleed. It used to be only my two front teeth, but it has gradually spread to my canines.
Can anyone possibly tell me what it could be, and what I could do to treat it?
Answers:
You can rule out gum cleanliness if you are:
- brushing normally...medium or fine bristles...and don't brush too harshly, but brush longer.
- flossing at the end of the day
- rinsing with antiseptic mouthwash
- using a waterpik (oral irrigator) to clean beneath your gums (flossing and brushing will miss this area)
If you are doing all these, and they are still red, you might also want to check with a nutritionist. Hopefully, this is just cosmetic; however, your dentist should be able to tell you if there is gum disease (gingivitus) or something related.
Well, if you're not eating anything that would stain them then I'd say see another dentist for a second opinion.
Seems unusual. Get a water pick and use it and see another Dentist for a second opinion.
i had that happen to me once and the doctor said it was due to gingivitis. gingivitis is a disease in your gums and appears because a plaque film which builds up because you don't floss or brush your teeth correctly or not you don't brush or floss your teeth once a day. usually you don't realize you have it. are you gums bleeding when you brush them? that a sign for gingivitis as well as when ur gums become puffy and red. antibacterial mouthwash will usually help. either that or you could try antibiotics and/or special plaque removal devices. make sure you call your dentist to check up on him with it. gingivitis is known for making people loose teeth.
XxLinaxX
Red and bleeding gums are usually cause by improper cleaning of the teeth. Floss is a good way to go, and also you can buy a dentists pick to get in between your teeth to get the gunk out. It can also be caused by a lack of vitamin C in your diet. Brushing alone is not enough because the brush cannot get deep in between the teeth where food lodges, and then rots. Bacteria then collect there and begin to grow there and the gums become sore and infected where that happens. Removing all food, and having a dentist do regular 6 month cleans on your teeth will also help. when your dentist cleans your teeth, he digs deep between the teeth with his dentists pick, and scrapes just under the gum line around each tooth, removing old food, and any bacterial growths there. This is why your mouth often bleeds after the dentist cleans your teeth, and he tells you to rinse your mouth. He is quite aggressive when he does this and is not afraid to dig deep to get the stuff out. He knows that the gums will quickly heal after his procedure, leaving your mouth feeling fresh and clean. Much of this you can do yourself, with a dentist's pick bought in many drug stores. It is simply a plastic stick, with a metal hook on the end that is pointy, so it can easily get between your teeth at the gum line. Good luck!
FLOSS. Thats pretty much the best thing you can do. That and always use a "SOFT" brush, never medium, and by God, don't use hard! These are too abrasive and will give your gums recession and redness to boot! Take care of this problem further by having a deep cleaning, or administer arrestin ( An infection fighting antibiotic used to cure gum infections and reduce pocketing). Hope this helps! =)
Its difficult to tell without actually seeing it. Only mouthwash is NOT going to help. Red gums are inflammed gums. May be you are having some tartar on teeth. Scaling may help. You can try Metronidazole + Chlorhexidine Gel, for the time being.
Consult a Periodontist
ask the dentist for an oral prophylaxis and take some vitamin c.
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