Gum Disease

[elliemay1]

I went to a new dentist and she said she was concerned about my gums. She said there was so much plaque between my teeth that it would take 2 sessions of cleaning and only then would she know if my gums were damaged. She couldn't reassure that they'd eventually be ok. Recently my gums have bled at times when I brush them and sometimes when I floss. Do you think I've left it too late or has anyone else been in this position and had a positive outcome?

[sandyRoe]

A couple of visits to see the dental hygienist and your gums should be as sound as ever.

[invisiblelady]

Me! I've had a positive outcome! My dentist sent me to his "hygeinist" (sp???) and after a couple of sessions and after using Corsadil.....I'm fine! Don't worry too much :-)

[elliemay1]

Thank you both so much. I have been so worried.

[MissCommando]

Not been in a similar situation but I second the corsidil. It it supposed to be fantastic for bleeding gums/gum disease so definitely buy some!

I've got a problem with a receding gum, but there's nothing I can do about it at all! I hate it.

[MissCommando]

I mean corsodyl.

[237SJ]

I always seem to get plaque on the inside of my lower teeth. It takes the dentist minutes to remove it. I can`t understand why it would take two sessions to remove it - more profit perhaps? Gums bleed when there is plaque because there is more chance of bacteria getting into the gaps between the teeth and gums. The dentist needs to use a little filing strip between the teeth to get rid of all of it though and I`ve never been to a UK dentist that does that although I have had that done abroad.

[sandyRoe]

Toothpicks are worth using, discretely.

[Sir Alec]

I had to have all four wisdom teeth out at once. I was advised to swill salt water around my mouth four times a day. It made my teeth feel sort of 'sticky', but it worked. It was to toughen my gums after the operation.

[Robinia]

I agree with sandy...After not going to a dentist for a very long time my gums weren't as good as they should have been and I had to have a thorough clean done by the hygenist. It was uncomfortable but it made so much difference. The regime she gave me was to only use corsodyl for the first 3 weeks after her cleaning and only once in the middle of the day, not immediately after brushing.
She told me to use the little interdental brushes and recommended a mousse to rub on my gums at night. It was expensive but it helped a lot and now my gums are fine.

[LoftyLottie]

Be a bit careful with corsodyl though. Originally it made my mouth very sore indeed and my gums started blistering. It does recommend on the bottle that if this happens you should use it half strength. It is extremely strong stuff.

[LoftyLottie]

Corsodyl also do a milder mouth rinse which is called Corsodyl Daily and they also do a gel which is great. I am at the moment using Corsodyl toothpaste. I have never been to a dental hygeinist. The dentist gives my teeth a quick polish on my six mothly checkups and have never had any plaque. I just must be lucky.

[Robinia]

That's why the hygenist told me not to use it immediately after brushing and not for longer than 3 weeks Lottie.

[grannydi]

As a dentist -now long retired-can I make these comments.2 sessions are probably needed to clean up as usually the plaque has calcified into calculus. This is very hard and destructive - 1st session, 2nd session to make sure all is gone and show the patient how to clean teeth PROPERLY! The use of interspace brushes is essential to anyone who has gum disease and to prevent any onset of gingivitis - gum disease.
If I could have had a pound for every patient to whom I said - 'you are not brushing your teeth PROPERLY', I would be a very rich lady. Sadly most of the people in this country only brush their teeth for 20 - 30 seconds instead of the required 2 minutes. It's a long time - you time it and you will see what I mean. Do take notice of what your dentist tells you.

[LoftyLottie]

I didn't use it after brushing Robbi and I only used it for a few days before I had that horrible reaction.

[Bambiagain]

I recently got an electric toothbrush, which is programmed for the full two minute brush. Funnily enough it doesn't seem that long, although when brushing my teeth manually I'm quite sure I don't brush for that long. My teeth feel a lot cleaner now. After your treatment is done, I'd recommend one.

[ladyalex]

I find Dentyl mouthwash to be very good for getting rid of plaque.
I used it daily for a fortnight at first and now use it about once a week.
I now very rarely need a 'scale and polish' when I go to the dentist.
And it tastes a whole lot better than Corsodyl.

[LoftyLottie]

Actually our dentist recommend Dentyl to Mr LL who seems to make a lot of plaque and it works.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm unsure about my present dentist, he seems pleasant enough but when I was younger any small amount of plaque that formed was removed without having to explicitly be asked and now-a-days I seem to have it building up. Also he claims my gums are not receding but all this year I've have issues with food that I've never had before. Floss sometimes gets between the teeth easily, but at other times seems to refuse to get in, and when if refuses to get out. But the reason I post is in sympathy since I have gums that seem to want to bleed easily when I try to floss, and then feel as if there is something there for ages after. Only happened this year. Worries me too. And yes I do use mouth wash. Different brands each time but I've used both Corsodyl and Dentyl at different times. On Sensodyne at the moment. Beginning to wonder if my mouth has decided not to bother any more. Maybe an age related thing.