Comments on: Dental Myth Buster series: Bleeding gums (or How I learned to stop worrying and love the hygienist) http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/ Implant, Orthodontic and Cosmetic Dentistry Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:18:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Andrew Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:37:42 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-647 Hi there, bleeding gums is always a sign of gum disease (gingivitis). The nicotine in smoke causes restriction of the blood vessels in the gums and effectively 'masks' the true problem here. Long term gingivitis can lead to periodontitis which is destruction of the bone holding the teeth in. My advice would be to see your hygienist or dentist sooner rather than later and get them to do a proper gum assessment and decide what treatment is necessary. Hope this helps. Regards Dr Andrew Fennell BDS (Lond) Hi there,

bleeding gums is always a sign of gum disease (gingivitis). The nicotine in smoke causes restriction of the blood vessels in the gums and effectively ‘masks’ the true problem here.

Long term gingivitis can lead to periodontitis which is destruction of the bone holding the teeth in.

My advice would be to see your hygienist or dentist sooner rather than later and get them to do a proper gum assessment and decide what treatment is necessary.

Hope this helps.

Regards

Dr Andrew Fennell BDS (Lond)

]]> By: Sandi http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-641 Sandi Fri, 10 Apr 2009 10:31:32 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-641 I gave up smoking nearly four weeks ago, and withing a couple of days my gums started to bleed every time I brush them. They even started to bleed the other morning when I swilled my mouth with mouthwash before brushing. The bleeding doesn't seem to come from any particular area, but varies. I believe this may be due to better blood circulation around the gums since giving up smoking. Will this settle as I normally have no problems with my gums and teeth. I gave up smoking nearly four weeks ago, and withing a couple of days my gums started to bleed every time I brush them. They even started to bleed the other morning when I swilled my mouth with mouthwash before brushing. The bleeding doesn’t seem to come from any particular area, but varies. I believe this may be due to better blood circulation around the gums since giving up smoking. Will this settle as I normally have no problems with my gums and teeth.

]]> By: gemmak http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-323 gemmak Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:10:23 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-323 Thank you, much appreciated and will take your advice. The smoking issue of course is going to be the toughest one but worth it if I can hang onto some teeth! As for how advanced, no teeth fallen out but one removed and four more very 'wobbly' though have avoided much in the way of infection thus far. The remainder, very slightly loose, maybe I can hang onto those. Ok, I'm off now to try and find a dentist with a hygienist who has appointments! Thanks again. Thank you, much appreciated and will take your advice. The smoking issue of course is going to be the toughest one but worth it if I can hang onto some teeth! As for how advanced, no teeth fallen out but one removed and four more very ‘wobbly’ though have avoided much in the way of infection thus far. The remainder, very slightly loose, maybe I can hang onto those. Ok, I’m off now to try and find a dentist with a hygienist who has appointments!

Thanks again.

]]> By: Andrew http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-312 Andrew Tue, 03 Feb 2009 19:47:20 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-312 Hi there, It does sound as if you have periodontal disease. It is not possible to say without clinical examination how far the disease has progressed so I am not able to tell you how serious this is. Perio' disease has a large spectrum from mild gingivitis (bleeding gums) through to teeth which have pus appearing around the gum and are literally falling out on their own. There are 3 causes of this disease 1) Smoking 2) Inadequate oral hygiene 3) Genetic predisposition Most sufferers have a bit of all 3 in varying proportions. My suggestion would be 1) Find a decent local dentist - if you don't know anyone who is recommended then look at the website of anyone you are interested in, that will give you 'an idea'. Once you have found one you like, phone them: if the receptionist is helpful and gives you the time of day, book in for a consultation. This is by no means a given.... 2) Give up smoking now. 3) Don't give up on floss/brushing etc but hopefully your new dentist will have an equally decent hygienist who will sort this out for you and show you what to do 4) Waiting 5 months for a hygiene appointment when you have these problems is unacceptable: See 1). A well run Hygiene service is the key to avoiding all the above. At Winning Smiles we monitor our patients very closely for any signs of early Perio' disease and deal with it before it takes hold. Hope this helps! Hi there,

It does sound as if you have periodontal disease. It is not possible to say without clinical examination how far the disease has progressed so I am not able to tell you how serious this is.

Perio’ disease has a large spectrum from mild gingivitis (bleeding gums) through to teeth which have pus appearing around the gum and are literally falling out on their own.

There are 3 causes of this disease

1) Smoking
2) Inadequate oral hygiene
3) Genetic predisposition

Most sufferers have a bit of all 3 in varying proportions.

My suggestion would be
1) Find a decent local dentist – if you don’t know anyone who is recommended then look at the website of anyone you are interested in, that will give you ‘an idea’. Once you have found one you like, phone them: if the receptionist is helpful and gives you the time of day, book in for a consultation. This is by no means a given….
2) Give up smoking now.
3) Don’t give up on floss/brushing etc but hopefully your new dentist will have an equally decent hygienist who will sort this out for you and show you what to do
4) Waiting 5 months for a hygiene appointment when you have these problems is unacceptable: See 1).

A well run Hygiene service is the key to avoiding all the above. At Winning Smiles we monitor our patients very closely for any signs of early Perio’ disease and deal with it before it takes hold.

Hope this helps!

]]> By: gemmak http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-307 gemmak Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:44:45 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-307 I have peridontal disease, aggravated I know by smoking and the inability to get to see a dentist for 5 years whilst living in Scotland. It seems to be a 'done deal', my teeth are loose and it scares the life out of me...as does all dentistry. I clean/floss manically but I can't get an appt. with a hygienist for another 5 months. I used mouthwash as instructed but having developed a very sore tongue/mouth my pharmasist now tells me I have an allergy to it's active ingredient! Any suggestions will giving up smoking make a signifigant difference at this stage), eating is already a problem and I don't want to lose more teeth! Don't say 'dentures' please! ;o) Sorry to barge in here but getting advice from a professional close at hand seems to be impossible for months! :o( Any help would be <i>much</i> appreciated. I have peridontal disease, aggravated I know by smoking and the inability to get to see a dentist for 5 years whilst living in Scotland. It seems to be a ‘done deal’, my teeth are loose and it scares the life out of me…as does all dentistry. I clean/floss manically but I can’t get an appt. with a hygienist for another 5 months. I used mouthwash as instructed but having developed a very sore tongue/mouth my pharmasist now tells me I have an allergy to it’s active ingredient! Any suggestions will giving up smoking make a signifigant difference at this stage), eating is already a problem and I don’t want to lose more teeth! Don’t say ‘dentures’ please! ;o)

Sorry to barge in here but getting advice from a professional close at hand seems to be impossible for months! :o ( Any help would be much appreciated.

]]> By: Andrew http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Andrew Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:25:57 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-7 Hello Jo: to claim that a mouthwash 'eliminates' bacteria that cause gum disease is hogwash - assuming that the definition of 'eliminate' is 'to remove 100% of'. And how is a mouthwash meant to penetrate underneath the gum where the real problem is?...killing some of the bacteria on the tongue or on the outside of the gum won't help... Mouthwashes play a useful role as an 'adjunct' to Hygiene Therapy in certain cases. On their own they're hopeless. But you won't catch them admitting that on a national ad campaign :-) andrew Hello Jo:
to claim that a mouthwash ‘eliminates’ bacteria that cause gum disease is hogwash – assuming that the definition of ‘eliminate’ is ‘to remove 100% of’.
And how is a mouthwash meant to penetrate underneath the gum where the real problem is?…killing some of the bacteria on the tongue or on the outside of the gum won’t help…

Mouthwashes play a useful role as an ‘adjunct’ to Hygiene Therapy in certain cases. On their own they’re hopeless. But you won’t catch them admitting that on a national ad campaign :-)
andrew

]]> By: Jo http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Jo Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:11:33 +0000 http://winning-smiles.co.uk/dental-myth-buster-series-2-bleeding-gums-or-%e2%80%98how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-hygienist%e2%80%99/#comment-3 Thank you for this information, but as I was reading it an advert on the TV for a well known brand of mouthwash claims to eliminate bacteria that cause gum disease. Is this correct? Thank you for this information, but as I was reading it an advert on the TV for a well known brand of mouthwash claims to eliminate bacteria that cause gum disease. Is this correct?

]]>