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[carebearstare]

I am starting this thread to house any and all dental-related questions, concerns, or complaints. (I guess successes could go here too, though I don't know what those would be.)

I'll start: For most of my adulthood, I've had a problem with bleeding gums when I floss. Even when I floss daily, they sometimes bleed a bit. It never hurts much, and it doesn't happen every day, but it's been regular. I don't have receding gums or any other dental problems, and my check ups are always good, minus the bleeding gums bit.

At my last dentist appointment a few weeks ago, my hygienist suggested an electric toothbrush. So I picked one up. I've been using it for about two weeks now. And... my gums hurt. One spot will become sore, then it will heal to be followed by another tender spot. My gums aren't bleeding when I floss, but the sore spots from brushing are. Right now, one spot hurts a lot.

I'm worried this electric toothbrush is causing more problems than it is solving. Is this a normal transition period I'm in, as my gums toughen up, or should I go back to my regular brush? Is it worth a call to my dentist?

[bioteacher]

Call your dentist.

I recently made the switch to an electric toothbrush, too. How I hate the vibrations! But they swear it will help with my own problem of receding gums. Despite senosodyne daily, I am now on a room temperature diet... I have one tooth on each side of my lower jaw that has an exposed root that reminds me it is there. Oy! I am almost due for my next visit. I need to call myself.

Are you using a wash after brushing? My dentist recommended one for gingivitis which can cause bleeding gums. I hate the burn of alcohol, but Crest has one that is alcohol free. Maybe that, used after flossing, will be the magic element to stop the bleeding.

Just keep flossing! I really believe the only reason I ever had cavities was because I never flossed until grad school, and only then b/c I had my first cavity... between two molars.

I've also heard about a special electric brush that stops turning if you press too hard. I was told my brushing was the cause of gum receding....I was too vigorous in my efforts. Maybe you are pressing too hard, too? If so, the auto-stop brush would help with that. Always use soft bristles, too.

Good luck.

Aging is hard on the human body. Just who had the brilliant idea we should peak at 20 and live another 60-80 years in continual decline?!

[collegekidsmom]

I have often heard that estrogen fluctuations can cause bleeding gums. I think pregnancy or OCs or anything hormonal might be culprits too. There may be other normal reasons for gums to bleed. I'm sure someone here will know. I don't think it's always something bad.
I would never continue with a toothbrush that causes pain. I think you should definitely check with the dentist about potential problems associated with that pain.

I broke a tooth by biting on something and had to have the tooth removed-after trying everything to save it. I really hated to part with one of my teeth. Now I have to get an implant. Ugh. Think I will go for the general anesthesia so I can avoid the whole experience.

[glowdart]

I also wonder if you might be brushing too hard with the electric brush.  

If you even look at my capillaries, then they issue forth blood; I've gotten countless "explanations" of this over the years from dentists.  The ones I trusted said, "Well, you bleed easily.  Could be medications, could be allergies, could be hormones, could be low-level inflammation in your body, could be something else.  It isn't periodontal disease right now.  Keep brushing & flossing and call me if it gets worse or hurts."

So, if I might channel the dentists I've trusted.... call yours.... as it hurts.    

Good luck.  

[carebearstare]

Thanks everyone. I didn't know that hormonal issues could trigger bleeding gums, but if so that totally makes sense, as I have other hormone-related conditions.

I'm going to give the electric toothbrush a rest and call my dentist.

[ucprof]

You might try a water pic + regular brushing instead of the electric toothbrush.  You need warmer water in the pic the cold will hurt.  My dentist swears by the pic.  I have some trouble with it but the issue is that I travel all the time and the pic is not a good traveler, it breaks and it is bulky to put in a carry on.

[volfan]

I love my water pic. It has really helped my bleeding gums. Like ucprof says, you definitely need warm/ hot water in it because cold water is extremely painful. I've even added some of the Crest Pro-Health stuff to the water.

If you are using an electric toothbrush, look into buying soft heads for it. That made a big difference on my gums as well.

[sqrt_gh]

I cracked a filling from grinding my teeth, but I haven't been able to find a dentist here. No fun.

Carebearstare, could it be you are using too firm of a toothbrush?

[scampster]

I cracked a filling from grinding my teeth, but I haven't been able to find a dentist here. No fun.

Ouch. None of your colleagues have any recommendations?

[melba_frilkins]

About bleeding gums, floss, and electric toothbrushes:

1) After several years, I was finally convinced by my dental hygienist convinced to buy an electric toothbrush. But when I went to the store, the choices were overwhelming so I bailed on it. (Plus, I will confess, I didn't want to clutter my cute pedestal sink with one of those devices). I decided to start brushing my teeth as if I had an electric toothbrush: more time brushing and lots of quick light fast strokes. Guess what, my gums improved enough to fool my hygienist into thinking I'd switched to electric. So, it's not the brush, it's how you use it.

2) Prior to that, no matter how much I flossed, I still had bleeding gums. My hygienist didn't even believe that I flossed regularly. Then I started rinsing daily with hydrogen peroxide (30-60 seconds) and my gum health improved radically. Side benefits are a light whitening effect and that incidental burns or scraps in the mouth will heal up nice and quick.

[systeme_d_]

Dear SO needs dentures.

My wallet already hurts.

[amewa_silk]

Hygenist wants me to come back for another cleaning in four months due to inflamed gums.  Am thinking of extending it to the standard six months.  I could use the extra time to toughen my gums.

Melba_frilkins: that is a great tip about the HP.  Will try and report back on the findings.

I cracked a tooth a while back from night-grinding.  It wears a crown at present, but the cold causes mild discomfort (so does continued night-grinding, for that matter).  Dentist referred me to endodontist to take out the nerve.  I'm suspicious of dentists and their cohort, generally believing them to be scamming me for cash. 

[alastrina]

I've been grinding my teeth at night too (or so this dentist says). He wants to do a custom bite guard but not until he does about 8k of work first because he wants to put crowns on the 5 molars that don't already have them. I think that part is a crock by the way. Only 2 of those actually need crowns.

Getting back on track, none of this helped me with the grinding now which may be damaging an ancient filling on one of the teeth that actually needs a crown. I got an inexpensive bite guard from Amazon. It's fairly comfortable and you can shape it with scissors and nail file (to smooth the edges). It's this one if you want to check it out.

Melba_frilkins: I'm going to give the HP a try too. Right now, I'm just using a warm saline solution (about 1/4 tsp salt to 8 oz water).

[debwilkes]

I grind my teeth too or at least that's what my previous dentist told me. But I hate mouth guards and don't think I could wear one at night. I haven't noticed my teeth receding anymore, so I'm wondering if it was from something else. I know I use to chew on ice a lot and wonder if that wore down my teeth?

[tenured_feminist]

Just found this thread.

I'm happy to be a former gum bleeder. What did the trick for me, in addition to doing the damn flossing every day, was brushing gently at night with a 50% hydrogen peroxide, 50% water solution. My dentist says that it really cuts down on the bacteria and helps to prevent inflammation. May be worth a try for some of you.