What does a 3 mean when talking about gums at the dentist?

[MrsCrumpet]

I know. I know I should have asked the dentist but I was too frazzled as I got there late. He said a 3 when saying a gum measurement to the nurse. It was 3s all the way round my mouth except one place it was a 2.

What is it and is it really bad? My gums are quite inflamed and he has booked me into a gum clean for next week.

Its to do with pockets/gaps between the tooth and the gums. If your gums are inflamed then sounds like there is an issue. I normally get 1s with the occasional 2

Your pockets round your teeth are 3mm deep, they should be 0. Its not great but not the worst. Hygienist will help then flossing and interdental brushes at home.

dementedpixie Oh shoot. That doesn't sound good.

The grade the gap between the tooth and gum from 1 upwards. As far as I recall, anything above a 3 means you need to start looking into deep cleans, hygienist visits etc.

I had a real battle with gum disease a few years back where I was getting 6, 7s. My worst tooth was a 9. Ended up having to have a course of antibiotics and treatment at a dental hospital to get it under control.

I wouldn’t be too concerned, sounds like they’ve caught it right at the beginning so you can easily get on top of it.

If its a BPE code 3 then in that sextant you have at least one pocket of up to 5.5mm. See a hygienist

Oorwulliesbucket how do you get them to a zero or one? Can your gums grow back?! I've had a baby and since being pregnant my gums have really swollen.

www.smilelux.co.uk/blog/orthodontics-explained-a-dentists-terminology/ explains it a bit

CurlsandCurves Can I ask what you did to get it sorted? I floss and brush twice a day but clearly that isn't enough?!

Hygienist will keep you right, they are brilliant.

One of my friends had to go several times for deep cleans at the dental hospital. Do you use an electric toothbrush? Those interdental brushes may help too

I've got this problem. I brush twice a day with an electric toothbrush. I also use a tuft brush around the gums and interdental brushes between the teeth.

I also have to go to the hygienist every 3 months.

This regime has meant I've gone from 3's and 4's to 1's and 2's.

My dentist says that unfortunately some people are more prone to gum disease than others. But if you don't keep on top of it, your teeth will become loose and eventually fall out.

Gum pockets of 3.5-5.5mm. So: early to moderate gum disease. Needs to be taken seriously- electric toothbrush and daily interdental cleaning. Regular hygiene visits. Regular review. If it doesn’t improve you might need deep cleaning while numb.

My readings were all 1/2 but dentist/periodontist keep saying that my gums are receding and need to be fixed...which doesn’t sound right if 3/4 can be fixed by a hygienist...very confused :-(

I am usually a 1 or 2 and one time was told 3 at one part of my mouth.

I had a hygienist appointment immediately afterwards, she showed me exactly where it was.

I got religious about flossing and bought it back to pretty much all 1s.

There was an Ask Me Anything from a dental hygienist a little while back. Definitely worth a read. I use the teepee brushes plus floss.

I have this, my teeth range from 1-4. It’s been a problem ever since I was pregnant with my eldest (now 7!) I basically couldn’t brush my teeth properly for nearly 9 months as I just vomited every time I tried. My gums have never been the same since. I visit the hygienist regularly, have switched to an electric toothbrush and use the interdental sticks as well. I’m not sure they’re ever going to get much better but at least they don’t seem to be getting any worse.... I’ve got a few teeth where the gum is really receding as well - I hate how it looks Bloody kids!!

MrsCrumpet

Initially I did what others have said. Electric toothbrush, Corsodyl toothpaste and mouthwash, and using interdental brushes. Dip the brush in the mouthwash and get in there. Don’t be alarmed by blood, it’s part and parcel of it.

When that didn’t work as quickly as anticipated, I was then referred to a dental hospital where I got antibiotics and a thorough clear out of all the plaque etc under a local anaesthetic. Then check ups, deep cleans etc for about another year in total.

I still see the dentist and hygienist every 3 months now.

An important thing to remember is it’s not necessarily anything you’ve done. Some people are prone to gum disease and I’m one of them. That’s what I was told when I got really upset and disheartened. Ultimately it’s a case of keeping on top of it yourself and with your dentist and hygienist.

Tbh op I’d be a little concerned that they didn’t explain it to you while you were there
They are supposed to

Heatherjayne1972 That's exactly what I thought. I never got ant advice on anything like interdental brushes etc. Just come next time for a clean. I've found a lot of dentists here are like that. They literally look in your mouth for 2 minutes and then let you go.

I only found out because I asked what the numbers meant. My old dentist never used to say them at all, so when my new one did, I asked about it. Interdental brushes are good if you have larger gaps between the teeth although you can get different thicknesses.