Inflamed gums, no dentist for weeks, help!

[BoccaBaciata]

Over the past few days the gums around my bottom front teeth have become inflamed and sore and they bleed badly when I brush them. This happens from time to time and usually it calms down but this is really nasty, worse than it's been before, and my teeth feel sort of 'clicky'. I do have some recession in that area due to overbrushing when I was younger, so I take great care to keep it clean - interdental brushing, regular scale and polishing, corsodyl toothpaste etc. But this happens whatever I do.

I've just phoned my dentist (I go to my local dental hospital) but they can't see me until 24 March. There is an emergency clinic but they only deal with things like extractions and temporary fillings so no help there. What can I do in the meantime? It seems like whatever I do irritates it more - currently I've upped the brushing to three times a day with a very soft brush/interdentals, and am using Corsodyl gel for the evening brush (and whenever I use the interdentals).

I'm terrified my teeth will fall out before I get to the dentist Any reassurance/advice gratefully received!

I had this.

You can get a nasty mouthwash that fixes it.

Speak to your pharmacist

@TheNoiseHurts thank you! I'll ask when I'm in town later. I'm already using Corsodyl mouthwash twice a day but so far it's not helping, maybe a pharmacy one will be stronger.

Do you have associated bad breath? How sore are we talking?

Are you a smoker or immunocompromised in any way?

If they are just very inflamed your teeth aren't going to fall out in the 3 weeks it takes to get to the dentist. Bone loss takes years.

All you can do is clean them as well as you can, you can try some peroxyl mouthwash which might help and corsodyl gel. You really need to clean under the inflamed gum area.

If this is happening repeatedly there is a cause, gums don't just get randomly inflamed. Most likely you are missing areas when brushing, your dentist should be able to talk you through this and improve your technique.

You say scale and polishing, but do you actually see a hygienist? It sounds like you may have plaque beneath the gum line.
A pp mentions Peroxyl - this is brilliant as it has hydrogen peroxide in it and fizzes round the dodgy bits. Corsodyl mouth wash stains your teeth if you use it a lot. I wouldn't use it myself.
Finally, you could be over brushing your teeth and irritating them. 3 times a day with using interdental brushes as well would be quite abrasive. Try cutting down on the brushing and see if it helps.

@DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon thanks for replying.

No, no bad breath but I've just noticed the area is leaking pus, which it wasn't earlier. So I suppose the bad breath won't be long in coming.

My brushing is fine (been through it with the hygienist) but the area has receded quite badly and it's hard to clean under the gum line there and nasties get in, which is what causes this. I'm not sure what I can do to prevent it in future. The rest of my gums are always fine, it's just this bit. I'm not sure how to clean under the gum myself - isn't that something only the dentist can do?

I've tried calling 111 and they told me to get an appointment from a different dentist within 24 hours - I called the number they gave me but they couldn't help as it's my gum not a tooth, but they're going to try and get back to me 'within 48 hours'. I'm at a loss and I feel a bit desperate - eating is out of the question

This happened to me once OP.

I used Corsodyl mouthwash (not the daily one) twice a day and took Ibruprofen. By the 6th day there was a massive improvement.

It could just be a waiting game but I wouldn't brush 3 times a day as that probably won't improve the inflammation.

X posted. I didn't have any pus though.

Perhaps you should ring your dentist back and see if they can give you an emergency appointment.

What’s your diet like, do you eat a good amount of fruit and vegetables? You could try increasing them to up your vitamin C intake, which helps gum health.

@longearedbat thank you - yes DH has just told me to 'stop fannnying about' with it too! Maybe in my attempts to keep it clean I'm being a bit too overzealous.

Yes I see a hygienist, but I do think that you're right about the plaque - my last visit was in July so I'm due another one. And he last time this happened (though it wasn't as bad) a hygienist sorted it. The only problem is I can't get an appointment anywhere!

I'll ask DD to get me some Peroxyl on her way home from work, see if that helps in the short term.

Thanks again!

@BoccaBaciata did the mouthwash help

@TheNoiseHurts which mouth wash