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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be Depressed about my teeth do they look really bad?

73 replies

DoreenSamuel · 10/02/2020 20:35

My dentist told me today he’s referring me to see a specialist as my gums are so badly receded (i don’t smoke and have excellent dental hygiene- it’s hereditary), probably need gum surgery.

Anyone cheer me up?

I’m so upset ☹️

To be Depressed about my teeth do they look really bad?
OP posts:
Elouera · 10/02/2020 20:53

My FIL has the same, with large gaps near the gums. Unfortunately my OH is starting to go the same and its heredity for him also. He too is discussing a referal and treatment options with his dentist.

I too would either get a 2nd opinion and go to the referral (or find someone else yourself). You don't look elderly, and I'd want to stop any further progression now, rather than living another 40yrs with them getting worse.
PossiblyPFB · 10/02/2020 20:53

I noticed a lower receding gumline as a young teenager (genetic, not to do with poor hygiene at all!) and ended up having a simple inpatient graft surgery to repair it. They took tissue from the roof of my mouth. Not entirely sure how it works to combat a genetic occurrence indefinitely, but it was successful and has not caused me any more problems since. Best of luck to you!

jaggynettle · 10/02/2020 20:54

I'd love teeth like yours! They're lovely and straight and white! Mine are like a hillbilly's all mis shaped and a gap between my front teeth you could drive a bus through Confused

Bluemascara4 · 10/02/2020 20:54

Lovely teeth ( wish mine were so white) and a beautiful smile x

PregnantCat · 10/02/2020 20:55

You have a beautiful smile. I would be careful about gun recession though, I have some from over brushing and it can be very painful. Could be worth getting a second opinion.

puds11 · 10/02/2020 20:56

Your teeth are fine, your gums are not though. They don’t look bad, they are just receding.

TheWordmeister · 10/02/2020 20:57

Tbf - that photo doesn't show your gums, so it's impossible to say.

earsup · 10/02/2020 20:58

my friend had this surgery done in spain...cut the gums and stretched them...she had lots of xxx shape stitches along the gums etc...was painful...i too have some receding gums but have had them for years and no pain etc so wont bother to treat it yet.

schoolsoutforever · 10/02/2020 20:59

I have receeding gums too and yours are in much better shape than mine. I am managing them at the moment at the hygienist with teepees etc but it has been mentioned that I may have to see a specialist. I wouldn't worry overly at the moment until you've seen the specialist. I did panic when I first knew of mine being bad but there are things they can do and, like others have said I don't think anyone would notice

mytypeonpaper · 10/02/2020 21:00

How your teeth look have nothing to do with how your gum health is so don't take it personally. To keep your lovely teeth you need healthy gums and for that you need to see a gum specialist. My husband is one if you need a recommendation 🤣

HmmIsThisAGoodIdea · 10/02/2020 21:02

Oh my goodness, I serially was about to open up this thread to find a photo to put me off my dinner! Grin Not in the slightest, yours are genuinely lovely!!

HmmIsThisAGoodIdea · 10/02/2020 21:03

Seriously! Argh, stupid phone!

CecilyP · 10/02/2020 21:07

I was reluctant to open this thread lest I saw something really horrific, so was quite relieved. Your teeth look absolutely fine to me!

MsAwesomeDragon · 10/02/2020 21:07

Your teeth look lovely to me, but I'm not a dentist.

I do know that my sister has similar receding gums and couldn't afford to see the dentist, so hers got a lot worse than yours are now. She's now lost 3 teeth! 2 of them are right at the front and very, very noticeable.

So my advice is to do anything you can to help your teeth. Have the gum surgery if the specialist thinks it's needed, follow the advice of the professionals.

Spinakker · 10/02/2020 21:10

Your teeth look good. I can see your gums have receeded now it's been pointed out but I see many people with that. The good thing is you're getting treatment for it now. I wouldn't panic. I know that's easier said than done but at least wait and see what they say at the specialists. Can you talk to anyone in your family about it who had a similar problem? Xx

akerman · 10/02/2020 21:18

Your teeth look fine to me. Truly. And I love your top! Where did you get it?

Thefaceofboe · 10/02/2020 21:20

I wouldn’t notice your teeth or gums if we were having a conversation, they’re just normal (this is a compliment!) Grin

dementedma · 10/02/2020 21:21

I think they look great and genuinely cant see the receding gum thing.

Lovemusic33 · 10/02/2020 21:30

I wish I had your teeth 😊

BlueHarry · 10/02/2020 21:30

It's not noticeable without being pointed out. I have receding gums too. I don't think it's noticeable unless you open your mouth a certain way and ask people to have a look :)

MrEzraGoldberg · 10/02/2020 21:30

They're so white and straight! not jealous

Know nothing about receding gums. Have you noticed a difference over the years though, in your gums?

Likethebattle · 10/02/2020 21:31

A girl I worked with had the procedure you’ve described. She said it wasn’t pleasant but she recovered really quickly (she had to eat only soft food for a while) and has had no issues since.

mellicauli · 10/02/2020 21:33

watch out for those gum dentists. Very expensive. I went to one and ended up paying £200 for an exam of the type a normal dentist would do and a lecture of the type a . He wrote up a report which was non commital in the extreme and proposed a series of treatment which sounded unpleasant, expensive and could cause worse problems that it proposed to heal. I declined the second £200 appointment and upped my visits to the hygeinists..

Usemyname123 · 10/02/2020 21:35

They look great to me, honestly :)

U2HasTheEdge · 10/02/2020 21:35

I can see the receding on zooming in very closely. I can't imagine I would notice without looking for it on purpose though.

I was 21 when my gums started to recede and I am quite paranoid about mine too. I have always had good dental hygiene, but as soon as I was pregnant with my 2nd they went to shit.

My dentist is always telling me I need to clean better. I do clean them well though, and at 38 I have never had a filling. My only saving grace is that I have big ish lips so my teeth are well covered where the receding is at its worst.

Anyway, you have a lovely smile and I doubt anyone in real life would ever notice.

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