Please, please tell me it isn't to fall out now

[oxcat1]

I am in hospital and have been for a couple of months, after being really pretty ill. I'm getting better, but not well enough to go home for a while yet.

I am basically suddenly absolutely terrified that one of my front teeth is about to fall out. I mean really frightened. Please tell me that things will be ok, at least until I can get to the dentist? I have always been slightly paranoid about my teeth, but this has resulted in regular dentist visits, except I haven't been for about 2 years due to one thing and another.

When I was a teenager, my gums around my front lower teeth receded on the inside. There was no pain, swelling, bleeding or any if the things they describe on telly - it just pushed back. Dentists have commented on it but it has never caused any problems. I think it may have been hormonal, although I also have Ehler-Danlos and I understand it can be associated with that.

At the moment I have a really sore mouth, as a result of being so unwell and on so many medications. I just looked in a small mirror, and now the gum around two of the lower front teeth has pulled right down at the front as well. I do have pain and bleeding when I brush this time, although the gums don't particularly look red. I am trying so hard to look after my teeth: I am using an electric toothbrush, brushing for at least 4 minutes twice a day (putting the timer on twice) and using a corsodyl mouthwash that was prescribed to stop the mouth pain, although I have read that that will stain my teeth brown. My mouth is still so sore though and brushing is agony, although I am persisting. It has only started in the last week, and is exacerbated by lots of oral thrush and just being unwell I think.

There I only a mm or so of 'normal' gum holding the one tooth in now at the front and back, although at the sides (between the teeth) it is still normal level and nice and pink. Is this tooth going to fall out anyway now? I am so panicked. I can't get to a dentist, obviously as I am still too unwell to leave the hospital, but is there anything I can do in the meantime? I eat quite a lot of apples : is that biting process pushing the gum down? Should I only eat them chopped or something?

I am so scared. Please tell me the tooth can be saved,and preferably that nothing is going to happen in the newest few weeks until I am well enough go home and get sorted. So frightened.

I think, especially if you have ehler-danlos, you shouldn't be brushing for double-length periods because you can literally erode your gums that way. There are dentists on here so I'd hope that maybe they can give you more constructive help but from what I know (from experience) I really don't think that's a good idea

The hospital can get a dentist in to look at it for you if you can't get out. Mention it to the nurse.

Thought I had posted a message but seems to have gone.

I don't think they would be able to get a dentist to me here: this is a specialist hospital and only deals with cardiac and respiratory. For anything else you get shipped off in an ambulance to the local general hospital, but they have already cancelled several pre-existing appointments as they say I'm not well enough to travel.

I know I probably shouldn't brush my teeth so much but there is nothing else I can do and I'm frightened. I don't know how else to make this go or ah least improve?

I hope some dentists see this thread soon. All suggestions gratefully received however! Thanks !

Shameless bump hoping some dentists or people with gum experience might help out....

Please do tell the staff at the hospital your worries - although it is specialist and you are not well enough to travel, they may well be able to make some arrangement for a local dentist to come in and have a look. Certainly you need to let them know you are anxious and worried.

I hope you can get something sorted out soon - best wishes to you for your recovery, it must be very hard to be in hospital for so long, xx

Thanks - I will try again. Please don't think I wasn't grateful for your responses though!

Please speak to your consultant about this. It's possible that a dentist/doctor will not reply to your thread because they are not encouraged to give out advice over the internet. Your cardiologist will probably take any concerns about your teeth seriously (speaking as a cardiac patient not a HCP). Or your respiratory consultant, if that's who you are under.

You haven't said in your OP if you have discussed this with your doctors. Good luck in your recovery, I hope you get home soon. Being in hospital can mess with your head, because it's not a real environment. Hopefully you will feel generally better once you are on the mend. At least that's how I felt when I was in, and that was only for 10 days. So you really have been through it.