Repeating in the hope of help from dentists or those who know about gums!

[oxcat1]

I posted this on Saturday and have very few replies. It was suggested I repost in the hope of attracting dentists or those with experience of gums and gum disease. I am so frightened that my tooth is about to fall out any minute now, and would love some reassurance, were any to be possible....

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.

Could you be brushing too hard and for too long?

I don't think that will be helping.

I just work for a dentist but don't know enough about the technical stuff..hopefully a dentist will be along soon.

Hi, I'm afraid in not a dentist but wanted to hold your hand until someone with more knowledge comes along. I've just been discharged from hospital yesterday, and know how utterly terrifying it is laying there feeling scared and lonely about what's going to happen.
Please ring your buzzer and speak to an HCA or nurse. I did this at the weekend when I got in such a state about my diagnosis, and after I burst out crying through sheer fear, the nurse arranged for a surgeon to come and have a chat with me. They may be able to get a hospital dentist to come to you to have a quick look and either put your mind at rest or get you some emergency treatment. Don't suffer in silence. Hope someone more knowledgable will be along soon but until then, here's my hand to hold.

Yes..am reading abiut it and over brushing is a big cause of gum recession so I would definitely be a bit more gentle and not do 4 minutes at a time.

I'm not a dentist either, but i live in fear of losing my front tooth too due to hereditary gum issues and health.. My dentist told me NOT to brush for more then 2 minutes at a time, i also have to say all the mouth washes i've tried make my mouth sore (and occasionally have given me oral thrush) .. Try swishing with hot/warm salt water, it acts the same as a mouth wash, but will help heal too IME.
Oh, and if my gum gets soft which happens occasionally, i do avoid having it prodded by hard foods for a bit, maybe chop up the apples and use your molars to give the front gum a chance to repair?

I am so grateful, thank you. I think I shouldn't be brushing my teeth so much, but I suppose I panicked.

There is no doubt that my mouth has much improved since the doctors increased the anti-thrush medication (on 3 different IV antibiotics so hardly surprising!), but the gum, although less sore and bleeding, isn't coming back up.

You are quite right about the fear running away with you in hospital. I think partly because I feel so powerless - what would I do if it did fall out? I'm at a specialist hospital so no dentists or max fax available.

I will try panicking less (!), brushing less, and talking to people more. I think I feel embarrassed and ashamed, if I'm honest.

Thanks though

Morning, I hope you've had a better night.
I see what you mean about being in a specialist hospital, but is it worth asking a nurse what happens in such situations? You won't be the first ever long term patient who has required emergency dental treatment in hospital, and I suspect there is a duty of care to get you the help you need if you aren't likely to be going home soon. I just wonder what would happen if you developed an abscess or suchlike whilst you were in there - surely a dentist would have to be sent for?
Anyway, I think the saltwater rinse and more gentle brushing advice is probably very sensible and I really hope you get some reassurance and help soon

I also have receding gums and the dentist said it was from brushing too hard. Does your electric toothbrush have a pressure sensor on it? I was also advised to switch to a softer brush head.

I could have written that post myself, after periods of long hospital admissions (9 months is my record!), with recurrent mouth problems as a side-effect of medictions, and the occasional period of being too poorly to brush properly (on a ventilator) etc. I too have Ehler-Danlos.

As a teenager, my gums receded behind my lower front teeth. No pain or redness - they just moved. I find the same thing happens now sometimes: I notice the gum has receded slightly above one of my front upper teeth, but there was never pain or swelling. I can also have periods when my gums do swell and become red: brushing is agony, and yet not brushing is terrifiying.

I saw a dentist at the dental hospital (because of my medical complications) about 4 months ago. I have recession at the lower front too. However, he said that this is indeed because of over-brushing, particularly because of the Ehler-Danlos. The collagen is so delicate, that just a small amount of additional brushing (and 4 minutes is too long) could cause the damage, as could poor technique. I have now got an electric toothbrush which lights up when I brush too hard - it is incredibly easy to do.

Most of all, I want to say that the dentist was not particularly worried by my teeth, even though all lower teeth have gum recession front and back (gums all nice and pink, nad normal level between). I have occasionally - fearfully - tried to wobble them but they do not move, dn I have no concerns over biting into whole apples etc. Please try not to worry, and do try to talk to a nurse or HCA. I was also scared about it, and in a specialist hospital, but they simply referred people to the local general hospital and transferred them by ambulance for the appointment (with nurse escort, drips etc) so nothing is impossible if that is what is required.

Hope you recover soon. Remember that everything feels worse in hosptial.

Oxcat...um you do know you just answered your own thread don't you?!

No wonder it sounded familiar

Oh! Whoops! When I scrolled up to read the replies I noticed some where dated from 2013 but thought perhaps OP had returned or something!

What a plonker!

All my threads on the app are showing from 2013 now. Very odd....?