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Sore 'burny' gums making teeth ache, not bleeding, any ideas?

19 replies

PeninsulaPanic · 18/01/2020 01:23

I've had this for a couple of weeks now but it has been much more painful in the last week, really dragged me down some days. Mostly in my lower gum, an almost burning soreness that sometimes makes my teeth ache so much that I can't chew on my back teeth. My tongue aches too and my throat doesn't feel right, glands under my chin tender and painful to touch. Generally feeling very tired and quite depressed (despite being on an antidepressant).

When I brush there's no bleeding and I can use my interdental brushes without any discomfort. But most of the time I'm aware of the soreness under my tongue behind the lower front teeth, pain in my lower teeth (mostly) and my gums just don't feel right. Overall I feel 'down in the mouth' and a bit worried about it. Made an appointment with the dentist for Tuesday morning but would appreciate feedback here from anyone who might have had something similar.

I've been diagnosed with orafacial pain as have had various bouts of toothache and sinus and jaw pain, but this seems different. Really fed up. Had some doxycycline left over from a previous prescription for sinusitis (except ENT then said my sinuses are in perfect health but have referred me to pain specialist to review historic migraine diagnosis). But again, this is not typical of what I've been seen for in the last couple of years. Was so frustrated on Wednesday that I started taking the doxycycline in case it's an infection, but that hasn't made much difference (if any).

It's keeping me awake tonight Confused

OP posts:
PixieDustt · 18/01/2020 01:31

I work as a dental nurse and sounds like burning mouth syndrome to me from what I've seen before. Of course your dentist will be able to tell you though

PeninsulaPanic · 18/01/2020 01:38

Thank you @PixieDustt that's really helpful! Just googled it and unfortunately it sounds like a typically chronic condition, which is a bit grim, but at least I can mention it to the dentist and see what she says.

Definitely sounds like what I've got though, so thanks again for the suggestion Smile

OP posts:
Broken2020 · 18/01/2020 01:45

My mum has this for months and it turned out to be an auto immune condition. Incurable and painful but there's all kinds of mouthwashes and special toothpastes that help. Can't remember the name of it annoyingly but definitely go to see a dentist

PixieDustt · 18/01/2020 01:52

No problem. Hope it gets sorted for you.

@Broken2020 is it Lichen Planus? The mouthwash is on prescription but a painful condition

SpinneyHill · 18/01/2020 02:03

Anaemia can also do something similar to burning mouth syndrome.

hagenmeister · 18/01/2020 04:39

Could it be a symptom of menopause?

Chipmonkeypoopoo · 18/01/2020 05:36

No advice but I have the same on my upper gum. It's agony when it flares up. I've never had a dentist be able to diagnose it.

curlyfries · 18/01/2020 08:59

Is it when eating? I had this for a while, very distressing - I was convinced I had burning mouth syndrome, but after a few months it cleared up.
This was in the midst of root canal treatment (that’s a whole other story) my glands were swollen and sore also. I had been taking antibiotics and also wondered if I was allergic to them. I had some bloods test which showed nothing, but a mouth swab show fungal infection possibly due to two courses of antibiotics.

Orangeshark · 18/01/2020 13:30

Does anything trigger it? Or make it worse? There's plenty of things it could be tbh

It could be viral, have you ever had a cold sore before?

It could be oral thrush

Or it could bms. Two of the biggest causes of BMS are deficiencies normally anaemia and the menopause. The other cause is diabetes

My other thought is maybe TMJ related. But tbh could also be related to a tooth, or your saliva glands etc.

Normally I wouldn't expect your glands to be tender with BMS though, it sounds more viral. And your teeth aching so much you can't put them together doesn't sound completely normal for BMS.

Obviously go to the dentist, I would also make a GP appointment for bloods. Check iron levels, b12, folate and zinc as well as diabetes check. This would tie in with feelkng run down. Sometimes even if you aren't officially deficient in iron, increasing your ferritin can help with symptoms

It's obviously impossible to say without looking in your mouth. My first step would be dentist, followed by GP. I would also keep hydrated, drink plenty of sips of water throughout the day. I would probably try a course of anti fungals as well from the dentist

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 18/01/2020 15:55

I have a double diagnosis (via max-fac after eventual referral from my dentist) of BMS and atypical facial pain. My teeth and gums are physically “perfect”, but the pain can be hideous, and it moves about so I am constantly paranoid a tooth has gone bad. I was offered a nerve medication, which I didn’t fancy, but supplements (B12, alphalipoic acid) do help.

I also have TMD, so wear a night guard for that. My dentist has me on three month checkups, mainly because I worry so much if the pain shifts to a new area.

Mine started in 2017 after a period of terrible stress, when I damaged teeth with clenching, and needed a load of work.

Katyy · 18/01/2020 16:04

Hi, I’ve had bms for years, mine started soon after I’d had a head ct scan they were investigating my tinnitus I also have bmj.The only thing I have found to help is sensodyne toothpaste and a combined vitamin b tablet .Ive had all the investigations done at the dental hospital, they said I could try antidepressants and cbt but I didn’t feel it was bad enough, although I know some people suffer terribly with it.Hope you get some relief soon .

PeninsulaPanic · 20/01/2020 10:08

Thanks everyone for all your kind replies and helpful suggestions. After posting I had another weekend of hellish pain but it really began to lift yesterday and although I'm not out of the woods yet I'm feeling quite a bit better this morning. I do have various chronic conditions which I still don't have the will to go into here (have bored on numerous threads in the past under various usernames!) and am no stranger to atypical facial pain unfortunately, but this is different in some ways so I was very worried and so depressed about having more pain. Seeing the dentist tomorrow though so I'll report back after that.

Started taking b12 yesterday and have shaved a quarter off my sertraline tablet for the time being, as the dose I've been on might be too intense for my body and anyway it wasn't stopping me getting depressed! Hmm

OP posts:
HermionePotter123 · 01/05/2021 14:50

Hello @PeninsulaPanic, I hope you don't mind me bumping
an old post but I'm having similar symptoms (I have tmjd plus i clench at night and have been queried as having atypical facial pain too), but recently the pain has moved into my gums near the front teeth. I'm just wondering did you get any answers to what was going on. Hope you're feeling better now anyway.

Mammymoo2021 · 07/02/2022 11:12

What type of autoimmune condition may I ask?

Doggydreaming · 07/02/2022 11:14

Get your iron levels tested and use Difflam numbing mouth spray.

Mammymoo2021 · 07/02/2022 11:24

Did you ever find out what caused this?

Deedoo · 10/11/2023 11:45

@Mammymoo2021 look up nerve pain

Doggydreaming · 11/11/2023 15:03

I get this. Don’t know what it is but I have dexamethasone mouth wash for when I get a flair up. It’s magic. I also keep a close eye on my iron levels as it seems to flair up when my iron is low.

Deedoo · 11/11/2023 20:05

@Doggydreaming ypi get teeth pain

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