Gum disease please put me at ease!

[KCpip]

I’ve had problems with bleeding gums for a few years now. Kept raising it with dentist on each visit but he kept saying, not to worry, gums probably sensitive.
During covid etc. I couldn’t get to the dentist for my usual clean. When I finally got an appointment the dentist said ‘oh you’ve got gum disease, hopefully just early stages but not sounding good. He said he wanted me to see hygienist for deep cleaning. And possibly dental hospital. Had my initial appointment where hygienist assessed each tooth, the high numbers didn’t sound good. I’m now waiting 8 weeks for my first clean because hygienist is so busy. Is this normal? I’m freaking out about the long delay. So much so I’ve registered at another dentist to see if they can get me in quicker but first appointment with them isn’t for another 3 weeks and then I’ll still need to be referred to hygienist. I think the wait is just freaking me out. I’ve also lost a bit of confidence in my dentist for ongoing gum problems for so long. The only reason I didn’t go to the dentist for ages was because they were only seeing emergency patients in pain so went back as soon as I could but no idea my teeth were so bad. Can anyone put my mind at ease about this long delay. TIA

Hey I have gum disease also and some bone loss around one tooth because of it. My highest reading was 6mm and nothing was below 3mm. AFAIK gum disease is reversible with good hygiene but peridontal disease is not (although a deep clean etc can stop it from getting worse). I'm actually booked in to see my dentist for a deep clean next week (found the hygienist very abrupt and my normal hygienist is off on maternity). I posted about this earlier actually. But might be worth seeing if your dentist would be willing to do the deep clean themselves. I'm not sure if it's something many dentists will carry out themselves but it's worth asking.

I would just wait for the appointment as you are likely to have to be referred by the second dentist anyway.

Ask to go on the wait list for any cancellations.

Buy interdental sticks and use them

If you have an electric toothbrush, buy a soft brush head and hold the brush on half tooth and half gum, each tooth inside and out for 5 secs.

You can lessen gum disease by good hygiene.

Thanks for your responses. I don’t know why but I feel so freaked out by it. I think I’ll stick to the new dentist because we’ve moved house and they’re closer anyway. Also the hygienist at the other practice only works a half day every fortnight so feel I’ll be waiting forever. My dentist said he could do the appointment but he wanted to book me in with hygienist instead. I got the feeling he was just really busy too and looking to refer on rather than deal with it himself. And thanks for sharing. It’s good to know I’m not the only person on the planet with this. Can I ask roughly how old you are? Just disregard if you don’t want to answer!

It's totally shocking that your dentist dismissed bleeding gums

I had bad gum disease in my mid30s. I had a deep clean at hygienist every 3 months. She recommended brushing 3 x per day, flossing, interdental sticks and a gum disease mouth wash (mouth wash not to be used after brushing. Use at other times).

I was really pissed off about the gum disease because my oral hygiene has always been decent, but hygienist said some people are just more prone to it.

For what it's worth, my gums are ok now (early 40s). I brush twice per day, floss religiously and still use interdentals.

Yes. I thought it was odd that he kept dismissing it and feel I’m paying the price now. Good to know that you’re improving. Do you know why you don’t use mouthwash at the same time as brushing?

Dental sticks and Corsdyl mouthwash will make a huge difference!

I've had gum disease for years. My dental hygiene is good but it can be hereditary apparently?
My gum pockets are usually quite high readings, quite a few were 7 or 8mm iirc. I've one slightly loose tooth but it hasn't worsened in years. I refuse to let my dentist take it out.
I do the interdental brushing (not as often as I should) and deep cleaning under local anaesthetic two or three times a year as my teeth are sensitive.
The underlying thing with infammation and link with heart disease does worry me though. I just make sure my BP and cholesterol are fine to lessen the risk.

That's frankly shocking. Change your dentist!

Bleeding gums is NOT a sign of healthy but sensitive gums!

1- when you brush, brush your gums as well as your teeth and make sure you brush everywhere.

2 - Use interdental brushes between each tooth at the base - or floss if you can get the floss down to the gum, but I find the little brushes are easier.

3 - maybe do a course of Corsidol if the bleeding doesn't clear up after a couple of days.

I'm early thirties. If it's any reassurance I was diagnosed last June with peridontal disease (was pregnant at the time) and still haven't had a deep clean, so don't fret too much about 8 weeks (although I completely understand your panic I'm a worrier too). Follow the advice pp have given. Hygienists are evangelical about teepee brushes. Also treat your teeth and gums as separate entities, so brush along the gumming at a 45 degree angle then do the tooth separately if that makes sense. Vitamin c and d are meant to be good for gums also. What were your numbers if you don't mind me asking? And do you get pain because of it?

Have you chosen not to have a deep clean or are you still waiting? I’m not sure what the numbers were. I remember him saying anything above 3 (? I think) is gum disease. He then rattled off loads of numbers 4/5/6? I’m sure there was a 7 in there somewhere. What I thought was a bit odd is that my top row of teeth sounded worse but my bottom teeth are much closer together so not sure why my top row of teeth are so bad.

Hygienists can see patients without a dental referral now so you can try and see a hygienist at another practice or go and see a gum specialist (periodontist)

Be careful using Corsidol it can stain your teeth from over using it.

@KCpip I was meant to have a deep clean with the hygienist 2 weeks after the initial consultation (in december) but I cancelled due to her demeanour as I genuinely was too nervous to see her again. My own hygienist was off on maternity (she is lovely). I then changed practices and their hygienist was booked up for months. So the dentist said he would do it himself as he enjoys treating gum disease. But I was originally diagnosed with peridontal disease last June when I was pregnant and the x ray showed bone loss around one of my upper molars. This can't be reversed and I may lose the tooth but a deep clean will hopefully halt the progression.

OK, first to put your mind at ease about the delay (which is what you are asking mainly), gum disease progresses slowly, so several weeks' wait won't make THAT much difference in the long run.
But having said that, it sounds like you should change your dentist if I'm honest! For them to dismiss your concerns about bleeding gums just sounds wrong. Like you, I had bleeding gums, and when my dentist checked the "pocket depths" the numbers ranged from 4s to a few 7s - that indicates moderate periodontitis. I had a deep clean (root planing) and now my gums don't bleed any more, and I use interdental brushes and a water flosser to at least slow the pace of gum recession down.

Do you know why you don’t use mouthwash at the same time as brushing?

If you use it straight after brushing, it swishes the fluoride from the toothpaste right back off your teeth, apparently.