Does redness along the gums indicate any gum disease?
Hello doctor,
I am a 49-year-old female weighing 79 kg and 165 cm. I have gum disease, and I attend the dentist every three months for a clean in the hope of stabilizing my gums. My gums can appear red, and I have noticed redness adjacent to my missing back tooth. I have redness along my gums which has been a long-term issue. Perhaps it has been there for some time. Would it be gum disease? I had an infected abscess in that spot two years ago. I have attached photos.
20 Feb 2024 - 1 min read
Should I brush my teeth after a wisdom tooth removal?
Hello doctor,
I just got all four of my wisdom teeth removed last week. I was looking at my back teeth, both top and bottom. On all the four teeth, at the very back of my mouth, just front of where the wisdom teeth were, I noticed what appears to be brown hairline-looking marks in the pits and on the sides of those back teeth. I am afraid they are cavities because, I did not brush much the past week, as I did not want to upset the wisdom teeth holes. Does this sound like cavities to you? I cannot think of what else they could be, but I did not realize they formed that quick. I am really upset because I am 18, and I have never once had a cavity in the past. And, now it seems like I do, just because my wisdom teeth did not allow me to brush back there.
30 Jan 2024 - 1 min read
My gums behind the last tooth is swollen and painful. Is it due to food impaction?
Hello doctor,
I am an 18 year old, who dislikes visiting the dentist. Therefore, you can imagine my hygiene is very good. I had a brief period of gingivitis as a result of using braces for three years. Having removed my braces over a year ago, and lucky for me, I do not have wisdom teeth, the end of my dental pain seemed over. However, about five days ago all of a sudden, I woke up and the very back of my mouth around the last left molar is swollen. It is sore and irritable. I kept brushing and using salt water. There is no bleeding or pus, but it started to feel more irritable and tender as if it was an infection. It has not gotten worse in swelling or pain, but it has not gotten better either. My mother predicts a piece of food of some sort got wedged in the gum line, near my tongue. We have tried using Orajel to numb it enough so I could use floss or a toothpick to work around the gum, but it still is very painful to touch and it is very hard to reach that area. Sadly for me, I am starting my Invisalign treatment and I am going to get the impressions tomorrow. And I also have an appointment for a regular cleaning. I am petrified. Do you think a piece of food is the problem? Is there something I can do to remove the food before my appointment tomorrow? What will the dentist do tomorrow when I ask him to address the situation? What are the chances this is a bigger infection and is not food related, what will the dentist do then? Will I have to have surgery or procedure done or antibiotics will help?
29 Jan 2024 - 1 min read
Can I get dental braces if there is any gum disease?
Hi doctor,
Most of my teeth were grafted in my bottom. I underwent surgery as my gums were not so thick to have braces and I had severe gum recession. I want to know how much bone is necessary to wear braces. If the bone loss is severe, what are the other options to restore it? How to control my gum diseases and how to make my gums healthy? How much bone can be restored and how can it be restored? How to have enough bone support to accommodate braces?
19 Dec 2023 - 1 min read
Can surgical excision provide a permanent cure for the removal of a mucocele?
Hello doctor,
I have a canker sore that has been there for over three weeks. It gets irritated and swollen when I accidentally bite it or if something comes in contact with it, and it has seemed to be almost gone several times but keeps coming back. When not irritated, it turns white and shrinks. Sometimes, it becomes irritated, and I do not even know why. Please help.
Thank you.
17 Nov 2023 - 1 min read
