Why did my tongue turn white, and my gums become swollen and red after a dental scaling?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I have seen both the pdf enclosed (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity). Around the upper teeth, the gums are swollen. I would suggest a few remedies, and you also need to answer some questions for me if you need antibiotic therapy and a clearer diagnosis.

1. I would advise you to use an extra soft toothbrush and follow the correct brushing technique for the tooth, like the modified Stillman or Fones technique.
2. Start with lukewarm salt water several times a day till you notice changes in your gums (which will start improving over time, and the swelling will reduce).
3. Every night, you should rinse with Clohex (chlorhexidine, sodium fluoride, and zinc chloride), Listerine (sorbitol, sodium saccharin, sucralose, water, alcohol, and benzoic acid), or any local mouthwash before you go to bed.
4. The tongue also needs to be brushed. Instead of using a tongue cleaner, brush with the backside of the toothbrush over the white area.
5. Because you have had a bad experience at a dentist, you might not want to go for further cleaning. But scaling will prevent gum disease and infection always. So get regular scaling done at a doctor you trust every six months.
6. By consuming foods rich in vitamin C, your gum health will improve, like citrus fruits, green veggies, and fresh fruits .or you can even take tab Limcee (vitamin C), regularly once every day for a few months.

Now I would ask you, when exactly did you notice the gums have started to swell? Are they bleeding on brushing? Also, how long have you been on the contraceptive pills?

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Possibly, your upper gums might even have a bacterial infection post that incident. Did you have any doubt about unsterile equipment at the dentist or bleeding of gums that started right after the scaling incident? Do you eat more protein in general or vegan food as well?

I will need to know this because I want to prescribe a brief antibiotic therapy that you must regularly repeat, along with antibiotic gel application.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

Hoping that the dentist was sterile. Let us start you on an antibiotic course first. You can repeat this antibiotic therapy next month as well. You can update me weekly or monthly based on your gum improvement.

It is good to consume more legumes, grains, pulses, nuts and seeds, fresh fruits, green veggies, and citrus fruits like oranges and lemon juice. I would also suggest an antioxidant daily after breakfast so you can continue throughout the year. I hope you have no allergies to Amoxicillin or any other drug. The following are the prescribed medications:

1. Take capsule Augmed (Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid) 625 mg, BD for three days (after breakfast and after dinner).
2. Apply Dentogel or Dologel CT (Choline Salicylate and Lidocaine gel) over the red swollen gums. Every night for the next 15 to 20 days.

However, please consult a physician, discuss with them and start taking the medications with their consent.

I hope this helps.

Thank you and take care.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I am sorry. I did not catch you. Do you mean about the prescription or the tooth?

You can just take a screenshot of this answer and show it in the pharmacy for the tablet. I do not think you will need a separate prescription other than the advice I gave.

One last question, sometimes oral contraceptive pills can also have undesirable effects on the gums. Are you sure you did not notice any gum changes after starting these tablets a few months ago, and they only started after scaling?

Thank you and take care.