Question:
The last time I went to my dentist my gums bled quite a bit when the hygientist
was working on them. Prior to that never. I use dental floss, an electric
tooth brush and in general take good care of them.
The doctor suggested a device called sonic care (electric tooth brush similar
to the one I owned).
I notice my teeth are getting really yellow also but the gums are not bleeding
and only did the last time she did the cleaning.
Could this be the result of diabetes?
Answer:
It is my understanding that we will have more trouble with our gums at
least. I know that I am having trouble with mine! I have one that has a 9
mm (?) pocket! The hygienest (how DO you spell that word?) is watching it
carefully and has treated it with tetracycline a couple of times. It is
really important to keep taking care of them by seeing your dentist and
hygenist regularly.
I am a new diabetic, Type 2. I also have another illness which has
always been known to cause teeth/gum disease. So now I have to contend
with two. I also suffer from sicca syndrome which causes my eyes,
sinuses and mouth to be extremely dry. Since I have no saliva at times
to wash away the bacteria, I have had major problems.
I am now using Biotene Toothpaste and Mouthwash. My dentist recommended
it. It is otc and most large pharmacies have them or could order them.
I have tremendous relief from this problem and also was allergic to all
the toothpastes. They burned me violently. Biotene says that they
don't use the ingredient sodium laureate(?) so it doesn't foam but that
is the ingredient I must be allergic to. I am very happy with this
product and my gums are much better than they have been in years.
This kind of fatalism is not necessary. I would advise you to consult another
dentist, and probably a periodontist and an orthodontist, despite your
personal acquaintance with this dentist. There is a lot that can be done to
save teeth. The one part of his advice that is at least partly true is that
once a tooth is lost, it is more difficult to keep the rest -- all the more
reason to go to the extra effort to keep that one!
Though the roots of the teeth are set in bone, they are mainly held in place
by the gums. The major tartar buildup that hit you probably caused your gums
to pull back from that tooth, allowing it to loosen. This is why you should
see a periodontist, to help get your gums in good shape. That is also why
it's a good idea to get that "annual" checkup every six months ... it also
hurts a lot less that way.
Amalgam fillings are usually shaped to approximate the original shape of the
tooth. Since you say you have some malocclusion, that's a more likely cause
of trouble. It doesn't take much to have a lot of effect on the teeth.
There's where an orthodontist can tell you whether it's really a problem, and
help correct it if so. Orthodontics on adults is quite common now, though it
was seldom done a couple of decades ago.
As for established risk, Mayer Davidson says "diseases of the gums and
surrounding tissues are estimated to occur three times more frequently in
diabetic patients who have elevated blood glucose than in non-diabetic
patients".
I have this same odd type bleeding of the gums. Almost never when brushing,
but always when getting my teeth cleaned. I don't have an explanation for it
and my hygenist seems perplexed. She has suggested irrigating with a 4-1
solution of hydrogen peroxide.
