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Dental Health (Expert Forum)
Chronic gum pain and inflammation
Answered by
Private Practice
CA
Questions in the Dental Health forum are answered by Dr. Jerome Tsang and Dr. Jerome Bogin. Topics covered include bridges, cavities, crowns, and x-rays.
Chronic gum pain and inflammation
by lc87, Oct 25, 2009 12:30PM
I am a 22 year old female with normal eating and health habits. Non-smoking, not overweight, generally in good health.
Since I was about 16 years old I've been having pretty much nonstop problems with my top gums. They will randomly get extremely swollen, red, and painful. At their worst I can't eat anything solid, no matter how soft, without extreme pain. I can poke my gums with my tongue and make them bleed. This usually lasts about 2-3 days before it subsides.
I don't notice any sort of real pattern as far as when they will start to get painful again, but I do know that sometimes it is set off by eating things like chewy meat or bread. If I get a piece of food stuck in my teeth and don't get it out within an hour, my gums will get infected, which is a problem because when they are at their worst I can't floss. Also, if I'm experiencing a lot of stress, I notice my gums get painful a few days later.
I've been to regular doctors, dentists, dental surgeons, periodontists, and orthodontists about this problem. I used chlorohexodine mouthwash, which only worked for a few days. I've had xrays and blood tests and absolutely no one can tell me what might be causing it.
It's been so many years that I'm learning how to deal with the pain, but I would love to find an answer that would mean that I get to eat normally without having to worry about dealing with extreme pain.
Since I was about 16 years old I've been having pretty much nonstop problems with my top gums. They will randomly get extremely swollen, red, and painful. At their worst I can't eat anything solid, no matter how soft, without extreme pain. I can poke my gums with my tongue and make them bleed. This usually lasts about 2-3 days before it subsides.
I don't notice any sort of real pattern as far as when they will start to get painful again, but I do know that sometimes it is set off by eating things like chewy meat or bread. If I get a piece of food stuck in my teeth and don't get it out within an hour, my gums will get infected, which is a problem because when they are at their worst I can't floss. Also, if I'm experiencing a lot of stress, I notice my gums get painful a few days later.
I've been to regular doctors, dentists, dental surgeons, periodontists, and orthodontists about this problem. I used chlorohexodine mouthwash, which only worked for a few days. I've had xrays and blood tests and absolutely no one can tell me what might be causing it.
It's been so many years that I'm learning how to deal with the pain, but I would love to find an answer that would mean that I get to eat normally without having to worry about dealing with extreme pain.
Doctor's Answer
by Jerome Tsang, DDS, Oct 30, 2009 01:25AM
, Oct 30, 2009 01:25AMTo: lc87
Ya, I would have initially thought to refer you to a periodontist for a workup of your gums to see what it may be. Have you looked into finding a dentist with additional training in oral medicine? You may want to contact your local dental society to find someone who is. They may be able to work you up and see what it may possibly be. My initial guess would have been pemphigus or pemphigoid.
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