Grinding Loose Skin on Gums

[Skip1635]

It feels as if the gums between a couple of my lower right molars has a loose piece of skin, and I find myself grinding that piece of skin -- either actual or perceived -- between my teeth.  I've been using floss picks daily in an attempt to sever this mysterious loose skin against a molar, but I don't know that I've succeeded and the sensation returns almost daily.  (I think the grinding is also causing muscle soreness close to my left ear). There no pain otherwise, and no blood, but the constrant urge to grind is annoying.  I have good teeth otherwise for a 40+ year old.  What's really going on here, and what can be done about it?

[Gellia]

It's possible that the loose gum you are feeling is a dental pocket.  When tarter and bacteria get between the gum and the tooth it forms a pocket.  More tarter gets in there and the pocket can go deeper and deeper along your tooth.  

It will eventually affect the bone and the bone holding the tooth in starts to dissolve.  That is periodontal disease. That is how people loose teeth.

You may only need a good cleaning to make this sensation go away, but you do need to see a dentist pronto before it gets to the point that the bone will no longer support the tooth.  Been there....done that, and lost four teeth that way.

Please call your dentist and have it checked.  You could save not only your one tooth where this loose skin is but the rest of your teeth.

Best to you,
Gellia