rough stinging gums

I have periodontal disease and I use many products to try and control and I am a smoker.  I also have that bone thing...cannot remember the name, but basically my bones grow outward where they pertrude.  I brush/floss/use gum brush about 4 times a day (morning when I get up, after I eat breakfast, after lunch and b4 bed).  For the past week, my upper gums feel rough and a little stingy, especially near the teeth.  I try and use natural/organic items, including Dr Tungs gum brush w/ the gum tonic.  My gums never really have bleed much and the tissues, I have been told, are tight and in good shape but I have a pocket of 7, a couple of 5's, a few 4, a few 3 and the remaining 2's.  Any suggestion as to what it may be and what to do for the rough stinging and what more I can do for the perio?  Thank you so much.

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

STOP SMOKING! There is no question that smoking is a significant etiological factor in periodontal disease. I do not know what is causing the " rough stinging" of your gums. The out pocketing of the bone is called a torus and is quite normal.I hope your are seeing a periodontist to evaluate the pocketing and your overall periodontal condition.

[Neesy]

I am working on it.  Yes, I see one 4 times a year for deep cleaning - also had laser surgery 2 years ago.  Could the roughness be due to the gum brush and using too much?  When I quit smoking, will it go away or reduce substantially?  How long will it take?  Thank you, again.

[mike1105]

you won't know what will happen when you quit smoking until you do. But I can tell you that quitting can't be bad for you or your gums.. I can also tell you that smoking probably negates ALL of the other things you are doing and have done to try to help your gum problem. A smoker asking a dentist what to do about his gum disease is like a heroin addict asking his doctor what to do about his brain convulsions. pretty obvious. tylenol ain't gonna help.

[Neesy]

Easier said than done to quit smoking and have done so in the past but you are right, it is an addiction.  Oddly enough, to a smoker, it is kind of like a friend - and yes, a deadly one.

[mike1105]

you didn't "quit" in the past--- such is not possible since you are now a smoker. you merely stopped for a while.

[mike1105]

ps --- if you smoked today then you are not "working on it"--- you are merely thinking about it.