Yesterday evening I noticed that an area of my gum just slightly above and directly in between my two front teeth looked a bit puffy and red. I would have thought this was gingavitis or something but it is only area that appears like that. Now, it may or may not have anything to do with it, but a couple years ago- I accidently sneezed while playing my guitar. As I sneezed, my head blasted down towards my guitar and it resulted in my gums hitting the edge of the guitar. This caused a scab on my gums for a while and ever since then, I've had a tiny little scar there. (It's more like an imprint of where my gums hit the edge of the guitar.) This was a couple years ago and it has never looked red and puffy except for a little after it happened. I don't understand how it could be caused by plaque though as I brush my teeth AND gums twice a day and only gently. My last check up was about 5-6 months ago and even my dentist said it looked like I was brushing well. Any ideas on what I should do?
2006-10-17 06:42:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
it doesn't seem that the trauma was that hard that cause your tooth become non vital. but if that has happened,your tooth`s pulp became necrosis and now you have an abscess there and you need root canal therapy very soon.
there is one more probability:if that part of your gum that is exactly at the margin of your front teeth become red ,may be you bite something hard and its traumatized.
2006-10-17 07:29:13 · answer #1 · answered by sanam d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely you have an infection. Inflamed gum tissue anywhere in the mouth is called gingivitis. (inflamation of the gums) It may be possible that a piece of food was lodged above the gumline where you can't brush. Have you had a full mouth series of x-rays? If your bone level is healthy you can rule out periodontal disease.
My advise is to brush the area throughly (even though it will bleed and be a bit painful) This will reduce the inflamation over a period of a couple days. Then rinse with a solution of salt and warm water, to kill any bacteria.
It's time for another cleaning anyway,so when you go to your Dr. discuss it with him.
Personally I don't think it has anything to do w/ the trauma. Though it is possible that a traumatized tooth can eventually need RCT. But in your case, it doesn't sound like you hit your tooth that hard.
I hope that I helped!
2006-10-17 07:21:08 · answer #2 · answered by Ron's wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really hit your guitar hard, you may have killed the nerve in your tooth. It is COMMON for the tooth to appear to be fine for 4 or 5 YEARS after a trauma before the evidence of the damage shows up. This would apply if the bump you are talking about is somewhat removed from the edge where the gum meets the tooth - like 1/4" away from the edge of the gum.
2006-10-17 13:44:39 · answer #3 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could well be a gum boil, which is usually caused by a small piece of food (usually something hard like a tiny piece of nut), getting stuck in the gum and causing a small infection.
Go see your dentist, who can clean the area out. If this is a gum boil, you may or may not need some antibiotics...often just cleaning it out will be enough and your immune system will do the rest.
2006-10-17 07:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should see your dentist. Even though you go regularly u could have hurt your gum or there might a little infection in that area now. Make an appointment so u will get the correct answer.
2006-10-20 11:28:44 · answer #5 · answered by justmmez 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probably have plaque or tar build-up in between your teeth...I had this between two teeth and just had it cleaned. It is really hard and you can't get it yourself no matter how hard you brush or floss...plus it is like a little dagger in between your teeth/gums and will make your gums swell and bleed until you get it cleaned out of there by the dentist.
2006-10-17 07:19:21 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the space between the teeth is too much, food will always get caught in there. Or if you have a badly fitted crown next to a tooth with too much space. That's what happen to me and they they had to make me a tighter fitting crown. My gums healed after that.
2006-10-17 08:01:04 · answer #7 · answered by Rockford 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It might be very early stage of gingivitis as your gums are little red, swollen and puffy but not yet bleeding. Since you are already due for your dental check up, good that it would be arrested before becoming nasty. Besides you regular oral habits, use of luke warm salt water will definitely help.
2006-10-17 07:53:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think you have to much to worry about. I have had the same thing happen after eating popcorn, and come to find out that i had little piece of a kernel stuck in between my gum and my tooth.
2006-10-17 07:53:15 · answer #9 · answered by ljk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should get it checked but I bet it is plaque getting in this area. If there is an indent. But you really need to go see the dentist.
Try hot salty ,mouthwashes in the meantime. Continue to brush this area too.
2006-10-17 06:59:26 · answer #10 · answered by pixilated 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋