My best friend, who I've known ever since middle school, has developed some black things that are stuck to her teeth. it's not on all of her teeth, just some. I guess maybe it's a buildup of plaque? She has a reaaaally big smile that used to light up the room but now whenever she smiles, all i can think about is the black things. I told her to go to the dentist to get a cleaning/check up but she's not listening. I don't want to seem pushy but I'm worried about her!
I was just wondering how SERIOUS her condition is right now. Her gums are reddish and a bit swollen (is that called a gummy smile?) and her gums are receding. How much does it cost to fix this because I know she's struggling financially (we're all in college.)
I was thinking maybe i'll say that i'm going to go to a dentist for a cleaning and ask her to come along. That might seem too obvious though...
2007-05-17 05:52:00 · 5 answers · asked by xstarsunx 2 in Health ➔ Dental
Tell her that everyone on YA said for her to see a dentist. I think she definitely has gum problems or they wouldn't be swollen and receding. If she allows this to continue, she can lose bone tissue that holds her teeth in and she will end up with dentures prematurely. Bad gums can also cause other medical conditions. I don't know what the black things are, but my stepson used to smoke crank and his teeth turned black along the gum line. Is it possible that she is on drugs? That might explain her not wanting to go to a dentist. Could you enlist the help of some of her other friends, and talk to her with a united front about her dental hygiene. When it comes to health, money should not be an issue.
Good luck, she needs help and you are an angel to care so much about her.
2007-05-17 06:01:35 · answer #1 · answered by ♂ ♫ Timberwolf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like calculus or tartar buildup. When it builds up beneath the gums it turns black. The longer the buildup is there the blacker it becomes. Many times it will ring or bridge teeth along gumlines and back of the lower front teeth. When it is this heavy you usually have periodontal disease going on which explains the swelling and receeding gums. She needs a cleaning, but when you get to this point you sometimes need a deep cleaning to remove debri beneath the gum line and clean out all bacteria/disease.
2007-05-17 06:47:40 · answer #2 · answered by spongebobrogers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Black things? Does she even brush? It's probably decaying food particles. Periodontal disease presents as red swollen gums, so she might have the beginnings of that. There isn't anything you can do, once the gum line has started to recede. I'd get her some information from your dentist, and if you are her real friend, talk to her straight out, and truthfully. Yeah, she'll be embarrassed, but you'll save her smile!
2007-05-17 05:58:17 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if her parents have insurance on her usually preventative visits-- cleaning- are covered- 1cleaning every six months is the usual that insurance pays for -- she needs to go now because it may be something simple with an easy remedy but the longer she waits the worse it will become --- my mom has preached for years "only floss the teeth you want to keep" ooh you mentioned you're in college is there a dental school there if so less$$ for her to pay if she is not covered by insurance--Good luck
2007-05-17 06:03:53 · answer #4 · answered by qb 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could also be gingivitis which leads to gum disease and other serious problems.
Please get her to see a dentist.
2007-05-17 05:58:10 · answer #5 · answered by AthenaGenesis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋