| | Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Nov 2011 Posts: 1 | I hope someone can help me answer a question about my girlfriends teeth and gums. I understand this may not be the correct place 'at this moment' but it concerns me dearly. As of course I love her and my concern is she smokes a lot!
It is the blue gums around nearly all her teeth, she is 43 and I am not sure if it can be cured/treated. She says it is not from smoking but runs in the family. But I am sure it can not help. Maybe it is the look I don't like. Any answers would be much appreciated, at least I can worry or understand for her.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Whatever the cause is please make her stop smoking. NOTHING as in NADA good can come from using tobacco products and in fact she may DIE a cruel and horrible death from this habit. Millions have and millions more suffer from hundreds of associated illnesses. You also are at risk of second and third hand smoke related deaths and illnesses.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Totally agree... not sure what could cause the bluing of the gums... usually blue means a lack of oxygen, possible with years of smoking. After all it causes poor circulation. Next time she goes to the dr.s go with her and ask... good luck.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Sorry, havent heard of blue gums before. Cheryl's opinion with it being related to a lack of oxygen sounds possible. Im a former smoker so I know quitting is not easy. Do your girlfriend a huge favor and tell her if she continues to smoke she is tempting the inevitable. Wish you could see what I look like, I used to be very pretty and now I am disfigured. She too can look like me if she continues to smoke. Hope she makes up her mind to quit. Best wishes.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 35 "OCF Canuck" Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 35 | Some causes of discolouration of the gums may be:
The mouth may have dark blue or blackish areas due to silver amalgam from a dental filling, graphite from falling with a pencil in the mouth, or a mole. Heavy cigarette smoking can lead to dark brown or black discoloration called smoker's melanosis. Ingesting lead or drugs that contain silver can lead to a gray discoloration of the gums. Minocycline, an antibiotic, discolour bone, which may show through near the teeth as gray or brown.
Addison's disease and cancer (such as malignant melanoma) can cause colour changes as well.
When in doubt...check it out!! Get her to see a dentist!
And definitley encourage her to quit smoking!! Every day she goes smoke free, give her kisses...she smokes and she goes without!
Tracy Dx @ age 47
Single No dependants
NS/Social ETOH
Clinical Study (early detection)
Dx July/09 Mod. Dysplasia (lichen planus)
Dx Sept/11 TisN0M0 SSC Lt Tongue
Sx Oct/11 CO2 Laser Glossectomy
Sx Mar/12 Release of tongue anchoring (Skin graft)
Lingual Nerve Damage
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 117 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 117 | Ditto on the smoking.. she needs to quit. I smoked for 40 years and have paid the price in the last year -- my life will never be the same.... Like Christine, all I have to do is look in the mirror and all I see is surgery scars. If she quits ASAP, hopefully she can avoid the disfiguring surgery.
I wish you the best.
DX 12/6/10 of T3 SCC Tongue.
Surgery 1/3/11 was hemigloss & forearm free flap, midline mandibulectomy, Neck Disection-All nodes clear.
Ended rads 5/11/11. Taste buds back to about 80%. PEG removed 4/5/12, experimenting eating real food again. If I can do this, so can you !! Stay Strong.
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