Hello everyone
just thought I would get some opinions from the group. I am 31 years old and I used dip tobacco until recently. I dipped off and on since I was 18 and until recently I hadnt been to the dentist in 10 years.
In November or December my gums starting bothering me. Then it went away and I didnt think anything about it. A few months later I had some dental problems but chose to wait it out. My gums started hurting again and its been fairly steady for a while. I got scared and went to a periodontist.
He said he didnt see anything wrong with them other than gingivitis and I needed a cleaning. HE suggested that I just go to a regular dentist. So I went got an exam and a week later a cleaning. Of course there was alot of work that needed to be done. fillings and such. I voiced my concern to my dentist and he said that he didnt see anything out of the ordinary other than my gums were inflamed. I have noticed that after brushing or rinsing with a mouth wash the discomfort subsides for a while. I've had my dentist look at my gums a few times in the past few weeks and he says he doesnt see anything. He felt around and pressed on them and He says it may be a viral or bacteria infection or something of that nature. He said because it hurts is a sign its not cancer. I was also told that usually the cheek and gum area where the dip is placed is usually what is affected. This is right at my gum line it feels like. And its not the side I usually dipped on.
Now to be honest in the past I have had situations where I assumed the worse. which always ended up being simple small medical conditions that cleared up.
Any ideas???? am I just over reacting to gingivitis?