| Concerned about gum health
About 2 years ago, I started using Invisalign. For those who do not know what that is, just imagine a mouthguard that is worn almost all day and night; it gets taken out to eat. Soon after I started using Invisalign, my gums became swollen and red and there was minor recession of the gums. I went to the dentist and she simply told me to improve my dental hygiene. I did, and my gums became much healthier again.
At my last regular check-up, my dentist said that my gums were healthy, regardless of the fact that they remain slighly swollen. She said they are likely to stay slightly swollen as long as I'm on Invisalign. However, there is no bleeding at all, so she said the gums are still in good shape.
A months ago, I started using medication that causes my mouth to be dry. It only seems to be a problem when I sleep; I wake up and my mouth is dry. This makes me concerned about my gum health again. The gums haven't become more red, they still don't bleed, and generally are not more swollen. However, I have noticed that the gums around 1 specific tooth has noticeable recession. And the gums behind my two front top teeth frequently become more swollen. Besides these three teeth, everything remains the same as normal.
I don't have dental insurance, so am reluctant to make another unscheduled dental visit. I have the feeling that my dentist will tell me that my gums are still healthy. Is there anything my dentist can actually do...or do I just have to suck it up until I'm done Invisalign? My dental hygiene is quite good; I floss twice/day and brush three times/day.
Last edited by Andrew29; 06-26-2006 at 10:41 PM.
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