Embarassing Question :/?

Question

I didnt have great dental habits when I was growing up, and a dentist told me I had Periodontist (?) when I was about 13 years old. Since then I havent been back to the dentist because we could never afford it. Right now it only seems to be effecting my front teeth, and its not effecting my molars. I actually have pink, firm gums in the back, but in the front I seem to have receeding gums, and a small black line under all my teeth. Its visible when I smile, and a bit when I speak. I brush daily, and use started using Listerine.. My breath smells better and my mouth tastes better, but the black wont go away. I have a feeling its permanent, but is there maybe anything I can try, short of having my front teeth pulled and have a bridge in place? Dentists terrify me to the point I've fainted before getting into the chair.. lol

Answer 1

You need to have a DEEP cleaning at the dentist.  You really need to see a dentist, because visiting the dentist before it's too late is worth it.  It will be more painful, more expensive, and more troublesome in the future if you don't go soon.

Answer 2

It sounds like you have black calculus. Unfortunately, this can only be removed during a professional cleaning, and you could do more damage than good if you tried to remove it yourself. There is a self-help group for people who are terrified of dentists at http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum/ if you are interested.

It sounds like you've made a real effort looking after your teeth. A lot of people are scared that they will be scolded if they haven't seen a dentist for a long time, but you will find that dentists see this all the time and many dentists nowadays realize that "scolding" people simply results in them staying away. You are the customer - if you don't like the way a dentist treats you, you can simply walk away, even before they've had a look at your mouth. Ask friends, family, or acquaintances for recommendations for a gentle, caring, personable dentist who is good with nervous patients, and then you can make the first appointment for a chat only. You can also check http://www.doctoroogle.com for dentist reviews (if you're in the US), or http://www.ratemds.com, or Yahoo!Local (http://local.yahoo.com/).

Of course, it is your choice, but you'd probably feel sooo much better after getting your teeth cleaned, and with the right dentist, it doesn't have to be horrid.

Answer 3

It's peridontal disease and the most common is gingivitis.

Tartar cannot be removed by brushing and flossing and can lead to chronic infection at the point of attachment. Tartar has a rough surface, so in addition to irritating gum tissue, it can also lead to more plaque accumulation.

Going to a dentist every 4-6 months to have plaque removed will help but there are other things you can do to help as well.

Don't smoke, eat healthy, brush regularly.  Having your teeth pulled should be your last resort.

Answer 4

THIS MAY EITHER BE BLACK CALCULUS AROND THE GUM LINE OR EXPOSED MARGINS IN DENTAL CROWNS. A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING IS OVERDUE HERE.