• HEALTH & RECOVERY
    Welcome Guest
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules Thread Directory 1 Thread Directory 2
    Mindfulness Links Addiction & Mind
    Sober Living Partner Program (SLiPP)
  • H&R Moderators: VerbalTruist | cdin | Lil'LinaptkSix

Gum recession. Dipping. Gum Graft...

Bedhead

Bedhead

Bluelighter
Joined
Jan 31, 2009
Messages
225
Went to the doctor today and everything was fine except she was a little concerned about my receding gum line around my lower jaw, especially the two canines.

More or less her words were: See how your lower gum line is farther pushed down then on your upper jaw, that means there's some gum recession. We'll keep an eye on it. But you may need a gum graft. I didn't bother asking her about dipping (although I probably should have) because the answer would've been, stop, right noa, or GTFO and never come back to my office.

I just don't understand. I'm 20. Healthy. Braces on and off. Never had problems with my teeth, and the biggest thing of all -- I've only been dipping everyday steadily since mid May when I tried to cut back on cigarettes.

I realize a little gum recession is inevitable and normal, but for a dentist to be concerned? Whats up with that? Maybe she noticed an abnormality which really isn't a big deal but its her job to point it out?

Can anyone add some insight? I need a gum graft like a need a hole in the head. The procedure and cost makes me really uncomfortable. Gum recession requiring a gum graft after only a few months of regularly dipping just sounds absurd to me. I mean I know people who have dipped for years and they're teeth are fine. Maybe the dentist was over reacting? But then again, I'm not a dentist so I wouldn't know...

Just looking for some advice from fellow dippers who have experienced this...
 
I know I have gum problems from dipping, and opiate use, Opiate use effects your teeth and gums In some way I heard, so I can only assume my formor addiction along with dipping cant be good. (Im dipping right now, and will continue to dip till I get shipped off to bootcamp, teeth can be fixed, me being pissed off for the last few months of freedom cant be)
 
Using a regular 3% hydrogen peroxide solution - full strength or 50/50 in water - should stop any bacterial overgrowth and related gum recession in its tracks. A 20-30second swish a few times, once a night, every other night before bed, should do the trick and eliminate any morning breath as a free of charge bonus.

Afterwards, look up "oil pulling". Then, either laugh at it and proceed directly to the gum graft factory, or give this free, painless and highly effective (as backed by countless throngs of people) treatment which has a good chance of actually reversing your recession to a degree. There are countless testimonials of people starting off with gum pockets in the 7-9 range all over their mouth and after a few months ending up with 5s at the deepest and 2-4 everywhere else. Not a bad result for a treatment which costs you as little as a bottle of sunflower oil, wouldn't you agree. Your choice, your gums, your call. :)

Oh... and the worst possible mouthwash you can use is Listerine - the most popular. It is heavily alcohol based. This dries up your gum pockets and bad bacteria flourishes in this environment.
 
Although there are 101 reasons for recession, if your oral health is good how ever, 98 are usually due to clenching and grinding.

If you have had ortho treatment then there is a high likelihood that your bite or occlusion is ideal and in canine guidance. This means when you close your teeth together then slide them side ways, your canine teeth wil take the force of movement and cause your back teeth to slide apart.

By default this menas that if you clench and grind your teeth a lot ( ie speed use) then you will place greater force on the caines and result in recession/ abfractions around the neckline of these teeth.

Some people will blame brushing your teeth too hard but there exists a biologic width that dictates that gum will always heal 2.14-ish mm above the level of bone around a tooth. If you wiggle a tooth back and forth over time and force the bone down slightly, the gum will follow.


Solution? I would get a occlusal night splint to help redistribute these forces when you grind your teeth.
 
Do you use Crest whitestrips? They seem to be horrible for my gums. I wonder if that oil pull with maybe flax seed oil instead of sunflower oil thing would help after using white strips, but I am skeptical.

Certainly cut the dip out if you can. I used to smoke so many cigarettes my dentist thought I dipped which causes damage to the gums. You can get fillings if your root gets exposed, once it's exposed it's a bit uncomfortable and very sensitive.
 
I'm not a "dipper", but I know my meth use has caused a lot of gum problems (mainly from bad oral hygeine, dry mouth, teeth grinding, etc.) I'll probably need a graft sometime too, as my gums are receding pretty badly. On a couple of my lower front teeth, the roots are now completely exposed. Unfortunately the cost of the proceedure has been a huge barrier.
 
There are a lot of reasons that gum recession can occur. Dipping may not be the culprit. It all depends on how much gum recession we are talking. Did your dentist tell you how many millimeters? The thing to be concerned with is the total loss of attachment around the tooth. Periodontally speaking, this is the gum pocket depth + the amount of recession. Also, the amount of free and attached gingiva needs to be taken into account as well as how far away the mucogingival junction is. I'd speak to a specialist if I were you. You may still be in the clear and not need a free gingival graft.
In the meantime, if the root exposure is giving you sensitivity, use an extra soft brush and Sensodyne (or any other paste that contains potassium nitrate).
 
alexander said:
Using a regular 3% hydrogen peroxide solution - full strength or 50/50 in water - should stop any bacterial overgrowth and related gum recession in its tracks. A 20-30second swish a few times, once a night, every other night before bed, should do the trick and eliminate any morning breath as a free of charge bonus.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you should never use full-strength hydrogen peroxide as a oral rinse. 50/50 is as concentrated as you should go.
 
Yeah I've also to been dipping for a while. Peach Skoal <3
I notice after leaveing dip's in for over 30mins it eat's little holes, almost like sucking on a sucker on one spot, and you notice it feels funny after you move it. As much as I hate it, it burns every time I put a dip in, yet it feels so fucking good. (I dip with my upper lips, and i usually swallow the juice, it tastes good and i'm so use to it. The shit's bad for me, and back when I was in rehab I dip'd every day for 8 months and noticed that my gums were litterly turning into shit. I was pretty much down to the bone.
Pretty much I stop'd dipping for awhile (with the help of chantex!) and my gums returned to normal.
I now still dip once again. No matter how I try to avoid my orange can of skoal peach it keeps pulling me to it. :\
 
I see a few people suggested night splints...do not use the over the counter ones if you have a TMJ disorder. I don't dip, I smoke cigs though, have some of my own gum issues, and my TMJ is quite terrible (jaw cracks everytime I open my mouth, sometimes it pops out of place, its real bad and painful) and if you are diagnosed with this --- you need a mouth guard or splint from your dentist or orthodontist. OTC ones can do WAAAAY more harm than good. Slightly off topic, just my .02.

I second going to a specialist and getting another opinion...unfortunately, some dentists people in my family (we all have shitty teeth, most don't have their own post 45) have visited were very about money and expensive procedures that weren't necessary, and were able to have something less invasive and more affordable suggested and done by another dentist.
 
Just wondering what the hell "dipping" is?
 
h0ppinlowrider said:
I know I have gum problems from dipping, and opiate use, Opiate use effects your teeth and gums In some way I heard, so I can only assume my formor addiction along with dipping cant be good. (Im dipping right now, and will continue to dip till I get shipped off to bootcamp, teeth can be fixed, me being pissed off for the last few months of freedom cant be)
Click to expand...

I've heard the same thing about (pharm)opiates. From what I was told they strip the enamel off your teeth? Maybe Doc St. Clare can clear this up for me.

I abused hydrocodone for the last 2.5 years, dipped on and off, and I have a really big problem clinching/grinding my teeth! Fuck. The only thing I still do is grit my teeth and I can't seem to break that habit. Anytime I do anything that requires focus or strain, I grit my teeth; so a nightguard woudln't help me much because it occurs while I'm awake.
 
Just wondering what the hell "dipping" is?
Click to expand...

"Me and snoop? Yeah, we dippin' again."
--Dr. Dre, "Still D.R.E."
...
No,
1. LIsten to busty on this matter. He's an expert and
2. In addition to bruxism (grinding), consistent dry mouth is a bad thing. So regular intake of stimulants ain't so hot. I don't think that mj is too much of a risk in this respect though.
3. And why not consult a professional about the danger of chewing tobacco?

ebola
 
There are not many studies with longitudinal data for dipping from what I've found. It is almost nonexistent where I am from (no NASCAR and we tend to play cricket more ;) ) so officially the role of smokeless tobacco in the development and progression of gingivitis or periodontitis has not been confirmed. The evidence concerning the effects of dipping on the salivary' glands is also inconclusive. However the links between smoking and gums problems is certain so taking the irritation from dipping away I'd assume the same risks for gum disease from any tobacco product.

The best I could find to summerize is this (excuse the cut 'n paste)....


NSFW:
TOOTH ABRASION - Grit and sand in smokeless tobacco products scratches teeth and wears away the hard surface or enamel. Premature loss of tooth enamel can cause added sensitivity and may require corrective treatment.

GUM RECESSION - Constant irritation to the spot in the mouth where a small wad of chewing tobacco is placed can result in permanent damage to periodontal tissue. It also can damage the supporting bone structure. The injured gums pull away from the teeth, exposing root surfaces and leaving teeth sensitive to heat and cold. Erosion of critical bone support leads to loosened teeth that can be permanently lost.

INCREASED TOOTH DECAY - Sugar is added to smokeless tobacco during the curing and processing to improve its taste. The sugar reacts with bacteria found naturally in the mouth, causing an acid reaction, which leads to decay.

TOOTH DISCOLORATION AND BAD BREATH - Common traits of long-term smokeless tobacco users are stained teeth and bad breath. Moreover, the habit of continually spitting can be both unsightly and offensive.

NICOTINE DEPENDENCE - Nicotine blood levels achieved by smokeless tobacco use are similar to those from cigarette smoking. Nicotine addiction can lead to an artificially increased heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, it can constrict the blood vessels that are necessary to carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. Athletic performance and endurance levels are decreased by this reaction.

UNHEALTHY EATING HABITS - Chewing tobacco lessens a person's sense of taste and ability to smell. As a result, users tend to eat more salty and sweet foods, both of which are harmful if consumed in excess.

ORAL CANCER - With the practice of "chewing" and "dipping," tobacco and its irritating juices are left in contact with gums, cheeks and/or lips for prolonged periods of time. This can result in a condition called leukoplakia. Leukoplakia appears either as a smooth, white patch or as leathery-looking wrinkled skin. It results in cancer in 3 percent to 5 percent of all cases.

OTHER CANCERS - All forms of smokeless tobacco contain high concentrations of cancer-causing agents. These substances subject users to increased cancer risk not only of the oral cavity, but also the pharynx, larynx and esophagus.

DANGER SIGNS - If you use smokeless tobacco, or have in the past, you should be on the lookout for some of these early signs of oral cancer:

* A sore that does not heal
* A lump or white patch
* A prolonged sore throat
* Difficulty in chewing
* Restricted movement of the tongue or jaws
* A feeling of something in the throat
 
This thread made me think about a very disturbing episode of Oz.
 
Gum recession treatment

The modern procedures of gum grafting surgery are not much painful. You need to completely follow your doctor's guidance. Also, there are far less chances of an unsuccessful gum grafting surgery these days. Having a gum surgery with latest procedures is completely worth it.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Occasionally, your gums or teeth may start to feel slightly sore due to various causes. For example, something sharp may have pricked the gum tissue, causing slight pain whenever you eat or try to talk. Luckily, gum tissues tend to naturally heal themselves within a few days unless you are dealing with an extreme condition. Here are some ways you can deal with sore gums or teeth at home.
how to deal with sore gums and teeths
 
alexander said:
Using a regular 3% hydrogen peroxide solution - full strength or 50/50 in water - should stop any bacterial overgrowth and related gum recession in its tracks. A 20-30second swish a few times, once a night, every other night before bed, should do the trick and eliminate any morning breath as a free of charge bonus.

Afterwards, look up "oil pulling". Then, either laugh at it and proceed directly to the gum graft factory, or give this free, painless and highly effective (as backed by countless throngs of people) treatment which has a good chance of actually reversing your recession to a degree. There are countless testimonials of people starting off with gum pockets in the 7-9 range all over their mouth and after a few months ending up with 5s at the deepest and 2-4 everywhere else. Not a bad result for a treatment which costs you as little as a bottle of sunflower oil, wouldn't you agree. Your choice, your gums, your call. :)

Oh... and the worst possible mouthwash you can use is Listerine - the most popular. It is heavily alcohol based. This dries up your gum pockets and bad bacteria flourishes in this environment.
Click to expand...
wow this is scary because i've used Listerine forever and had isssues but recently got "advanced gum repair" off amazon it was like 30 dollars but a game changer it stopped the bleeding and gum recession like miraculously and i couldn't live without it
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top