Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi Pennye,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some help.

Based on your description, you have the beginning stages of periodontal disease. Healthy, normal pocket depths are 1,2 and 3 mm's. The deeper the pocket the more severe the problem. Bleeding gums are not normal and are the result of an accumulation of plaque. Teeth in this condition will become sensitive because the gum tissue is inflamed and the gum is being pulled away from the tooth allowing more tooth to be exposed.

Sensitive toothpaste is not going to help you. You need to floss daily very carefully but thoroughly. You do not want to force the floss under the gumline... just gently guide it. Brush thoroughly with a soft bristle toothbrush twice a day and use an herbal toothpaste with no harsh abrasives. Peroxide or baking soda will just add to your soreness at this point, so avoid them. NO mouthwash like Listerine as this will just irritate the gum tissue. Warm salt water rinses after brushing would be helpful. Just put a pinch of salt in a 3 oz cup of warm water. The gums will initially feel sore but the bleeding will subside, the tissue will become healthier and the soreness will be reduced.

This is what you should be doing every day. It should not however take the place of professional cleanings twice a year. If you tend to have a build up of plaque and calculus, then you may need more frequent cleanings.

Regarding your cavities. It's important that you know that most cavities do not hurt until they are very deep. It is also common to get recurrent decay underneath metal fillings because after a few years these fillings start to corrode and fracture allowing bacteria to get in and underneath.

Regarding mercury (silver) fillings. First of all mercury is not the best choice of filling material for our teeth for many reasons and it is being used less and less often. Some countries have actually banned mercury fillings and many states in the US are trying to have them banned because mercury is highly toxic making it a major health risk when placed in the mouth. The major risks are to the digestive (immune) system, the brain and the thyroid gland in the neck.

The recommendation of crowns may be warranted if the existing fillings are large and/or the decay is more than just tiny. Anytime a mercury filling is removed, there is decay underneath. The only way to know the extent of the decay is when the filling and decay have been removed as the xray only shows a 2 dimensional picture and not the true depth of the decay.

I hope this information has been helpful.

Bryanna