Sensitive/bleeding gums?

[hypocrite opportunist]

I flossed consistently prior to getting braces, and have continued to floss daily after being braced. However, lately I have noticed that my gums are bleeding very easily- I merely have to gently poke at the gum (in between teeth) with a proxy brush to make it bleed. This is very strange b/c my gums never bled before, and my oral hegiene has only improved since being braced. I am wondering if as my teeth begin to move, new gum is exposed that was once covered by a rotated or angled tooth, and so it is extra sensitive? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!

[meemsie]

Have you tried a water pik? My gum bled for years and years, even when I attempted flossing and using mouth wash. Then I got very serious about using my water pick every night. Within two or three weeks the bleeding had stopped and a periodontal 4mm pocket had turn to 3mm. If you put it on a gentler setting, it will be like giving your gum a massage.

[UGHBRACES]

Make sure you are doing a good job flossing underneath the gumline. Many people only floss between the teeth, and do not floss up as far as it will go underneath the gumline. Its common when there is a buildup on the gumline for it to bleed when it gets disturbed(like when you poke it with your proxy). Even though you feel your oral hygiene has improved, cleaning around all those nooks and crannies with all that metal in there makes for more room for error and you are probably leaving more plaque behind than before.

[hypocrite opportunist]

I THINK I'm doing a good job of flossing, but who knows. I guess I will break down and buy a waterpik- they're just expensive and not exactly a fun purchase, so I have been putting it off.

[meemsie]

I got the "Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser" from Amazon for about $42. I think $42 will be worth it if you can avoid periodontal disease, which leads to bone loss and loose teeth... I've had to get two root and scaling jobs. That was expensive and kind of hurt...

[jensceana73]

I just happened to ask that very question last month when I got my teeth cleaned.

Because....I have one spot that NEVER blead before braces, and didn't up till about 2 months ago. As you said about yourself, my cleaning hygiene has also become even better than it ever was prior to braces, so..I thought "how strange that this would start now".

Anyway, I was told that because the two teeth involved where the gum is sensitive, needed to be moved sooooo much, and still does, need some more moving, that my gum hasn't had time to "settle" into one spot...so to speak. In other words...once those teeth have stopped moving so much, that area should start to nestle up to the tooth and find it's permanent home. When I got my teeth cleaned I mentioned it before she started, and she told me after words that there was nothing in that area irritating the gum, and there wasn't any plaque/tarter up in there. Then the dentist is who told me what I mentioned earlier.

Now, once my teeth have moved, and are somewhat in their new home, the gum should "calm" down....and if it doesn't, then.....I need to speak up again, and they'll look further into what could be going on. I don't know how crooked your teeth are. Mine, especially where this gum is sensitive....was a really crooked area, and the teeth needed a lot of moving/shifting. Their almost there, but not quit all the way. I do have and use a water pik every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY. I floss EVERYDAY. So I know, I am doing my part to keep that area as healthy as possible. Hope that helped. Hope I wasn't too confusing.

[Snowglobe32]

I THINK I'm doing a good job of flossing, but who knows. I guess I will break down and buy a waterpik- they're just expensive and not exactly a fun purchase, so I have been putting it off.

I love my waterpik! I never used a waterpik before braces. I bought one about a month aftering getting braces. Next to straighter teeth, my waterpik will be the 2nd best thing about having braces. Waterpiks are especially great when you have powerchains. I prefer it over my SonicCare toothbrush. Mine has 6 different tips you can use and one is just like a SonicCare.

It amazes me how much food gets stuck in and around my brackets. I have tested myself by waterpiking, flossing then brushing and then by just flossing and brushing. After just the floss/brush, I used my waterpik and stuff still came out.

I had a cleaning today and both the hygienist and my dentist commented on how great my gums and teeth look.

I think mine was around $40-50 at Walmart. The manufacturer offers a full refund if you are not happy with it. If you celebrate Christmas, ask for one as a gift.

[hypocrite opportunist]

[quote="jensceana73"]I just happened to ask that very question last month when I got my teeth cleaned.

Because....I have one spot that NEVER blead before braces, and didn't up till about 2 months ago. As you said about yourself, my cleaning hygiene has also become even better than it ever was prior to braces, so..I thought "how strange that this would start now".

Anyway, I was told that because the two teeth involved where the gum is sensitive, needed to be moved sooooo much, and still does, need some more moving, that my gum hasn't had time to "settle" into one spot...so to speak. In other words...once those teeth have stopped moving so much, that area should start to nestle up to the tooth and find it's permanent home. When I got my teeth cleaned I mentioned it before she started, and she told me after words that there was nothing in that area irritating the gum, and there wasn't any plaque/tarter up in there. Then the dentist is who told me what I mentioned earlier.

Now, once my teeth have moved, and are somewhat in their new home, the gum should "calm" down....and if it doesn't, then.....I need to speak up again, and they'll look further into what could be going on. I don't know how crooked your teeth are. Mine, especially where this gum is sensitive....was a really crooked area, and the teeth needed a lot of moving/shifting. Their almost there, but not quit all the way. I do have and use a water pik every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY. I floss EVERYDAY. So I know, I am doing my part to keep that area as healthy as possible. Hope that helped. Hope I wasn't too confusing.[/quot

Thank you! I think my issue is similar. The two spots that keep wanting to bleed are two areas where teeth once overlapped/were very crowded and have since moved and exposed gum I did not previously have access to. My ortho and her assistant have both commented how healthy and great my gums are. However, I have my first dentist appt for a cleaning in January, and I will inquire more then. AND, I will buy the waterpik- found some cheaper ones on Amazon.