Really worried, can anyone help? Gums completely white

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#1 Post by **sweetpea** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:33 pm

There doesn't seem to be any pink in my top gums at all. Do you think the blood supply is okay? Has anyone else had this experience?

I'm going for a check up tomorrow, but I'm terribly worried now.
(I'm 8 days post op)

I hope someone can help soon as it's bed time here in the UK and I'm going to stay up to see if anyone can help.

Thanks!

#2 Post by **pokergirl** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 3:55 pm

Sweetpea,

Here is something I found. Glad you've made an appt to get it checked out.

Pink, White or Red Gums: What is Healthy and What is Not
When you look at your gums, what colors do you see? If your gums are healthy, the color you will see is a healthy and uniform pink.

If your gums appear more red than pink, you should contact your dentist immediately and schedule an appointment to find out what's causing the redness. The most common causes are periodontis, or gum disease, which is often signaled by red, bleeding or swollen gums. Even if the redness you see is limited to right after you brush, when there's a little "pink in the sink" you should take red gums seriously!

White gums are a cause for alarm as well. White gums can signal the presence of infection elsewhere in your body due to increased white cell activity.

The color of your gums is a good indicator of overall health as well as dental health. Because a healthy system has the correct balance of red and white blood cells and is free of infection, a healthy mouth will have clear pink gums. If you see any other color when you look in the mirror, call your dentist and make an appointment to find out why and to correct the problem now!

#3 Post by **sweetpea** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:46 pm

Thanks for getting back so quickly Pokergirl, I'm going to head to bed now and see what the orthodontist says in the morning.

I feel sure it's not infection as I've only just stopped the antibiotics.

Ho hum

#4 Post by **Mikatgeo** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:40 pm

That happened to me post op as well. And it scared me to no end. Only is was my bottom gums. At my one week appointment the surgeon said it wasn't a concern and sure enough a few days later they looked normal again.

But I'm glad you're seeing your ortho for a professional opinion. Hope all is well.

#5 Post by **jjames** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:34 pm

Sweetpea,
I guess you know something for sure today, but I had just a BSSO, and my lower gums stayed pale for weeks. It's just now they've gotten about back to normal color, still a little short on color though, and I'm 5 weeks out of surgery. Hope you're o.k. - let us know.

#6 Post by **sweetpea** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:11 pm

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words, I must say I can get a bit spooked when my imagination gets the better of me, I thought the blood supply had died.

But all is well. They said it was because I'm not moving my lips and mouth much, and that it would improve. Which it has. Yaay. Anyway, I hope this thread will help anyone else who has this experience in the future.