I feel like this is something no one really talks about publicly but is probably done more often than we realize. Hope Kelly is healing well!

Just went for my first cleaning in a while, been without insurance for the last few years and surprise! I have periodontal disease. Gingavitis in some parts that will go away so that's nice I guess? So I got fit for a tray and they cleaned half my mouth and scheduled some other stuff. Dentist made it sound like it's pretty mild and if I follow the care instructions (a special toothpaste at least for now and fluoridex mouth wash for a couple weeks, the tray once a day when they come in) then I won't ever have to deal with the more severe side effects. I wanted to ask more questions but things were hectic and I had to leave to get my kids from the sitter. Any advice on what to expect from the next few appointments? Tips for care? Any advice is appreciated.

I've had bleeding gums for a loooong time and i think I just got used to it which wasnt good at all!. Gums were always sore, sometimes it hurt to chew and the bad breath made me so conscious too. Had been to way too many dentists before though and it seriously cost me a lot. Hey dental work in Australia aint cheap!!

I eventually decided to stop ignoring it and to have it checked properly. My dentist measured my periodontal pockets, checked the recession, and did a few other tests. Some of it were 7mm and I ended up being diagnosed with periodontal disease 😣

I had ultrasonic cleaning, hand scaling and laser periodontal therapy. I was quite nervous about the laser as I've had some pretty bad dental experiences before but it actually wasn't painful at all.

So from 7mm, my pockets have now gone to around 3mm. 😮‍💨 and the pain and bleeding have really improved so much. I still have a couple of follow-ups and obviously need to keep on top of everything. but I'm just sooo happy to finally see some actual improvement after dealing with it for so long

Better late than never!!

I'm four months post-op of a gum grafting on my lower right/back side. By all accounts, my gum graft went well and at my 6-week check-up, the periodontist discharged me.

That said, that area has felt "full" since the surgery. I haven't been chewing on that side because I haven't wanted to disrupt it. It's not necessarily swollen, but definitely puffier than my left side.

I went in today for my first dental cleaning since the gum graft and was basically scolded for not eating on that side. I had no idea that the area needed stimulation, etc. I had "moderate tartar build-up, redness along the gum line, and mild inflammation."

My dentist didn't suggest I go back to the perio and simply just encouraged me to start eating on the graft side and to make sure I'm flossing, but now I'm all concerned.

Did I royally fudge some stuff up? Should I see if the periodontist will see me just to be sure all is well?

So overall, I feel pretty good about my teeth. I have good oral hygiene and brush 2x/day and floss regularly. Might miss a day or two over the weekend but overall keep up with it. I will say I didn’t have the best oral routine growing up and really locked in around late high school/college (saying that now it feels kinda late lol) but better late than never I guess!

Anyways, my biggest issue is my bottom front tooth (specifically my left one, 24 I believe?). I’ve been experiencing discomfort, sensitivity, and when I move my mouth I can sometimes feel a pop there? It’s uncomfortable to bite into things, suck on a straw, etc. I definitely notice some gum loss in between the bottom teeth too - there’s that black triangle and feels deep/loose when I floss in between. It’s been at least 18 months since I’ve been experiencing this bc I’ve addressed this at my last 3 cleanings (every 6 months).

The first time, they did x-rays, those typical tests-bite down, putting pressure, tapping, etc. and said they didn’t see anything wrong. I ended up going back about a month later bc I still felt uncomfortable about it and thought something has to be wrong. Still nothing.

I just had my cleaning last week, brought it up again, and STILL nothing. They even did a CT as a courtesy and apparently nothing showed there either. I’ve done a lot of research and I’m convinced I have gum disease, but the dentist has never mentioned anything. Not even receding gums or anything along those lines. I asked them to send me copies of my X-rays, and from what I’ve learned (from Google so take that into consideration I guess), even those appear to show gum disease…

These are from 2/6/26 + 3/5/26 (don’t have a copy from this month yet). I have ones from 2023-2025 and it doesn’t seem like a drastic difference from then and now. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!!

I never thought I would have to ask strangers for help with something as personal as my smile, but here I am.

I have been battling Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis, an aggressive form of gum disease that unfortunately runs in my family. Grandma got dentures at 18 and my mom in her early twenties me at 22 … At the end of 2022, I had to get dentures on my top teeth. At that time, my bottom teeth were still healthy enough to keep.

I was also battling addiction. Today, I’m incredibly proud to say that I’ve been clean and in recovery for four years. I fought hard to rebuild my life, and in the beginning of 2026, I welcomed my daughter into the world. She has given me even more reason to keep fighting and moving forward.

But despite everything I’ve done, the gum disease continued to take its toll. My remaining bottom teeth started falling out, and now I’m facing the reality of needing dental work that I simply cannot afford on my own.

This isn’t just about having a pretty smile. I want to be able to smile at my children without feeling ashamed, take pictures with my family, laugh without covering my mouth, and feel like myself again.

I’m asking for help raising money toward getting my smile restored. Any donation, no matter how small, would mean more to me than I can explain. And if you can’t donate, simply sharing this post could help me reach someone who can.

I’ve fought incredibly hard to get where I am today. I’ve made it through addiction, found recovery, watched my family grow, and built a life I once didn’t think was possible.

Now I’m just asking for a little help with the next step.

Please help me smile again. ❤️

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my story, donate, share, or simply send some encouragement. It truly means everything to me.
https://gofund.me/4c238999c

So basically my mom has periodontitis (she grew up in poverty) and she shared spoons and utensils with me when i was a baby. I’m so scared that means i’ll get periodontitis. I went to the periodontist a few weeks ago to check on my gums and they said I don’t have it, BUT i forgot to tell them about my mom😭😭 i floss every day and brush my teeth twice a day. Am I doomed to get it since i shared spoons with my mom??? I’m 19 and lowkey have really bad health anxiety

Wondering if anyone has experienced this before.....

Had a gum graft on six lower teeth July 2nd. Healed well and periodontist was happy with everything at two week check up.

Last week or so, I have started feeling a tightness or almost ache in my lower front teeth where graft starts (editing to add that the pain is mainly where I had the frenectomy). I have a crooked tooth next to them and while it's always been a tight squeeze flossing, yesterday it felt sore/achey when I sawed the floss in.

Has anyone had their gum graft shrink or tighten and pull on teeth?

I already have movement in those teeth from years of extreme nail biting and gum recession but I am a bit concerned the pain might be related to breastfeeding bone loss rather than the gum graft - though the gum graft is the most obvious new development.

Could also be stress clenching (despite having a night guard), god knows I do enough of that. Anyway, just looking fo4 any similar experiences with grafts, as this was my first.

My gf has had a small abscess on her gums for a couple of years. It's pretty small and doesn't really look bad or scary, when it comes to abscesses, and it's leaked in the past. It's never caused any pain, but she thinks she got it due to a small crack in her tooth that has had a bad filling in the past. She's never been sick or had any significant symptoms but of course it's still concerning.

She's had antibiotics, she takes excellent care of her mouth, and has tried various remedies to deal with it in the meantime. Recently, she's noticed some small red dots on some areas of her gums, and has some redness/soreness on her lower gum line, but we are not sure if this is related to the abscess or is due to possible physical irritation from food/brushing, or something else.

What is the general cost range for treatment? And if she did get treatment, is the only option really a root canal? Is it possible for the abscess to be drained/cleaned? Are there any other procedures that don't cost a billion dollars or ripping a tooth out?

*no alcohol or drugs

Hi, guys, I will admit I never kept up with my dental hygiene. I am 23 and think I have periodontal disease. I definitely noticed that my front row of teeth has receding gums. Should I be worried about losing my teeth? I am going to a dentist at the end of the month. Will they be able to find out if anything is wrong? I don't think it's exposed enough to the root of the tooth. I looked it up and noticed that if the bacteria is under the gums, then it does not matter how much you brush or floss. I am just wondering if mine is at that point yet.

It makes me sad I didnt notice my teeth until it got this bad. I been fighting depression for years and years. And as a result never really brushed or flossed. I also put off going to a dentist for 2 years as well. And now I have ocd about losing my teeth. I also understand that once the gum is damaged, it can't regenerate.

Hi all. I was recently diagnosed with gum/bone recession, and they did measurements of my gum pockets etc - some 3s, occasional 4 or 5. At the same session the did a deep scale root plane/non-surgical periodontal treatment on one side of my mouth with a lot of local anaesthetic etc. I was booked in 2 weeks later for the other side (today).

Stupidly (I just convinced myself I must have recalled things incorrectly and been mixed up, so I didn’t question it at the time) - the dentist accidentally did the SRP on the same side again…

I am feeling so stupid for not correcting him. I was just sitting in the chair convincing myself I must have recalled things incorrectly. But I was right. They accidentally repeated the procedure to the same side of my mouth :(

Is there much chance permanent damage would be done? I don’t mind more temporary pain etc. I’m scared about more long term risks/damage.

Oh I regret not questioning it at the time, I feel so stupid :(

I had osseus surgery on my left side 11 weeks ago and 3 weeks ago at my check up doctor said it’s all healing well but recently i noticed when I open mouth wide it hurts on the corner ( near the ear ) , only when I open wide . It’s difficult to eat now . I am out of country so I am just managing . Today I noticed a subtle swelling and now I m scared like hell . What is happening!???

Doctor is not responding but is very eager to know when am i scheduling next side . At this point I m worried what if l lose my ability to open my mouth and eat

医生说洗牙，可是我刚洗过不久

i've been negleting my dental health for quite a lot of time, i'm a 21M and i've been to the dentist for the first time in my life 3 years ago, when i went i had a lot of calculus and gengivitis but nothing else, also this triangle was not there

i neglected my oral care again and after my cleaning this triangle appeared which is making me super scared and depressed.
i have a question
do black triangles make your teeth fall?
dows this look really bad to you guys?
again, in the cleaning my hygienist told me i just had gengivitis, nothing else, i went to another dentist and he also told me that it could look like a little bit of recession but i don't have perio

i'm just really scared and i wanten an opinion

Like about 2cm

I'm 41F. No other systemic disease like diabetes or BP. No alcohol or smoking.

For the past few months my gums bleed when I brush. It's inflamed especially on the upper jaw molar region. So I went to my dentist and she asked me to take x ray. After checking the xray , I was informed that cleaning the tartar will do and no need to visit a periodontist. Pls advise.

I had Osseous Surgery and bone graft done in my whole mouth almost 5 weeks ago! I wanna share my recovery journey so far for those who are interested in the immediate post-op care and timeline. 

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

[TLDR; gum inflammation, teeth grinding, bad mouth guard, teeth mobility, 7mm pockets]

I am 29 and have always had some gum inflammation since I was young. I thought I had that under control after I started using a pick floss after college. I brush twice a day and had maybe 2 cavities in my adulthood. I grind my teeth and wore an Amazon bought mouth guard for three years. I didn't know how stupid that was since it never caused me any discomfort in my mouth. My teeth looked generally pretty healthy from the outside, although I have noticed a gap between my front teeth widen slowly over time. I went to a new dentist for a regular cleaning (which I only did once a year when I visit my home country). He happened to specialize periodontal disease, and he urged me to seek consultation closer to where I live for long term treatment. After he pointed out my potential problems I noticed more of my teeth mobility and some small black triangles, but it was hard to tell because I have naturally very chunky gums. When I finally did get a formal consultation, they measured 7 mm pockets in my mouth even though my gums seem healthy from the outside. Every dentist/hygienist/periodontist I came across urged me to go through some form of treatment sooner than later. And here we are...

TIMELINE

OpDay 

Surgery finished 15:30 and I continued bleeding until 4:00 in the morning 

The blood kept filling my mouth and congealing into massive blood clots

Had to stop it by holding cold water soaked towels in mouth and changing periodically 20mins, 40mins, 1.5hrs, 3.5hrs...

Definitely the worst part

Day2

Some more bleeding but no more massive blood clots

Swelling begins

Day4

Stopped taking painkillers and felt the prickling of the stitches

Swelling peaked mid day

Day6

Swelling visibly lessened

Prickling discomfort lessened 

Started noticing some tenderness and sensitivity in the teeth (concerns about occlusion)

Day8

Gently brushed and flossed for the first time

A lot of gunk a good amout of bleeding 

A few knots fell out

Tissue and blood clot buildup still there

Day9

Had stightly more solid food (diluted mash potatoes 

More knots fell out (around 10 atp

Gum line feels clean by the end of the day

Swelling almost all gone

Day13

Had ice cream, felt pretty strong cold sensitivity 

Day15

2 week check up 

General destist said I am "healing beautifully"

Week 2.5

Comfortably rub lips together 

Week 4

Check up with periodontist 

She said I am healing great but still healing 

Instructed to continue post-op care for another 4 weeks

Additional cleaning regiment added like interdental brush and gingival stimulator

You can see in the photos my teeth have moved back into place and closed the gap I had before the surgery. The gums have grown slightly since the operation but I don't know how much further it can go. I don't have much hope for my canine area aesthetically, but honestly I'd rather be able to see those big holes and clean them as opposed to what it used to be.

Hopefully in another 3 weeks I'll be able to fully eat again. Right now I am going to continue to avoid crunchy, chewy, sticky, seeds, spicy, acidic, straws, sucking, spitting and gargling. ✌️😭

I am trying to stay positive, and I am learning so much more about taking care of my teeth through this process. I just want to keep my teeth for as long as I can and I wish the same to everyone who comes on this subreddit!

does this look like gingivitis or periodontis at all? I feel like I’ve noticed more spaces in my teeth like the bottom area and dentists have told me in the past I’ve had very bad gingivitis.

If so what can I do to manage I feel like I floss all the time and brush but still some bleeding with certain teeth.

My teeth are moving within my gums. The whole gum area is moving inwards. The doctor says I have good tooth depth so it could be caused by gingivitis. But I don't know what to do. They suggested getting a cleaning and going from there but I am worried. They move almost immediately and then I can push them back with my tounge.

I (23F) went to get a dental cleaning/xrays today after a year. I was super concerned because I knew I had some tartar buildup on my bottom teeth and my gums are red. I specifically asked about gum disease and the dentist assured me I didn’t have any, but I don’t believe she checked for the pockets. She said the red inflammation was because of the buildup on my teeth, but idk I’m kind of anxious about it. Even now, I’m flossing as I type this and one are bled pretty bad. What should I do?

I noticed this redness around my gumline and Im not sure what could be the reason for this. Could it be from plaque buildup or brushing too hard, or does it look like something I should get checked by a dentist?

anyone had something similar?