Gum Disease/Recession (Just Back From The Dentist)

[pris]

Just back from the dentist, not such a good visit.

Been snusing for many years now and this is the 1st time the dentist has flagged gum disease/recession from some probe she uses to guage gum depth. She was showing me the recession on X-Rays. Not good. She says it's currently at the stage I wouldn't want it to go any further.

Been drilled/cleaned etc and have to go back in 3 months for re-check and if no improvement I'm off to the hospital for more specialist care.

Have been told to stop using oral tobacco (no surprise there I guess)

I'm still trying to get my head around why, suddenly? The only thing I can think of that has changed since I went last is I've used a little los. Could that be the problem? Have always used portions in the past. Also quitting tobacco just like that is no easy task. Pondering whether not using los anymore and maybe cutting back my portions may help or whether I have to face it tobacco has caught up with me and I have to quit.

Does anyone have any experience in this area?

[heders]

Can't it be that the UK dentists have never seen snus related recessions and are panicking out of little knowledge in the subject? I've never heard of anyone in Sweden having that problem. My uncle has been using snus for 30 years or so, only loose snus, and his gums are fine. It might be different from person to person though... genetics etc.

Brushing your teeth too hard can lead to gum recession.

I would change side and stop using loose though if quitting is not an option. I want to say that I don't think that there's any reason to be scared though from what I've read, but I'm not a doctor.

[Frosted]

Gum disease is usually caused by smoking due to lack of blood flow due to the carbon monoxide. I can't imagine that snus causes it.

30% of gum disease is simply genetic - that's quite a large figure.

Gum recession happens anyway e.g the phrase "long in the tooth"


http://www.gumdisease.co.uk/causes-of-gum-disease.html

[truthwolf1]

Sugar and baked goods/bread should be the first on the list to look at verses snus. DO you consume a lot of either?

A daily floss usually breaks up the tarter just enough so by the next cleaning your recession does not get any worse. I am lucky if I floss 4-5 days out of seven and have been stable with no serious gum bleeding in years. I have a crown on a back molar (pretty much where I chew strongly that is on the border of possible surgery) but everything else has been good.

but yeah, SUGAR and FLOUR rot the mouth..

[lxskllr]

I got in a mild argument with the dentist a couple days ago. He was cool for awhile, then 2 times ago he mentioned oral tobacco use/localized irritation developing into cancer. I let it go, then he tried the same thing this last time, and I engaged him. Very unsatisfying. He disagreed with me, and deflected what I said on the basis of "just letting me know". Fsckin' bullshit. I mention peer reviewed studies published by respected institutions, and he talks about shit "he's seen", and "heard of". That's really scientific there doctor dude. I've heard of bigfoot, aliens, and the loch Ness monster. They must be all true also :^S Goes to show you, a degree means nothing. People of all kinds talk out of their asses.

As for you Pris... :^D

I'd have to look at your mouth. It may, or may not be snus related, or exacerbated. keep in mind, smoking is worse for your mouth(and everything else), and gum recession isn't the worst thing in the world. You have to be more diligent in keeping your teeth clean, since unenameled tooth can be exposed, but it's still better than rotten lungs.

As was said above. Brush your teeth lightly. Stay hydrated with unsugared drinks, and move the snus around. Snus provides real benefits. You have to weigh that against it's detriments to know what you should do :^)

[Frosted]

I'd have to look at your mouth. It may, or may not be snus related, or exacerbated. keep in mind, smoking is worse for your mouth(and everything else), and gum recession isn't the worst thing in the world. You have to be more diligent in keeping your teeth clean, since unenameled tooth can be exposed, but it's still better than rotten lungs.

Snus provides real benefits. You have to weigh that against it's detriments to know what you should do :^)

I think that if snus caused me gum problems, I'd still snus because of the above. Your lungs are the things you don't want to f*** up.

[pris]

Can't it be that the UK dentists have never seen snus related recessions and are panicking out of little knowledge in the subject?

Possibly although I did have two deep pockets apprently on my two snus spots.

Brushing your teeth too hard can lead to gum recession.

Possible also. Maybe I shouldn't apply as much pressure when using my electric toothbrush. I guess I tend to to remove the staining where I can.

I would change side and stop using loose though if quitting is not an option.

I do switch between upper left and right but maybe I should alternate between the whole of my top mouth. I will definently lay off the los. That's the only change I can think of since I went to the dentist for a check up last time. As for quitting I really don't know but I guess it's something I should think about.

[pris]

Gum disease is usually caused by smoking due to lack of blood flow due to the carbon monoxide.

Really? I always thought it was the tobacco itself.

[pris]

Sugar and baked goods/bread should be the first on the list to look at verses snus. DO you consume a lot of either?

I don't, no. I prefer savoury food over sweet.

A daily floss usually breaks up the tarter just enough so by the next cleaning your recession does not get any worse.

I do floss daily before brushing. It does make my gums bleed sometimes though.

[pris]

Stay hydrated with unsugared drinks, and move the snus around.

I do get dehydrated from time to time from my snus usage I think. Assume it's the salt?

[lxskllr]

I do get dehydrated from time to time from my snus usage I think. Assume it's the salt?

Could be. I think it's more likely the salt makes dehydration more noticable. Most people don't get enough fluids. If you're feeling thirsty, you've already been dehydrated for awhile. Keep a glass of water around, and take a drink every so often. That's good for keeping weight off also. Many people confuse hunger with thirst, and eat when they should be drinking.

[Frosted]

Really? I always thought it was the tobacco itself.

Smoking is a risk factor for gum disease because the the chemicals in inhaled smoke interfere with the body's ability to repair damaged tissues. Smoking cuts down on the blood supply because it is vasoconstrictive . It limits the the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the tissue. It is also known that nicotine is toxic to cells called fibroblasts, which are responsible for manufacturing new connective tissue. The less fibroblasts work, the more rapid the progression of gum disease.

So it's partly smoking and partly nicotine itself.

[Frosted]

Here you go

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-051X.2011.01749.x/pdf

Conclusions: Cigarette smokers were found to have a statistically significant higher
risk of severe periodontitis than non-tobacco users and users of snus. Using snus did
not seem to be a risk factor for periodontitis

[Ansel]

We all have gum recession from snus the question is, has it stopped or will it worsen. How does your dentist know it will worsen?

(get a Swedish dentist!)

[Lobstersnuser]

Pris; I recently started snusing but have been using some form of tobacco for @ 35yrs. Dip for the past 25. I get regular cleanings from my wife (yeah go ahead, the doors wide open) who is a hygienist. You guys are fortunate in that you get to prepare for your annual battle with the dentist...... At our house, that wretched metal explorer appears out of the blue whenever she likes and I get the proverbial healthy gums song and dance nearly every day.....So far she's always arrived to the same conclusion.......I have a lot of bad qualities, but luckily, my gum-line isn't one of them. I also noticed my recent snus order tucked neatly in the beverage fridge when I got home the other day.