Q.
Hello Dr, About a month ago, I started suffering with progressively worsening pain in my teeth/gums. After seeing my dentist, I was told that it would go away with good oral hygeine, but after two weeks of first rate brushing/flossing/rinsing, the problem was getting worse. I saw another dentist two weeks ago, who diagnosed trench mouth. Since then I’ve had a week long course of antibiotics, and kept up the cleaning (I now use an electric toothbrush, floss once daily and an alcohol free mouthwash), and also take vitamin supplements. From what I’ve read (and been told by the latter dentist) this condition is easily treated. However, I have one deep gum pocket, which had been there for 2-3 years previously at virtually the same size, but since I first began seeking treatment, has grown massively in size (doubled in about a month). I returned to the dentist last week for a deep cleaning treatment (blasted away tartar with high pressure water). After the week of antibiotics, he told me that my gums looked “a bit better”, but that full healing would take time, but not to worry about “waking up one morning with my teeth on my pillow”. To be honest, to me my gums looked (and still do look) exactly the same as before, except for the ever growing gum pocket. I’m absolutely terrified that no matter what I do, this gum pocket is going to keep growing and I’m gradually going to lose huge amounts of gum tissue over the next few months, and ultimately lose teeth too, and that no amount of oral hygeine is going to improve my gums. I’m at my wits end, I really don’t know what else I can do, and the dentists I’ve seen have been quite blase about the situation. Am I right to be concerned? Should I have seen an improvement in my gums by now? Will the gum pocket keep getting bigger? Typically how long would it take for gums to return to a healthy state? Any insight you could provide would be hugely appreciated. Thankyou,