Dr. Tanisha R. Moore, D.D.S.

The first sign of gum disease is bleeding, usually while brushing & flossing. This is an indication that there is inflammation, which is the first stage of gum disease. However, bleeding does not always indicate disease; it could result from a minor injury. The best thing to do is be evaluated by your family dentist for an accurate assessment.

Some post-op discomfort after dental procedures is not unusual. However, if the pain is worse since having the filling, there may be a problem. Call your dentist & inform them of the issue so that they can bring you back in to check the tooth & make sure there isn't a problem with the filling.

The first step is identifying & treating the gum infection. Once that is cleared up & you maintain proper oral hygiene along with routine dental check ups & cleanings to prevent a recurrence, the risk of the gum infection affecting other parts of the body is no longer an issue.

Every dental care provider is different & may use different (but similar) techniques. This is not wrong, just different, & in your case, uncomfortable. It is hard to say why there was more bleeding without a full scope of your individual case (how long since your last cleaning, changes to eating and/or hygiene habits. changes to health history/medications, etc). There are multiple factors that affect how each visit goes. Also, seeing different dentists will render different opinions in regards to the best course of treatment. If you were not comfortable with this last dentist, maybe it is possible to request to be scheduled with the dental provider you are most comfortable with. Check with your dental office to see if that is an option.

There are other options. The braces are the most ideal, usually, because they are the least invasive in terms of removing any tooth structure. I'm not sure how big the gap was to begin with, so I can't fully speculate on the best option for you. If you have completed the treatment with the braces & are still not satisfied with the spaces, my suggestion would be to ask your orthodontist for options & a referral to see a dental care specialist who can help you to finish closing the gap.

The infection doesn't typically "spread" to other teeth. However, other teeth can be affected symptomatically if they are in the immediate adjacent area if there is swelling, which could make other teeth sore or even slightly mobile. Addressing the source of the infection, will eliminate any issues that were affecting the other teeth. Now, that being said, a tooth infection many times is the result of tooth decay. If there is decay on multiple teeth, & they are not treated, those can eventually become infected as well, once the decay has gotten deep enough that it is causing infection in the nerve of the tooth.

Follow your dentist's recommendations, take all of your antibiotics as directed & return to your dentist for follow up care to eliminate the source of the infection. If you do not return for follow up treatment, the infection will return & make future treatment more complicated.

Yes, reflux & other digestive issues can affect your breath. If your oral hygiene is great & you have no dental issues after being examined by a dentist, check with your primary care physician about it. You may need something other than Nexium. Your doctor can provide more insight.