My gums are super sensitive between my top right canine and first premolar teeth. Eating on that side of my mouth causes intense pain causes pain, so I try to remember to only chew on the opposite side. If something triggers pain, it lasts 30 minutes to an hour. It feels a little better after brushing my teeth. The canine tooth is a porcelain veneer tooth. My dentist took an X-ray three weeks ago and cannot find anything. She said the premolar, a root canal tooth, may be triggering the pain, but she can’t see a problem. I explained that it was not the tooth but the gums that hurt. My dentist says she can repeat the root canal or remove the tooth. Those options seem extreme when my dentist is unsure of the cause of the pain. Shouldn’t an X-ray show something if the tooth is the problem? D’Angelo from Oakland.
D’Angelo,
We recommend getting a second opinion from a periodontist (gum specialist). A dentist who cannot identify the cause of your gum pain should not recommend tooth removal or any other treatment without knowing the source of the problem.
What Causes Gum Pain Between Teeth?
Gum pain between teeth can result from irritation or inflammation with several possible sources.
- Gum disease – You may have a periodontal abscess from a deep pocket between teeth.
- Trapped food particles – If food particles get trapped between your teeth, bacteria breed, causing inflammation and infection if left untreated.
- Trauma – Aggressive flossing, brushing, or cuts from complex objects can damage your gums and cause inflammation.
- Oral habits – Teeth grinding, clenching, or repeatedly putting pressure on your teeth with your tongue can irritate gum tissue.
A periodontist will check the pockets between your teeth for signs of an irritant or gum disease.
Get a second opinion to determine the cause of swelling near a porcelain veneer tooth
Daily flossing between your teeth can remove debris your toothbrush cannot reach. It is unlikely to develop gum disease when you floss regularly. If you haven’t done so already, please thoroughly floss between the teeth or use a water flosser to flush out debris. Many people who dislike dental floss find it easier to use a water flosser, which can also be more thorough than dental floss.
Regardless, please don’t allow your dentist to remove your tooth, get a second opinion from a periodontist or a dentist with advanced training in gum health and disease treatment.
The condition should not threaten your porcelain veneer tooth. However, if that tooth is somehow affected, only allow a skilled cosmetic dentist to work on anything that affects the porcelain veneer.
Sugar Land implant and cosmetic dentist Dr. Siny Thomas sponsors this post.