Three dental queries

[brokly]

(1) If your gums bleed profusely, is this gingivitis or something else, and whatever it is what can be done to treat it? (2) (Question relating to separate person!) If toothache is accompanied by a feeling of being 'hot all over', is this a sign of infection, and again what can be done. (3) Is intravenous sedation for nervous dental patients available on the NHS? Thanks v. much.
 

[AB Editor]

We strongly advise you to seek professional advice from your dentist or a healthcare professional. Please do not rely on, or wait for, advice from Answerbank users.

[FP]

I would take a trip to your dentist as soon as possible.  It does sound as if you have an infection, but only a professional can advise on this.

I don't know if intravenous sedation is available on the NHS.  But I did have an intravenous anaesthetic on the NHS years ago.  I think that the dentist has to have an anaesthetist working alongside him though.

[Hgrove]

A friend of mine had her wisdom teeth extracted a few years ago and she was given an injection of something called "twilight sedation" (I think) which basically calmed her down although she was not asleep.  I had a tooth extracted a couple of years ago; when I went to the appointment this sedation was discussed and I thought we agreed I was going to have it; but when I turned up for the extraction they knew nothing about the sedation and they said I could not have it.  If I wanted it I would have to make another appointment (months away) specifying that I wanted this type of sedation (they basically said it was all my fault for not making it clear enough that I wanted it).

[Yinzer]

Oh My Goodness! My dentist told me about this thing called "pockets" which basically is when the bacteria live and flourish in your gums eroding away the surrounding bone! Then that leaves even more space for even more to hide out and so on and so forth. Even if there is no bone loss there still can be a bad infection that gets the nerve at the root (perhaps causing the HOT feeling?) and a root canal may be done. Teeth are awful! Whoever it is should floss once or twice a day (followed by 30 sconds of undiluted listerine) until they get in to the dentist. My husbands teeth are so bad they bleed when he bites down too hard, and the dentist said the first thing he should do is start flossing regularly as this is the first line of defense (I told her how he REFUSES to see the dentist until the pain is so unbearable he can barely talk).
So yeah, regular flossing followed by listerine is good for gingivitis.
The feeling og "hot all over" is definitely from an infection.
And I have no idea about NHS because I live in America and thankfully Kerry didn't win.
Cheers and Happy New Year!

[Iknownothing]

Gingivitis can usually be treated using purpose specific mouthwash, ( often containing hydrogen paroxide). You friend should ask a pharmacist and if a short course does not bring an improvement then they should visit thier dentist.  

[simms]

I think point (3) is a description of mixture of pethidine and gas and air