Question:
\nYesterday I noticed that I could feel something under my tongue, behind my front teeth. I thought it was from the food I had been eating, but I’m pretty sure that it is actually part of my front tooth, poking up a little from the gum. This has happened from time to time in the past but never quite as prominently, just a little bump. It usually went back to normal after a day or so. This time it feels more pronounced and I am wondering if it’s something to be concerned about and what action, if any, I should take. Will it likely recede again with nothing to worry about. At my last dentist visit (6 months ago) nothing abnormal was found in that area.<\/p>\n
Thank you.
\n– Carol from Boston<\/p>\n
Dear Carol, If it does turn out to be a manifestation of gum disease, I would ask your dentist to refer you to a periodontist – a gum disease specialist. Gum disease is a particularly insidious disease because it progresses so slowly, generally without any symptoms at all, until one day, after it has become advanced gum disease, you notice that your teeth are getting loose. Have that checked carefully.
\nIf I were examining you, the first thing I would check would be gum disease<\/a>. In gum disease, you can sometimes get a flare-up of the infection<\/a> that can cause a swelling – a small tooth abscess<\/a> – near the gumline. So this is a possibility. And there are too many dentists and dental hygienists, unfortunately, who don’t screen regularly for gum disease, or don’t screen thoroughly enough. And many dental insurance companies have policies that pressure dentists not to deal with gum disease because it makes their costs go up.<\/p>\n
\n– Dr. Hall<\/p>\n\n
\n \nWe thank our advertisers who help fund this site. However, we don’t necessarily endorse their products and services:
\n<\/font>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n \n