Question:
What is the connection - if any - between gingivitis and other forms of
mouth problems, such as canker sores, cold sores and general insults to
the mucosa of the mouth? I had a pretty bad attack of what my dentist
diagnosed as "necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis" (no cultures were done,
though) I had my teeth cleaned which was very painful at the time; the
gingivitis improved somewhat but I also had a concurrent attack of what
my doctor thought was "aphthous stomatitis" - extremely painful and
uncomfortable: couldn't eat solid food for days. All this happened about
two months ago but since then there always seems to be something wrong
with my mouth - small "cuts" on my lips, small canker sores, my tongue is
somewhat coated etc..now some of the gingivitis seems to be coming back.
I realize that a diagnosis is impossible on the net but does anyone feel
these symptoms could all be connected as one syndrome? I'd like to add
that when all this started, I also had fever, weakness and malaise and
still feel somewhat tired and not back to my full strength.
Answer:
Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is usually stress related, if memory
serves me correctly. Lots of college students had this during exam
time.
Canker sores, fever flisters, cold sores . . . all terms for Herpes
Simplex - a virus. If you treat it it goes away in 7 days. If you
ignore it, it goes away in one week.
Try gly-oxide, on a regular basis. $5.00 for a small bottle (2-4 oz.)
Take a couple of drops and swish! It releases oxygen and feels great!
Lysine supplements help many people with various types of Herpes
infections. (The virus uses lysine where it needs arginine and makes a
defective protein.)
About 3,ooo mg lysine per day in divided doses with meals represses
active infections and 500 to 1,500 mg/day keeps them suppressed. High
arginine foods (chocolate, nuts, etc.) must be avoided or at least kept
to an absolute minimum. This has not been established by research
(since Lysine is unpatentable and requires no prescription, under our
economic system no one has an economic incentive to do the reseach).
Some will therefore disparage this approach as worthless. To them I
would say:
1) absence of proof is NOT proof of absence.
2) Lysine in the recommended amounts is totally harmless and without
risk. (It is not possible to even be allergic to it since this would
inevitably result in death (it being an ESSENTIAL amino acid).)
3) Vast numbers of people have stated that they have found it very
helpful in fighting various herpes infections (as attested to in many
newsgroups, etc.) Certainly not proof that it works, but ample reason
for *trying* it, given that it is totally safe and inexpensive.
I have found it quite helpful for Herpes zooster (shingles) (a result of
prior chickenpox infection).
ulcerative gingivitis is sometimes called trench mouth since it was very
prevalent during WWI in the trenches. I'm no expert but they generally
don't test for it since it is caused by an overgrowth of the bacteria that
are usually in your mouth.
It has a strong relationship to stress again because how life was in the
trenches--you could die at any time. Canker sores or apthous stomatitis
is also strongly associated with stress but is usually found on the
alveolar mucosa or the cheeks.
Cold sores are yet again different.
If you are unsure of what is really happening the best way to deal with it
is to call the U of Toronto's oral pathology department and ask if any of
the faculty see patients privately. Usually they do or they can bring you
into the school as a teaching case. Those guys are experts in exactly the
info you need.
