bleeding gums and quitting smoking...any correlation??

[crazygirl1]

jeez...i thought i'd read something like htat but i cant remember...dont wanna google...
gums have been bleeding just a little lately, since being on the patch adn quitting smoking. i hope its not something else...

[CrownofThorns]

Yes.

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Symptoms.html

Are you noticing the horrible odors rising up from healing lungs as they exhale, cough and flush years of tar buildup within notice of healing taste buds and a more accurate sense of smell? Picturing the slow healing of deeply marinated gum, cheek and tongue tissues impregnated by years of thousands of passing chemicals may be more accurate than you think. Depending on how long we smoked it could take some time for these tastes and odors to totally dissipate.  Cell healing, time, oxygen rich blood, and fluids will keep mouth, nasal, throat and respiratory tissues on the road to maximum recovery.  Brushing a bit more frequently and mouthwash should help control the odors that will continue to be released from both dead and recovering cells. 

As for gum bleeding, it is not unusual to be a bit overzealous and brush too much but also be aware that your gums are experiencing some rather amazing healing all their own and, surprisingly, it is normal for the ex-smoker's gums to be more prone to bleeding during recovery, not less. Nicotine constricts blood vessels diminishing blood flow, which, according to a January 2003 study, may account for smokers having thicker gum tissues. According to an April 2004 study, gingival (gum) blood flow rate was "significantly higher at 3 days" and within 5 days the liquid sticky plasma proteins normally released by healthy gums (gingival crevicular fluid) had significantly increased and within 2 weeks were comparable to those of non-smokers. But if it takes a bit of bleeding to begin gradually reversing the risk of experiencing 240% greater tooth loss than a non-smoker then so be it. If at all concerned give your dentist a quick call.

[CrownofThorns]

I have been having the craziest withdrawal symptoms, seeing me right now would make you think I need to be locked up in an insane asylum, lol.

[crazygirl1]

thanks...i was pretty sure i'd read somehting like that. I'm also feeling like..well---more spit in my mouth, like my mouth gets a little watery sometimes, noticed this mostly in the last 3-4 days which is pretty much since I've gone down to the last step (3 i think? lol) so I was supposed to be on this step for a week, but i went & bought another week anyway. Just dont feel quite ready to go it alone LOL. So I wonder if this is normal too..the watery mouth thing...
Are you using patches too??

[CrownofThorns]

Any way your body is reacting to the withdrawal is normal. I've been getting more saliva. Yesterday, I came home and suddently just felt giddy. I also had weird cravings for rice all day long and constantly had to use the bathroom. This morning I coughed up phlegm. Today it's head zaps, restless leg, rocking back and forth, and foggy brain.

I'm not using anything, I simply had my last cigarette over the weekend, told myself this was it and am just going to use my willpower. I suspect my withdrawal symptoms are going to be a tad more severe. 

[crazygirl1]

  lol wow you're brave! it sounds like you're not any worse off than me though. I found the 1st few days the toughest-in terms of using up that smopke time at certain times thur the day-for something else. Like after a meal I'm used to running out to smoke-the 1st few days i just went manic cleaning my house, went for like the ultimate walk in the park ( my dogs were LOVING me, my daughter...uhm not so much LOL) course that was almost 8 weeks ago ( wow) and the weather was good.
that foggy headed feeling though-i had that more when I did smoke. I cant believe how much my mouth is watering. I think its a craving, because Im on the lowest dose of nicotine on these last patches. I find myself thinking "i just want soemthing...something..." so I eat LOL

[CrownofThorns]

lol wow you're brave!

Thanks!   

A cigarette was usually my after-dinner cordial, too. Now, it's not so much the cravings I'm dealing with, it's the whacky withdrawal symptoms.

I'm hoping I can handle not smoking when we have my friend's birthday party next Saturday. The times I've tried to quit before, I usually ended up lighting up when alcohol was involved.