Blood in the mouth
September 22, 2010 | 25,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Mario Werner
I am currently in Italy and I have an unpleasant problem. Last night while I was lying in bed, I suddenly had a taste of blood in my mouth and then also spat out very light blood mixed with saliva. I didn't have to cough and I didn't feel like I had regurgitated it from my stomach.
The same problem occurred a week ago during my morning routine.
That's why I went to the dentist here and he treated a tooth pocket, but he also said "Blood on the teeth is difficult".
What do you recommend I do in the short term or am I just panicking? (Stomach, esophagus, lungs) and should I interrupt my vacation?
Kind regards
Oh, I am 46 years old, 174cm tall, 78 kg heavy and have been on a fasting cure for 3 days.
My question:
I am currently very unsure, as I don't know if this is related to the.
Dear Mr. T.,
Gum bleeding would certainly be the most harmless consideration at first. Since you have already been to the dentist, I assume that he has ruled out possible sources of bleeding. However, you should intensively search for the source of bleeding in your mouth yourself - with the help of your fellow travelers if necessary. Fresh red blood could indeed likely be coming from your "upper digestive tract", possibly even from the nose.
A bleeding from the stomach or esophagus would rather look like tar or coffee grounds, as it comes into contact with the hydrochloric acid from the stomach. Also, you mentioned that you did not have the feeling of having "coughed it up".
However, the lung should be considered. You say you have not "coughed it up", which also speaks rather against the lung, but it can still happen unnoticed overnight.
If a source of bleeding in the mouth is ruled out, an X-ray of your chest (thorax in 2 levels, lungs) should be urgently performed. You do not have to interrupt your vacation for this, if no further large amounts of blood are noticeable (you will surely be back home in 2 weeks?). Do you smoke(?)
Brush your teeth more aggressively than usual, use dental floss, are there any mechanically unusual stimuli? If you are following a very radical diet (which I do not suspect after 3 days), an acute vitamin deficiency could also lead to such symptoms.
My recommendation to you would be to check carefully the next morning and not immediately assume the worst. If the mouth and throat area appear normal, further diagnostics cannot be avoided.
I hope that this narrowing down has helped you a little further and wish you that the shock subsides and you have a great vacation in Italy.
Warm regards,
M. Werner
