Do the gray spots on my gums mean i have actue necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis? i'm a smoker, and lately i've noticed some gray spots or residue on my lower gum. i've seen some pretty scary pictures of actue necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, and am won

SNUG : Snug is characterized by a very foul odor that comes out of the mouth. It can be picked up from several feet away. Nevertheless, since you are a smoker, and have placed yourself in a risk category, a with a periodontist is highly recommended. www.perio.org will have a link to a periodontist near you. Best of luck, dr. Zev kaufman.

Necrotizing : Necrotizing ulcerastive gingivits shows as painful ulcers. You need to see a dentists. I urge you to quit smoking. Dental health and smoking are usually exclusive of each other.

This : This is a tough question to answer online without seeing the spots. Have they been there for awhile? Sometimes patients have pigmentation of the gum tissue other times it can be pathologic. Generally speaking if any lesion goes away in 10 days, it is usually okay. If not, it is best to see a specialist such as an oral pathologist or periodontist.