Thanks Kusadikika and all for the contributions - I can totally relate...

@kenmac, I used to be in exactly the same situation as you're in, bite a fruit e.g. apple, pear, even a banana, and I 'd see blood stains on the fruit, even pressing against the back of the gum around my incisors would result in the same! I was young and thought the problem would go away and it did...but it was then followed by the tartar, I can't remember it being plaque before hardening to tartar.

I now brush my teeth religiously using the prescribed method, well...without the floss and all, but I know I still have to go to the dentist to have the tartar removed.

Do the teeth become sensitive after removal of the tartar?I hate to sound like a baby but after having 2 molars removed when I was young, I have a great phobia for dentists - I literally sweat!

@Kusadikika...and no offence intended to anyone (my apologies). Have been thinking for some time about the fact that HIV cant be transmitted through kissing or saliva. Did the researchers take into account bleeding gums during the act of kissing?