I just saw on someone else's question that they have gum disease as a result of their epilepsy medication; I'm also on epilepsy medication (valproic acid) and have been noticing that if I rub my finger hard against my gums, it comes back with blood on it. The gum area directly above/below my teeth is a healthy pale pink, but there's a distinct line between that and the areas further from my teeth, which are a very dark almost purplish-pink. I get an ache in my lower jaw sometimes too, which I have been attributing to a tooth that cracked several years ago (a result of being killed off by too-tight orthodontic bands), and now I'm concerned about a) gum disease and b) abscesses!
YES I will have to get myself to a dentist, but I'm currently travelling and would find it expensive – can anyone offer me any information on these problems?