Three Complications Of Gum Recession
Posted on: 2 September 2016
Gum recession is an oral health condition that means that your gums are receding, or pulling away, from your teeth. It can be caused by aggressive tooth brushing, gum disease or other factors, and it can pose a number of problems inside your mouth. Here are three complications that are linked to gum recession.
Cosmetic Issues
When your gums recede, the roots of your teeth are exposed. This makes your teeth look noticeably longer, which may make you feel self conscious about your smile. When you smile, you may not see any gum tissue, and your smile may look too toothy for your liking.
The exposed roots will also be noticeably yellower than the crowns of your teeth, which can also pose cosmetic problems. The roots look yellow because they're not covered with white enamel like the crowns of your teeth are. Instead, they're covered with cementum, a light yellow calcified material.
Tooth Sensitivity
The roots of your teeth aren't meant to be exposed; they're meant to be protected by your gum tissue. When your gum tissue recedes, your sensitive roots are exposed to food, drinks, air and the force of your toothbrush. All of this contact can lead to unpleasant sensitivity around your gum line.
If your teeth are sensitive, you can try using a toothpaste that's made for sensitive teeth. You may also want to apply the sensitivity toothpaste like an ointment for more relief. However, if the sensitivity doesn't go away soon, you'll need to see your dentist for treatment.
Cavities
Since the roots of your teeth aren't protected by enamel, it's easier for cavities to form in this area. Plus, any cavities that form will grow more quickly since there's no enamel to slow them down. This means that the decay can reach the inside of your tooth, which can lead to an infection.
To prevent cavities, it's important to carefully clean your exposed roots. With a soft-bristled toothbrush, gently brush along your gum line to get rid of food and plaque. Don't forget to floss along your gum line as well to prevent cavities.
If you think you have gum recession, see your dentist. Your dentist can use treatments like deep cleaning your teeth or surgically grafting new gum tissue onto the receded areas to solve your problem. Once your gum recession has been dealt with, you won't need to worry about these three complications any more. Contact a clinic like Glacier Centre For Dentistry for more info.
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