During hot summers, you may want to have ice treats to give
your taste buds something to enjoy. So, you go the nearby ice cream parlor and
order for one. As soon as you take a bit of it, you feel immense amount of pain
in one or more teeth. Well, it is the case of tooth sensitivity and may be due
to tooth recession. Tooth recession is an oral condition which happens due to
pulling away of gums, leading to the exposure of tooth’s root. This tooth root
is not covered by hard enamel and it gives bacteria and other damaging agents
an easy access to nerves and vessels of the teeth. Moreover, this exposed part
is extremely sensitive to hot and cold temperatures, certain foods, and even
air. When you see the roots visible, you can conclude that the recession is in
progress.
Major reasons for
tooth recession
Some of the major reasons for tooth recession include:
Aggressive teeth’s brushing
Gum disease
Smoking and use of tobacco
Teeth grinding
Teeth misalignment
Orthodontics
In case of a gum disease, the infection usually occurs due
to inflammation and damage to the fibers which are responsible to keep the gums
attached with the gums. The progress of gum disease is measured with the help
of an instrument called probe. This instrument is so accurate that it can
measure the gum loss in millimeters. Anything above 3 millimeters suggests the
existence of gum disease. If this condition is left untreated, gum recession
can become quite worse. Now if you use a toothbrush with hard bristles, it can
result in gum recession. Smoking is another reason because it can result in
traumatic effects which keep irritating the gums. Teeth clenching directly
affects the tooth enamel. Once the tooth enamel is gone, infection-causing
elements can cause infection in the teeth and gums, leading to the tooth
recession ultimately.
Symptoms of tooth
recession
The most obvious symptoms include:
Sensitivity
Exposed root
Swelling and redness in gums
Tooth appearing longer than normal
Now, if you want to prevent this disease from getting worse,
you need to visit your dentist as soon as you see the early signs. The
treatment is going to help you in keeping the gums healthy. At home, you have
to make sure that you are using the toothbrush with soft bristles. Going a bit
further, you need to quit the use of tobacco if you truly want to prevent
progression of gum disease. With the help of proper dental hygiene and biannual
dental visits, you can ensure better health of your gums and total prevention
of tooth recession.
