Looking Long in the Tooth? Learn Why Gum Recession Can Be a Cause for Concern

If you have noticed your teeth look longer than you remember then you might have wondered what is going on, or whether you need to do anything about it. Teeth can look longer when gums begin to recede, exposing more of the tooth and even the tooth root. Often when gum recession occurs it can create pockets or gaps in between your teeth and gums, and if recession is substantial then these pockets can be pretty deep. The problem with gum pockets or periodontal pockets is that they can be very difficult to keep clean and are the perfect home for disease causing bacteria. Without treatment these bacteria can ultimately affect the tissues and structures surrounding your teeth and may even result in tooth loss.

Gum recession often occurs quite gradually making it easy to ignore, but one of the very first signs can be noticing your teeth feel more sensitive than normal and you may notice a notch in your tooth around the gum line. These are all signs that you should visit a dentist in Ladbroke Grove as soon as possible as we can provide suitable treatments to help halt gum recession and to repair gum and bone tissue. So why do gums begin to recede?

Common causes include:

• Brushing your teeth too aggressively as this can actually wear away your gum tissue. Additionally brushing your teeth too hard can wear away your tooth enamel, increasing tooth sensitivity. Ideally you should be using a soft to medium bristled toothbrush and you really don’t need to brush very hard to keep your teeth thoroughly clean.
• Inadequate dental care where you fail to brush and floss properly can soon allow plaque to build up on your teeth and gums. Plaque contains disease-causing bacteria and it soon hardens into calculus or tartar. This is the substance that is scaled or scraped away by your hygienist or dentist in Ladbroke Grove during a professional dental cleaning.
• Gum disease is another common cause of gum recession and is due to the bacterial infection caused by plaque bacteria that will gradually destroy your gums and the ligaments and bone around your teeth. This is the main reason why gums recede.
• Hormonal changes can also affect your gums, particularly if you’re female as there are substantial fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy and during the menopause. These hormonal changes increase the gums sensitivity towards plaque bacteria, making gum recession and gum disease more of a risk.
• Smoking increases the risk of poor oral health and gum recession, as nicotine makes it easier for plaque to stick to the teeth. Additionally nicotine helps to constrict the blood vessels supplying your gums, making it more difficult for your body to remove toxins and to provide the nutrients essential for gums to heal and fight infection.
• Tooth grinding and clenching, a habit called bruxism will put pressure on your teeth and gums, causing gum recession.

When you visit our dentist then we can soon diagnose the reason for your gum recession and will recommend the most suitable treatments to halt the progression of this disease. If you are looking long in the tooth then please give Ladbroke Grove Dental Care a call today so we can book your appointment. You can phone us on 020 7727 9836 or if it’s easier you can book online at www.LadbrokeGrovedentalcare.co.uk.