As you age, it is natural for your gums to recede from your teeth a little. In fact, this is where the saying "long in the tooth" came from. However, there are also other things that can cause your gums to recede. While you may not be able to do anything about the natural recession, there are ways you can prevent other forms, so you don't end up with your gums receding so far from your teeth that you suffer from some serious dental issues. Here are some things you should know about receding gum lines:
What happens with receding gums?
When you have receding gums, it can do more than just change the appearance of your smile. It can also make you more sensitive to hot and cold things. It can also make your gums more sensitive to brushing, so you definitely want to make sure you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush. You can even find that your gums feel sensitive to very cold weather when you are talking outside. Sugar can also bother you more when you have receding gums. Your teeth will look longer than they used to as well and food can get easily trapped between your teeth and gums.
Besides aging, what else can cause gums to recede?
There are a number of things that can cause your gums to recede from your teeth besides normal aging. Gum disease can cause a variety of damage to your gums and teeth, with one of the symptoms being receding gum lines. Grinding your teeth is another thing that can cause gum recession. Crowding teeth can also lead to the recession of gums. Another issue that can cause your gums to recede from your teeth is brushing and flossing them too harshly.
What are some things you can do to prevent gums from receding?
One of the most important things you can do to prevent your gums from receding is to make sure you get in to see your dentist at least once a year for a complete checkup. This way any potential dental issues can be caught and treated early on. If you grind your teeth, you can wear a night guard. If you brush too roughly, you should start being aware of how hard you are brushing and use the softest bristled toothbrush you can find. Your dentist may have other advice for you to follow as well.
To learn more, contact a dental clinic like Dansville Family Dental Care.
Share6 January 2018
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.