If your teeth hurt every time you drink something hot, you might have receded gums (gum recession). Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue or line around the necks of your teeth wear down and pull back. Recession generally exposes some or all of your teeth roots. Fortunately, you can treat gum recession with the right information and dental care.
How Can Gum Tissue Recede?
Gum recession occurs from anything that breaks down the soft tissue of your gums, including mouth trauma and gum disease. Abrasive actions, such as brushing and flossing your teeth too hard, can cause your gums to recede. People who grind their teeth may also experience gum recession over time. All of these issues expose the surfaces of your teeth roots.
Teeth roots are more than bone tissue. Roots also cover and protect the nerves inside your teeth. Different stimuli like hot temperatures can aggravate the nerves inside your roots. In most cases, the stimulation causes pain to shoot through the exposed root.
You can't regrow gum tissue once you lose it. However, you can prevent the condition from wreaking havoc on your dental health. Receded gums can lead to tooth loss and severe infections of the jaw, so you want to treat it as soon as you can.
How Do You Treat Your Receded Gums?
The treatment for gum recession can range from regular gum cleanings to gum reshaping surgery (gingivoplasty). If your condition is mild, an oral surgeon or endodontist can clean your gums to encourage to heal. You may need regular treatments, so keep this in mind when you visit a dentist.
If your gums are severely receded, you may need gingivoplasty as a treatment. This treatment allows a dentist to reshape the gum tissue around your the necks of your teeth. The goal is to even out your gum line and lengthen your teeth crowns. A surgeon will generally clean and even out your teeth roots prior to reshaping your gums. Bacteria and plaque can form on your teeth roots, which places them at risk for decay.
After treatment, it's important for you to keep your mouth as healthy as you can. You can do this by using a softer toothbrush and floss thread. The softer textures of the brush and floss keep your gums from wearing down. You can also use a mild mouth rinse to protect your gums from inflammation and disease.
If you need to know more about your sensitive teeth or gum recession, contact an oral surgeon or endodontist today.