What if you have exposed tooth roots?
Exposed tooth roots are a problem that most often naturally affects older people, but this is not always the case. In young and middle-aged people, it may develop as a result of insufficient oral hygiene (irregular and careless brushing and flossing) or our lifestyle (e.g. smoking). Fortunately, today there are several methods thanks to which we can get rid of the problem with exposed tooth roots.
Exposed tooth Roots - Causes
Tooth roots can become exposed for many reasons. Taking into account whether this phenomenon is accompanied by inflammation or not, we can distinguish standard receding gums, receding gums associated with periodontitis, and a third form that combines the features of the previous two.
These are the causes of classic recessions, in which the gum is mechanically pushed off the tooth:
* complications after orthodontic treatment
* improper tooth brushing technique
* anatomical structure of the gum surrounding the teeth
* too frequent removal of tartar in the dentist's office
* low attachment of the frenulum, which pulls the mucous membrane together with the gums.
How to recognize exposed tooth roots
Exposed tooth roots most often manifest themselves as hypersensitivity to hot, sweet, and sour foods and clearly visible changes in the shape of the gums. Some symptoms characteristics of exposed tooth roots are specified below:
* hypersensitivity to hot, cold, sweet, and sour foods and drinks,
* suddenly appearing, stabbing pains occurring at the root of the tooth,
* bleeding gums,
* changes in the shape of the gums - exposure of the tooth root,
* swollen gums,
* unpleasant breath odor.
How should exposed tooth roots be treated?
The treatment of exposed tooth roots depends on the causes that caused the disease. However, the key here is always proper oral hygiene, which means brushing your teeth at least twice a day and supplementing this process with flossing and using mouthwashes.
Depending on the nature of our problem, the doctor may also recommend other treatment methods. If the roots of the teeth are exposed, for example due to advanced tartar, the dentist will perform scaling and sandblasting procedures to get rid of the problem responsible for the disease. Sometimes, in order to combat exposed tooth roots, orthodontic treatment or surgical removal is necessary.
Do ointments on exposed tooth roots work?
Applying ointment to exposed tooth roots is a temporary solution that does not improve the condition of gums and teeth. These types of remedies only act symptomatically, so they only provide temporary relief, and therefore they cannot replace a visit to a specialist.
Treatment of exposed tooth roots and hygiene - the right toothpaste and toothbrush are the keys to success
Many of you are probably wondering how else we can fight exposed tooth roots at home. The key here is to choose the right toothbrush and toothpaste for daily care. By "appropriate" we mean a toothbrush with soft or medium-hard bristles, i.e. ones that will be non-invasive to our gums. As for toothpaste, it should be as gentle as possible. In addition, it would be good if it also contained fluorine and had anti-inflammatory and regenerating properties. Proper hygiene of teeth and gums will help you reduce the problem of exposed tooth roots.
Correct brushing technique - why can intensive tooth scrubbing damage the gums even more?
It is very important to use the correct brushing technique every time. Brushing your teeth too intensively, especially if you have a problem with exposed gums, may lead to further irritation and damage to their attachment to the tooth surface. During this time, it is also worth using toothbrushes with softer fibers. We must not forget that improper tooth brushing is one of the main causes of gum recession.