Although all teeth can be affected by receding gums, the most affected are the canines and premolars.
The main cause of gingival recession lies in incorrect oral hygiene; precisely, the risk of receding gums increases considerably when teeth are brushed inadequately (eg horizontally, too vigorously or from tooth to gum), particularly if hard bristle brushes are used.
To alleviate the discomfort produced by the receding gums, it is recommended to eventually correct the inadequate method of daily cleaning of the teeth. In cases where the withdrawn gums create considerable discomfort, a gingival surgery is conceivable, possibly supported by a tissue graft. connective tissue.
with hard bristles, it is the main risk factor for receding gums. Even the habit of not flossing favors the recession of the gums: bacteria, nesting in the spaces between one tooth and the other, damage the enamel and thin the gum, making it fragile and delicate.
In addition to this, the pseudo-pathological phenomenon can be caused by other, innumerable, etiological factors:
- Habit of smoking or chewing tobacco
- Bruxism (tendency to grind the teeth, a phenomenon that is accentuated in the presence of stress and tension)
- Crooked teeth and dental malocclusions
- Eating disorders (e.g. bulimia)
- Gingivitis
- Hypersensitivity to sodium lauryl sulfate, a foaming cosmetic ingredient that is part of the formulation of several commercial toothpastes
- Periodontitis (both cause and consequence of receding gums)
- Lip or tongue piercing, accused of damaging the gums by rubbing against them
- Scurvy (severe vitamin C deficiency disease)
- Displacement or crowding of the teeth in the arch
- Hereditary gum disease
- thermal (food / drinks that are too hot or excessively cold, pungent air entering the oral cavity);
- mechanical (brushing the tooth with the brush).
Inevitably, the dental hypersensitivity caused by gingival regression induces the subject not to brush their teeth carefully (in order to perceive a reduced discomfort): to the benefit of bacteria, this "wrong attitude favors the" accumulation of plaque and tartar, the greatest defendants of CARIOGENIC PROCESSES.
When the gingival retraction depends on a "chronic inflammation of the gums (gingivitis), the patient accuses:
- Halitosis (bad breath);
- Tendency of the gums to bleed
- Red, swollen and reddened gums.
Not to mention the AESTHETIC COMPROMISE caused by the receding gums: in such circumstances, the teeth seem longer, the tooth roots are visible and exposed (late symptoms of pyorrhea), and the interdental spaces seem larger. In reality, the space between tooth and tooth remains the same, but appears larger as the receding gums cannot cover the area. The COLOR OF THE TEETH is also altered in the presence of retracted gums, due to the chromatic difference between the tooth enamel (white) and yellowish cement (exposed because the gums have withdrawn).
In advanced stages, gingival regression can cause TOOTH DISPLACEMENT AND LOSS.
Aesthetic impairment
Signs and Symptoms
- The teeth appear longer
- Root exposure
- Apparently very large interdental space
- Yellow teeth / alteration of the natural color of the teeth
- Not very harmonious smile
- Loss of teeth
- Dentin hypersensitivity
- Accumulation of plaque and tartar
- Increased risk of tooth decay
- Gums that tend to bleed
- Pain when cleaning teeth
- Crowding of the teeth
- Chewing difficulties
- Brittle teeth, prone to falling out
The possible surgical interventions indicated to restore gingival adhesion are:
- Soft tissue grafting ("gingival autotransplantation"): effective treatment against receding gums which allows to cover the exposed root and thicken the gingival tissue. The aim of the intervention is to minimize the possibility of a further, eventual, regression of the gingiva.
- Tooth implant: drastic treatment to solve the problem of receding gums. The dental implant is indicated to restore both the aesthetics of the teeth and the chewing function, seriously compromised by the gingival retraction in an advanced stage.
Even professional dental cleaning is extremely important to keep your teeth healthy for as long as possible: it is recommended to undergo hygiene at least once or twice a year. In fact, the deposition of plaque and tartar increases the risk of caries, pyorrhea and gingivitis which - let us remember once again - are factors that predispose a subject to receding gums and other serious dental problems.
