Teeth Grinding and Gum Recession
TEETH GRINDING
- Although most people clench their teeth from time to time, this becomes harmful when the teeth grinding, or bruxism, starts to occur on a regular basis. This is detrimental to the hard tissue of the teeth as well as the facial muscles and functionality.
- Most people grind their teeth due to stress. Other factors can be poor alignment of teeth or an abnormal bite, as well as sleep apnea.
- You should visit your dentist to see what you can do about teeth grinding. Most likely he or she will construct a custom made mouth-guard for you to wear at nights before you sleep. Depending on the severity of the case and the underlying cause, he or she may prescribe pain killers or muscle relaxants or even refer you to a physiotherapist. If your bite is to blame, you may be referred to an orthodontist.
GUM RECESSION
- Receding gums happen when the pink gum tissue that covers the root of the tooth start to descend away from their natural position, this causes the root to be exposed.
- This can happen due to older age, which is a normal occurrence, or due to poor oral hygiene that let to gum inflammation and then subsequent advanced gum disease.
- This leads to sensitive teeth, increased risk of decay and root caries as well as infection and early tooth loss.
- If caught at an earlier stage, treatment can slow down progression of gum disease or stop it. Treatment can range from deep cleaning and medications, to tissue grafts to cover up the recessed area.
- Regular visits to the dentist will help in early detection and treatment of gum recession and its complications. Your dentist will educate you on how to better take care of your teeth and gums, and will prescribe desensitizing tooth pastes and mouth washes to deal with the sensitivity.
- Smoking is harmful not only to your lungs, but also has a direct harmful effect on your teeth, their supporting bone and tissues and your oral tissues as well. There are countless effects of smoking cigarettes, shisha, pipes and other tobacco based smoking products. Some of them include -
- Bad breath
- Staining of teeth
- Inflammation of the salivary gland openings
- Increased buildup of plaque
- Increased loss of bone in your jaws
- Increased risk of precancerous and cancerous lesions
- Increased risk of developing gum disease, leading to tooth loss
- Delayed healing after tooth extraction and other surgeries
- Poor prognosis of dental implant placement
- Increased risk of developing oral cancer