You\u2019re admiring your bright smile when you notice you can see more of that tooth than you used to. Wow, it really doesn\u2019t feel good when you touch that spot! It\u2019s painful, really, and very uncomfortable. What the heck? You\u2019ve been brushing, flossing, and practicing the same oral hygiene you\u2019ve known since childhood, and suddenly, your gums, which are usually there to protect your teeth, have moved!<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve experienced this phenomenon, you might be suffering from gum recession, and the underlying causes can sneak in even after proper care. The hard part is, some of us don\u2019t have control over it. About 30 percent of people are predisposed to gum recession thanks to genetics. Ouch. The good news is, there are lifestyle changes you can make to protect the precious tissue that covers your teeth. With some work, you can reclaim control of your gum health.<\/p>\n
When we talk about gum recession, we don\u2019t mean that gum tissue disappears. Instead, the tissue pulls away from your tooth. Your gum tissue is there to protect your teeth, and when something\u2019s not quite right in other parts of your mouth, the sensitive tissue draws back.<\/p>\n
Your daytime habits are a factor in your gum\u2019s health. Smoking and other tobacco use can lead to a host of dental issues, including gum recession. Misaligned teeth can also force your gums to pull away. If that\u2019s the issue, it may be time to talk to an orthodontist.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, your nighttime habits are the cause. Clenching and grinding at night \u2014 or, in dental terminology, bruxism \u2014 puts extra pressure on your jaw and teeth that can lead to gum recession. If you\u2019ve woken up with a headache or your partner has complained about how noisy you are at night, it\u2019s possible you\u2019re grinding or clenching your teeth.<\/p>\n
If your problem is clenching or grinding, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. The clenching is in response to your body\u2019s struggle to get enough oxygen as you sleep. A simple sleep study might be able to diagnose sleep disruptions, and it may lead you to not only healthier gums, but a better night\u2019s sleep. Your dentist may even be able to fit you for a dental appliance as an alternative to a bulky sleep apnea mask.<\/p>\n
Depending on the severity of recession, there are a range of treatment plans available to you, from an intensive cleaning of the area to more extensive surgical options that a gum specialist, or periodontist, may perform.<\/p>\n
Whatever the cause of your gum recession, talk with your dentist to find the best option for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You\u2019re admiring your bright smile when you notice you can see more of that tooth than you used to. Wow, it really doesn\u2019t feel good when you touch that spot! It\u2019s painful, really, and very uncomfortable. What the heck? You\u2019ve been brushing, flossing, and practicing the same oral hygiene you\u2019ve known since childhood, and suddenly, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-newsletter","category-hygiene"],"yoast_head":"\n