What if you have exposed tooth roots?
Exposed tooth roots are a topic of particular interest to doctors dealing with periodontal diseases, i.e. periodontists. They may seem like a trivial problem, but we must not forget that the receding gums and the exposure of the lower elements of the tooth are the starting point for many serious conditions.
Exposed tooth root symptoms
Exposed tooth roots may manifest themselves in various ways. Patients often come to the dentist's office concerned about the "lengthening" of their teeth and the change in the color of their gums. They pay attention to receding gums for cosmetic reasons. Recessions are often accompanied by wedge defects. At the junction of enamel, root cement (the tissue covering the root) and dentin, the tooth is very sensitive to mechanical damage. Improper tooth brushing and parafunctions (teeth grinding, teeth clenching) may lead to the formation of non-carious lesions in the hard tissues of the tooth. These changes are often accompanied by severe pain, which is the reason why patients visit the dentist.
When recession occurs, the exposed roots of the teeth are directly exposed to harmful factors. The patient feels a piercing pain during:
- drinking cold or hot drinks,
- eating hot or cold foods,
- brushing teeth,
- breathing cool air through your mouth.
The exposed root of the tooth is more susceptible to caries than the crown. This is due to differences in the thickness of the enamel and the distribution of the bacterial plaque. Carious lesions in the root area are difficult to treat.
Causes of Exposed Dental Roots
* Receding gums, exposing the roots of the teeth, can have many causes. Depending on whether the disease is accompanied by inflammation or not, we can distinguish:
- "classic" recession of gums,
- recession of gums associated with periodontitis (periodontal disease),
- a combined form, containing features of both of the above.
Classic recessions are associated with factors that mechanically push the gum away from the tooth. These include:
- Incorrect tooth brushing technique.
- Complications after orthodontic treatment.
- Low attachment of the frenulum, which pulls the mucous membrane together with the gums, as well as improper anatomical structure of the gums surrounding the teeth.
- Too frequent removal of dental tartar (scaling).
- Proper brushing technique can reduce the risk of exposed tooth roots.
- Proper brushing technique can reduce the risk of exposed tooth roots.
Receding gums can be one of the symptoms of other diseases. In such cases, we are talking about secondary gum recessions. The most common cause, however, is inflammation of the periodontium. Untreated periodontal disease (colloquially periodontitis) that lasts for many years leads to damage of the gums and periodontium, which results in their atrophy and exposure of the cervical or root part of the tooth.
The most common cause of periodontal disease is bacteria that accumulate in the bacterial plaque that forms dental tartar. Dental plaque comes into contact with the gums, irritating them and providing a starting point for inflammation.
In addition to damaging the oral mucosa, bacteria are among the factors that cause tooth decay. They damage the enamel and infect the deep layers of the tooth. A slight recession of the gums also occurs with age and is a physiological process.
If you have exposed tooth roots, please visit your dentist so they can help alleviate any symptoms and stop the recession process.
Are exposed tooth roots common