Understanding Why Gums Recede

Our gums are the often overlooked structures in our mouth as we really put more emphasis in the care of our pearly whites. We regard our perfectly white and aligned teeth as signs of health. Then one day we noticed some teeth looking quite different, like they have elongated. It’s not your teeth that’s having issues, it’s your gums. You’re starting to have receding gums.

Your gums are soft but firm tissues that surround each tooth and keep them in place in their bony arches. They hug your teeth up to what is called the gum line, that separates much of the crown from the root of the teeth. They are rich in nerve and blood supply, and carry that pinkish color if healthy. Now, if they start to recede, you’ll notice that they are somewhat pulled back, exposing more teeth, thus, appearing longer.

Apart from that, how do you know your gums are receding? Receding gums are most likely accompanied with thin gum tissue, and one of the first symptoms is sensitivity during brushing or taking cold drinks, or there may be bleeding while brushing, flossing, or biting on hard food. Other symptoms are red, swollen, or tender gums or other pain in your mouth, or teeth that might be loose or separating. You might notice pus between your teeth and gums, or a sore, a foul odor. And when you bite, your teeth might not be occluding well as before. If you are wearing partial dentures, they don’t seem to fit well anymore.

What might be causing receding gums?

For one, you might be brushing too hard; hard brushing doesn’t mean you’re cleaning your teeth better. Just look at your brush and you might notice the bristles are already frayed, and it’s not even an old toothbrush. Brushing hard can hurt your gums and shrink the gum line. Another is teeth grinding. You might not be aware that you’re tooth grinding while asleep and that may cause undue pressure on tooth surfaces, ligaments and gum tissue as well.

Gum disease is another cause of receding gums, and it might be the foremost cause. Periodontal disease, if untreated, can cause the gums and supporting bone structure to deteriorate. This can lead to gum recession or even tooth loss. You might want to know that gum disease can run in families.

Treating Receding Gums? Visit Overlake Dental in Bellevue

If you see these symptoms, come see your Bellevue dentist right away. Don’t delay for these issues are treatable. Save the health of your teeth and gums by regularly dental visitations.

Clean and Healthy Mouth

There are many ways you can tailor your diet to foster a clean and healthy mouth. A tooth-friendly diet means more than just avoiding excess refined sugar, like those in candy and soda, there are also many nutrients that are important for your teeth and gums.

Nutrients for Oral Health

If you are looking for more ways to encourage strong teeth, make sure that you are getting enough of the following in your diet:

• Calcium: You need calcium to rebuild tooth and bone structure. Get calcium from dairy products, meat, and and certain fruits and vegetables.
• Vitamin D: You need vitamin D to absorb calcium. You get this vitamin from modest exposure to the sun, or from certain fortified foods.
• Vitamin C: A lack of vitamin C encourages tooth decay and gum disease. You can get ample vitamin C from fruit and certain vegetables.
• Fiber and Whole Grains: High fiber foods like grains, vegetables, and fruits can scrub at your teeth as you chew.

Talk to our Bellevue dentists at Overlake Dental to learn more about tooth-friendly eating habits.

Child’s Loose Tooth

When your child’s primary teeth begin to come loose and their permanent teeth erupt beneath them, it can be an uncomfortable experience. Many are tempted to go in and pluck the loose tooth out, in an effort to keep their child from swallowing a tooth when it comes out by itself. But is this a good idea?

The first thing to realize is that your child’s mouth is very delicate. Pulling out a tooth can do a lot of damage to the surrounding gum tissues. It’s not worthwhile to do this strictly to avoid swallowing a tooth, since a primary tooth can pass safely through your child’s system. In general, it is best to let a tooth come out when it is ready. You can always contact Overlake Dental for us to take a look and pull out the loose tooth.

Of course, sometimes a primary tooth can overstay its welcome. If it fails to come out soon enough, it can cause the permanent tooth to come in crooked. Should the permanent tooth start to appear under the primary tooth, it may be time to talk to our Bellevue dentist.

When is the last time you went to the dentist?

Far too many people will postpone their regular dental visits far longer than they ought to. They might feel completely healthy and, with the stresses of work, school, and other concerns plaguing their lives, it may not seem like a high priority to get your teeth cleaned every six months. What are the chances that you actually have a dental problem, after all?

Unfortunately, the answer is probably not as favorable as you think. Professional estimates tell us that as much as 90% of people in the United States are suffering from some sort of oral problem. Such problems may come in the form of tooth decay, gum disease, or possibly even oral cancer. This issue would not be so bad, were it not for the fact that a far smaller group of people are even aware that they have a problem.

Prevention is Key

You don’t want to be one of the blissfully ignorant. The longer you go without proper dental care, the worse your problem will get. Call our Bellevue dentist right away to get the care you need and deserve.

Dental anxiety is common among adults, and all the more so with children. They’re coming into a place where they feel they have very little power, and they see a selection of scary instruments that are to be used in their mouths.

If you do not help your child to feel comfortable during dental visits, he or she may very well continue to feel debilitating anxiety well into adulthood.

Tips for Child’s Dental Anxiety

Consider the following advice to achieve this goal:

• You should bring your child in at an early age. Consider bringing him or her in during your own appointments to help make the experience a familiar and comfortable one.
• Put a good face on the dentist’s office. If this is a stressful place for you, children can pick up on your emotional cues and may become more stressed out themselves.
• Avoid language like “everything will be okay” when taking your child in for an appointment. He or she may likely feel some discomfort in the dental chair, and you don’t want them to feel betrayed by you when they do.
• Don’t offer bribes. When you feel the need to offer a reward for going to the dentist’s office, a child will likely expect an unpleasant experience and react accordingly.

It is generally advised that you bring your child to our Bellevue dentist for the first time at the age of one. Call Overlake Dental for additional information.