gum recession

HAVE YOU EVER had a sip of ice water and experienced a sudden, sharp pain in your teeth? You’re not alone. One in eight people experiences tooth sensitivity—the kind of sensitivity that isn’t due to a problem such as a cavity, and has nothing to do with braces. So what’s causing it? Surprisingly, one of the most common causes of tooth sensitivity is brushing with too much force.

While you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment, it’s more important than ever to brush! However, don’t interpret that as a recommendation to brush more aggressively. There’s a better way to be effective.

How Could Brushing Hurt?

Over-brushing is problematic because it wears down the protective layers of your tooth enamel. It can also push back your gums, exposing the dentin layer under the enamel even more. This dentin layer has microscopic tubes or canals that lead to your tooth’s nerves. If these tubes are exposed to hot, cold, or even acidic foods it can lead to discomfort and tooth sensitivity.

Brushing too hard, especially at the corners of your dental arch, with a back and forth “saw action” may lead to gingival recession (gum recession, or receding gum height) especially over the canine tooth roots. This is one dental health problem we would like to avoid.

Tips For Better Brushing:

• Watch which direction bristles face when you brush. They should be perpendicular, not parallel.
• Hold your toothbrush loosely, like a pencil.
• Use soft, round motions to brush. Don’t saw back and forth.
• Use soft or extra-soft bristled brushes. Brush softly! Apply just enough pressure to feel the bristles against your gums.
• Braces may be hard on your toothbrush—replace it when you notice frayed and bent bristles.

Put In The Time

When it comes to cleaning teeth, elbow grease doesn’t do the trick. Consider this mantra: brush smarter, not harder. When regularly brushing, the plaque you’re trying to get rid of is fairly soft and can easily be brushed away with a soft brush.

During the two minutes you’re brushing it’s good to be thorough, but there’s no need to scrub the same areas over and over again.

Questions?

Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity? Over-brushing isn’t the only possible cause. Some orthodontic patients may have exposed roots due to shifting teeth, not over brushing. If you are experiencing discomfort, ask us about it at your next appointment.

You can also leave a question below, or you can ask a private question on our Facebook page.

We look forward to you. Your smile is our inspiration.

NO MATTER YOUR AGE, fixing your overbite will help you save your teeth and eliminate pain.

Severe Overbite Is An Orthodontic Emergency

Severe overbite (deep bite) causes gum recession by front teeth biting gums. This trauma produces gum loss (recession). Left untreated, gum and bone loss lead to tooth loss.

With severe overbite, upper front teeth eventually contact the front of the lower gums. This bite trauma causes gum loss.

With severe overbite, lower front teeth contact the roof of the mouth (impinging bite). Teeth bite the gum off the back of the upper front teeth causing pain.

Severe Overbite Can Lead To Tooth Loss

Left untreated, severe overbite leads to tooth loss. This is an orthodontic (bite), periodontic (gums), and dental (tooth) emergency.

Orthodontic treatment with Invisalign can immediately stop overbite traumatic gum recession. With the Invisalign treatment of your overbite, you can keep your teeth for life.

Not only that, you will have a beautiful new smile. You wil look years younger and feel fabulous!

For your overbite correction with Invisalign, find an orthodontist at the the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.com.

This Invisalign case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, California www.clubbraces.com (925) 757-9000.

Call us today to schedule your complementary Invisalign examination.

Love your gums. Save your gums. Fix your impinging deep bite today with Invisalign.

IN CASES WHERE LOWER TEETH are spaced more than upper teeth, closing these spaces by orthodontic treatment will greatly improve your bite. In abnormal edge to edge bites, where there is no overjet or overbite, teeth experience rapid and excessive tooth wear as well as periodontal damage. This can be prevented by orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.

Diabetes affects periodontal health and can cause teeth to space and gums to recede. If you have dental spacing or gum recession and an abnormal bite due to diabetes, Invisalign can help.

Invisalign Treatment May Be The Ideal Option For You

Invisalign treatment is a series of clear custom trays which move teeth to a new, more ideal position. Invisalign aligners are comfortable and effective at closing mild to moderate spaces between your teeth.

If you would like to close dental spaces between your teeth, find out if Invisalign is right for you. Call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics 925-757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic consultation and a referral to a periodontist if necessary.

Don’t let dental spacing keep you from smiling. Start your Invisalign treatment today.

ANTERIOR CROSSBITE of permanent front teeth is often caused by baby teeth not falling out by age 7.

The permanent front teeth come in behind the baby teeth if baby teeth do not fall out on time.

Anterior Crossbites Can Lead To Serious Problems

This double row of teeth can give kids a “shark tooth” appearance. If you see double teeth, your child needs baby tooth extraction.

Anterior crossbites can lead to front tooth wear, gum recession, or lower jaw shifting. These symptoms are serious and need to be treated by an orthodontist at age 7.

This early treatment of 12 permanent teeth is called Phase I Orthodontic Treatment.

Contact Us For More Information

For correction of an anterior crossbite in a seven year old, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Help us cross out anterior crossbite. Give your child a healthy smile!