Long In The Tooth?

We've probably all heard the saying "long in the tooth" which is usually a way of describing getting on in years.

Sometimes sayings have little relationship to what they are describing, but actually this is very descriptive of a dental condition that is called "gingival recession". Gingival recession leads to excess root exposure that is normally covered by gum tissue. The root of the tooth is what stabilizes the visible crown in your mouth. If your gums begin to recede and expose the root surfaces, quite a few things may happen.

• Your teeth will become very sensitive to cold or sweets
• Your teeth will lose their youthful appearance as spaces will develop between the teeth where the gum used to be
• Because the root surfaces are much softer than enamel, they are very prone to decay
• For the same reason these root surfaces will wear down quickly even from brushing one's teeth
• Many times the root surfaces are darker than the enamel and will appear discolored. They are also more porous than enamel and they will pick up stains faster from things like tea and coffee and especially smoking.

What causes gum recession?

• Teeth that are crooked and out of alignment
• Aggressive brushing of one's teeth
• Grinding your teeth either during the day or at night
• Lip piercings that rub against teeth
• Habits like picking at your gums with your fingernail or a file
• There is also a genetic component and if your parents have recession, unfortunately you might be more prone
• Poor dental work where crowns or fillings have gaps that lead to bacteria buildup

Recession can be treated and sometimes completely corrected. We can place topical agents on the root surfaces to desensitize them. If the surfaces are very worn or decayed we can bond tooth colored filling material to them and make them almost as hard and esthetic as healthy enamel. When the recession is highly unaesthetic; but the root surfaces are healthy, we can sometimes surgically change the level of the gum and cover the roots. Many things can be done surgically from covering the roots completely to simply placing some "tough" gum in these areas to stop further recession.

So don't let someone calling you "long in the tooth" or just feeling that way cause you despair because there usually is something we can do to help you gain your comfort and confidence back.