Teeth cleaning is the "real culprit" of enlarged teeth? There's a big misunderstanding here
Dentists tell you the truth about gum recession. Learn how to take care of your gums!
Have you ever experienced or heard your teeth cleaning partner complain about the pain of the cleaning process, and later found that your gums have receded and the gap between your teeth is still wider?
How is this going?
In fact, cleaning your teeth not only does not cause the gap between the teeth to become larger, but also has a good preventive effect on gum recession.
So, what exactly causes our gums to recede?
How to treat receding gums?
Below, hear what dentists have to say.
How does the cleaning "flush" the gap between the teeth?
The health of the gums reflects the overall oral hygiene status, and also changes with age and general state, which more intuitively reflects a person's mental state and attitude towards life.
Gum recession is a common symptom of periodontal disease and is not strictly a disease name.
It not only occurs in middle-aged and elderly people, but also in young people. If not paid enough attention, the teeth are likely to become loose or even fall out.
Maybe you have heard the friends who have cleaned their teeth complaining that the gap between the teeth has become larger after cleaning.
Yes, in some cases, after cleaning the teeth, from the perspective of vision and self-feeling, it is indeed "the gap between the teeth has become larger", and even the air leaks.
How is this going?
There are two main reasons:
On the one hand, the tartar that was originally blocked between the teeth was cleaned up, and the air leaked naturally, and there was even a "black triangle" gap between the teeth;
On the other hand, the original gap between the teeth is blocked by the red and swollen gums. After the teeth are cleaned, the gums are not swollen and the gums will recede.
Now we understand that scaling is not the "real culprit" of gum recession and enlarged interdental spaces.
Not only that, but scaling is good for periodontal tissue!
It can clean the soft dirt and dental calculus that we usually brushed and not cleaned by ultrasonic high-frequency vibration.
A large amount of plaque (ie bacteria) is attached to the soft scale and calculus, which can press on the gums, causing the gums to recede, and at the same time irritate the gums and cause inflammation.
Therefore, cleaning it up in time will be beneficial to the periodontal without any harm.
Teeth cleaning only removes the dirt attached to the teeth and gums. As long as it is a standardized operation, the teeth cleaning will not damage the teeth themselves, so you can rest assured.
Who is the culprit of gum recession?
Healthy gums are an important part of a perfect smile. Only gums that meet the standards in terms of "color", "shape" and "quality" can be called healthy.
Healthy gums are pink in color and firm in texture, clinging to the neck of the teeth, filling tightly between the teeth, without swelling and shrinking.
So, what is the cause of gingival recession?
Inflammatory gingival recession often occurs in patients with gingival and periodontal inflammation, mainly because periodontitis leads to the destruction of periodontal tissue. After the alveolar bone is resorbed, the gingiva attached to the alveolar bone shrinks along the direction of the root.
The culprit of inflammation is bacteria and its accumulation site - dental calculus.
Mechanical friction is mainly due to the fact that the bristles are too hard and the brushing method is incorrect, such as lateral brushing or excessive force causing the gums and alveolar bone to retreat.
This condition usually occurs on several or individual teeth.
Fixed or removable dentures (dentures) worn with poor restorations are not suitable or used improperly.
For example, the gingival margin of porcelain teeth or the fixing device (retaining ring) of movable dentures irritate the gums, which will cause inflammation and cause gum recession.
The misalignment of the teeth leads to the failure of individual teeth to participate in the chewing movement, the gums cannot be fully massaged with food, and the gums will shrink over time.
The local oral hygiene caused by the misalignment of the teeth is not clean, and the inflammation of the gums is aggravated at the same time.
Can receding gums be saved?
I'm sorry to tell you that gum recession is basically irreversible, so our focus can be on preventing it from happening and preventing it from getting worse.
Here's the right way to protect your gums:
Clinical studies on regular scaling have shown that scaling (oral scaling) 1-2 times a year is an effective way to prevent gingival inflammation.
Patients who already suffer from periodontal inflammation should receive systematic periodontal treatment in a timely manner, and those with severe gingival recession even require surgical treatment.
To master the correct brushing method, it is recommended to use a toothbrush with soft bristles on the small head and blunt top.
At the same time, it is necessary to learn the correct brushing posture. It is recommended to use the horizontal vibration brushing method (also known as the Pasteur brushing method), which can take into account the cleaning of teeth and gums.
Steps of the Pasteur brushing method:
1. Align the bristles at the junction of the teeth and the gums at a 45° angle, press the toothbrush lightly so that the sides of the bristles are fully in contact with the teeth, and then brush back and forth.
2. Short-distance horizontal brushing, brush 2-3 teeth at a time, and brush back and forth 10 times.
3. Brush the bristles at the junction between the teeth and the gums.
4. The occlusal surface is also brushed 2-3 teeth at a time, and brushed back and forth 10 times.
5. When brushing the front teeth, you need to stand the toothbrush upright and divide it into 1 brush inside and outside.
6. The upper teeth and lower teeth of the teeth are divided into left, middle and right areas, a total of 6 areas, each area is brushed for about 30 seconds.
At the same time, use dental floss to clean the places where the bristles are not easy to reach, such as the interdental space.
The electric toothbrush is an effective oral cleaning tool worthy of promotion because the bristle movement trajectory has been set and the brushing time can be guaranteed.
Regular dental check-ups are recommended to visit a regular dentist or dental hospital for regular check-ups.
It is recommended to choose a trusted dentist. The mutual trust and understanding between the doctor and the patient is conducive to the maintenance of the patient's oral health.
If you find abnormal movement of individual teeth or local inflammation in the oral cavity, you should receive symptomatic treatment as soon as possible.
Early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment can prevent gingival recession from aggravating.
Correct bad oral habits and serious irregular dentition Some bad oral habits, such as using toothpicks, lateral brushing, smoking, etc., should be quit to prevent gum and periodontal damage.
Misaligned dentition that affects gingival and periodontal health should be corrected as soon as possible.
Text/Wang Huanhuan (Beijing Friendship Hospital)