Going to the dentist about my recession on my teeth?!
Question: im a lil scared coz i havent been to the dentist in over 10 years but teeth are gettin relaly bad so i have to go. plz tell me if u know the process they will go thru for gum recession, thanks.
Answers: im a lil scared coz i havent been to the dentist in over 10 years but teeth are gettin relaly bad so i have to go. plz tell me if u know the process they will go thru for gum recession, thanks.
You never know the dentist might tell you that it's not that bad. But basically, the poster before me is right, once recession has started, it is pretty much irreversible and the only thing that can be done is to prevent it from receding any further.
First, the dentist will probably talk to you about your current status (say whether or not the recession is really that bad). Then he/she will probably give you advice on how to prevent any further recession. And there are certain things that can be done. For starters, if you brush with a medium or hard bristled toothbrush, those need to go in your garbage today. You should only brush with soft or extra soft bristled toothbrushes. Next, when you brush, try to use hot water to get the bristled even softer and more flexible. Brush in small circles (not back and forth) and do not apply much pressure. It's not about how hard you brush, but the amount of time with correct brushing. Also, another option you might want to look at is get a Sonicare toothbrush. They help prevent improper brushing techniques because all you have to do is hold the brush to your teeth, and with some of them, if you're applying too much pressure, the toothbrush will stop.
In the even that your gums are bad, then the dentist might suggest to get a gum-graph. This is where a piece of gum is taken from a "donor-area" and placed where the receding gums are to basically lower your gum line. Don't know much this costs, but I thought I'd mention it so you're aware of it. And if your dentist doesn't bring it up, ask about it and ask if it is a good option for you to look into.
For now though, just remember good oral hygiene is the key to prevent further recession. 1. Get a soft or extra soft bristle toothbrush. 2. brush at least 2x a day. 3. brush in small circles. 4. floss at least once a day, everyday. And 4. use a good dental rinse before you brush, like Listerine.
Gum recession is usualy irreversable.
There are ways to avoid it but not to bring the gum back to where it was.
To keep things from getting worse you should definately start flossing every day and brush 2 or 3x per day.
You can use sensodine toothpaste if you are having trouble with hot and cold sensitivity in these areas (the tooth structure under the gum is very sensitive) the sensodine will fill in the little holes in the recessed tooth as to not allow the hot cold sensation to reach inside.
Dont be scared a lot of people dont like the dentist and avoid it at all costs. The dentist will take x-rays to see what is going on inside, they will clean and polish the teeth. Since you havent been in 10 years you probubly have a cavity or 2 that will need some attention. You are doing the right thing, just make sure this time you keep up your dental visits and it wont be so nerve racking for you in the future.
good luck!
Your question is one of those "How High Is Up" questions...the answer is a variable in that the treatment will depend on the cause. Your DDS will visually examine your mouth, Xray and may even want to do a blood scan. Once he or she determines the cause the treatment plan can be undertaken....You need to understand that when gum tissue recedes that means that it is following gum bone recession and if that is allowed to continue you eventually lose so much bone there is not enough left to support the teeth and that could result in mass extractions. See your dental professional ASAP.