Receding gums at age 20...is this normal?!
Question: Receding gums at age 20!.!.!.is this normal!?
I'm only 20 years old and my gums have RAPIDLY started receding only on some teeth!. I've never been an avid flosser, and ever since I had braces in 7th grade it's been even more rare!. I have a permanent retainer behind my teeth which makes it pretty much impossible to floss, even my dentist didn't do it last time I went in!. So I got a waterpik flosser, but it's so messy and hard to use, and I get water all over it which scares me because it's electrical!. So I still rarely floss!. I was using Colgate whitening with baking soda & peroxide toothpaste for a while which was causing the inside of my mouth to peel!. Since using that my gums have started receding very rapidly!.!.could it be the cause!?
I'm going to try to get serious about the waterpik, I know its my best bet for slowing down the recession, but is it normal that my gums are receding so badly already!? I brush my teeth for 3 minutes at LEAST twice a day, so its not like i have HORRIBLE oral hygeine!. Is there some other causeWww@Answer-Health@Com
I'm going to try to get serious about the waterpik, I know its my best bet for slowing down the recession, but is it normal that my gums are receding so badly already!? I brush my teeth for 3 minutes at LEAST twice a day, so its not like i have HORRIBLE oral hygeine!. Is there some other causeWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
Well I'm a dental assistant!.!.!.(actually 20 too) and I can tell you that brushing will always help your gums and glad to hear you're very good about doing that!!. but try this!.!.!.don't just brush your teeth, try putting the bristles to the gumline, don't push or anything, but just touching them!. then brush slowly back and forth a few times!. that specifically stimulates the gums so they'll fill out more!. try that in the bad spots each time you brush, or even 3 times a day if you want!. And remember you really aren't going to be brushing very hard at all, just enough to go across! This will help the small problems you're having now, but do you know if your dentist looked at your x-rays and noticed the "bone levels" going down!? If so, definitely get over to the periodontist when you can for an evaluation! because bone loss could mean a perio problem!. However I'm sure your dentist would have told you everything about it if it was really something to be concerned with, and would've referred you to a periodontist!. :) hope that helps!
good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com
good luckWww@Answer-Health@Com
check with your dentistWww@Answer-Health@Com
I don't see any decay or gum disease in the pictures you've posted!. You mentioned clenching may be a problem!. Is it possible that the teeth you clench most often on are the same ones that are receeding!? If your occlusion (bite) was perfect there shouldn't be any reason for you to be clenching in the first place!. Have your upper teeth shifted some since you got your braces off!? Perhaps you're having bite problems!? Bite problems could be putting too much pressure on individual teeth leading to localized bone loss and recession!. Or at least that's what happened in my case!. Are you experiencing any jaw pain or unexplained headaches!? Or any other TMJ type symptoms!? Either way, you should see a bite expert about this problem, perhaps your original orthodonist!.
Good Luck,Www@Answer-Health@Com
Good Luck,Www@Answer-Health@Com
Receding gum lines are not unheard of at young ages!. I would consult your dentist about your concerns and voice to them your habits!. They usually don't fuss too much about a receding gum line as long as you have enough strong gum in between your teeth!.
If they feel it is something that needs to be treated, they will send you to a specialist!.!.!. there are many treatments!.!.!. having skin grafted is usually a popular one, and that is done outpatient and from what i understand relatively painless and quick healing!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If they feel it is something that needs to be treated, they will send you to a specialist!.!.!. there are many treatments!.!.!. having skin grafted is usually a popular one, and that is done outpatient and from what i understand relatively painless and quick healing!.!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I, too, was having receding gums, and I used plain Colgate toothpaste, which was always my favorite!. My dentist had me start using plain Crest paste with no whiteners or anything else in it!. I was told to use the regular Crest whitening strips, the original whitening strips for teeth to whiten!. They take longer to use as far as keeping them on for 30 minutes, but they work and don't damage the enamel or gums as the newer, quicker ones do!.
Also, I was told I was brushing my teeth too hard and was told to use an Oral B soft bristle toothbrush, which I have for years, and it seems to have helped!. Hope this helps you, too!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Also, I was told I was brushing my teeth too hard and was told to use an Oral B soft bristle toothbrush, which I have for years, and it seems to have helped!. Hope this helps you, too!.Www@Answer-Health@Com