Stop the Recession! You’re admiring your bright smile when you notice you can see more of that tooth than you used to. Wow, it really doesn’t feel good when you touch that spot! It’s painful, really, and very uncomfortable. What the heck? You’ve been When we talk about gum recession, we don’t mean that gum tissue disappears. Instead, the tissue pulls away from your tooth. Your gum tissue is there to protect your teeth, and when something’s not quite right in other parts of your mouth, the sensitive tissue draws back.
Why Your Gums Are Pulling Back
If your problem is clenching or grinding, you might be suffering from sleep apnea. The clenching is in response to your body’s struggle to get enough oxygen as you sleep. A simple sleep study might be able to diagnose sleep disruptions, and it may lead you to not only healthier gums, but a better night’s sleep. Your dentist may even be able to fit you for a dental appliance as an alternative to a bulky sleep apnea mask. Depending on the severity of recession, there are a range of treatment plans available to you, from an intensive cleaning of the area to more extensive surgical options that a gum specialist, or periodontist, may perform.
brushing, flossing, and practicing the same oral hygiene you’ve known since childhood, and suddenly, your gums, which are usually there to protect your teeth, have moved! If you’ve experienced this phenomenon, you might be suffering from gum recession, and the underlying causes can sneak in even after proper care. The hard part is, some of us don’t have control over it. About 30 percent of people are predisposed to gum recession thanks to
Your daytime habits are a factor in your gum’s health. Smoking and other tobacco use can lead to a host of dental issues, including gum recession. Misaligned teeth can also force your gums to pull away. If that’s the issue, it may be time to talk to an orthodontist. Sometimes, your nighttime habits are the cause. Clenching and grinding at night — or, in dental terminology, bruxism— puts extra pressure on your jaw and teeth that can lead to gum recession. If you’ve woken up with a headache or your partner has complained about how noisy you are at night, it’s possible you’re grinding or clenching your teeth.
genetics. Ouch. The good news is, there are lifestyle changes you can make to protect the precious tissue that covers your teeth. With some work, you can reclaim control of your gum health.
Whatever the cause of your gum recession, talk with your dentist to find the best option for you.
Laugh Corner
Dr. Stuckey’s Playlist
Rock ‘n’ Roll Legend: Dire Straits
I can clearly remember the first time I heard the band Dire Straits. It was back during my days in dental school, working away in the lab. Their song “Sultans of Swing” came on the radio, and I instantly fell in love with their jazzy blend of blues and rock. That weekend, I made a trip out to School Kids Records in Columbus to buy their album on vinyl. and guitar, and their friends John Illsley playing bass and Pick Withers on drums and percussion. They started out under the name Café Racers, but would later adopt the title Dire Straits at the suggestion of a fellow musician. When their first demo tape, which features “Sultans of Swing,” was rejected by The British band formed in 1977, with brothers Mark and David Knopfler on vocals
MCA in Soho, they went to DJ Charlie Gillett of BBC Radio London for advice. Gillett loved their sound so much, he played “Sultans of Swing” on his show. Within two months, Dire Straits would sign their first label and explode into one of the biggest bands in the world. Dire Straits would have a number of internationally successful songs, including “Money for Nothing,” which was the first video to be played on MTV in Britain. Personally, I’ve always preferred the more folksy songs, like “Expresso Love” and “Romeo and Juliet,” both of which are found on my favorite Dire Straits album, “Making Movies.” There’s something incredibly unique about the group’s sound. When one of their songs starts to play, you know right away it’s them.
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