If you have an exposed tooth root, your dentist will evaluate your condition before suggesting treatment. Ideally, you’ll see your dentist regularly for checkups and professional cleanings; at these checkups, they’ll measure the spaces between your gums and teeth, examining the condition of the gums and teeth before cleaning away plaque and tartar from the teeth above and below the gum line. These routine cleanings can help keep the gums healthy and the tooth roots protected. If the exposed tooth becomes infected, a root canal treatment might be required. If too much gum tissue has been destroyed, your dentist might suggest gum grafts, with the goal of protecting the exposed tooth and preventing further damage. If your tooth roots are only minimally exposed, your dentist may choose to monitor the condition at your routine checkups while you adopt a gentler, more effective brushing style. You may be able to stop the progression of tissue damage that leads to exposed tooth roots, but you can’t regrow your own gum tissue.
In a healthy mouth, the gums are between 2 and 3 mm away from the teeth, protecting the bases of the teeth in a symmetrical embrace. When gum disease is present, the gums become inflamed and loosen away from the teeth, exposing the tooth roots. These exposed roots are exceedingly vulnerable to bacterial invasion and damage, increasing the risk of infection, abscess, and root fracture. Gum disease is just one of the possible causes of exposed tooth roots, though it is the most common cause. Aging can also lead to exposed roots, as the musculature of our gums and lips changes and the tissues become less supple. Brushing gently and correctly, no matter how young or old you are, will help prevent gum disease and protect the gum tissue from damage, and your dentist and dental hygienist can recommend specific instruments or techniques if you have exposed roots because you brush too hard.
If your gums have started to retract, you might notice a visible gap between the gum and the tooth, or you might see more of the tooth than you’re used to seeing. If there’s a visible notch-shaped dip in your gums at your gum line, it’s likely that the tissue in this area has receded. Your dentist will evaluate your teeth at routine checkups, addressing any underlying issues that might lead to exposed tooth roots before determining whether restorative treatments, like gum grafts, are necessary. If exposed roots are caused by gum disease, a periodontist will treat the disease and eliminate all infection before addressing possible restorative or cosmetic treatments.
If it’s been a while since you’ve been in for a regular dental checkup, schedule one; if you have any symptoms of exposed tooth roots or any other dental or oral irregularities, call sooner than later. General signs of concern could include bleeding in the gums, especially while brushing or flossing, sensitivity or pain when exposed to extreme temperatures or excessive sweetness or acidity, visibly shifting teeth, or a foul taste or smell in the mouth. Dental inflammation will progress if it’s not addressed, and early diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease can significantly reduce the risk of potentially severe complications that could include tooth loss.