Dental Currents November 2009

Receding Gums (Gingiva)

Are your gums receding? Are you getting ‘long in the tooth’? Do you have sensitive
teeth? If you answered yes to any of theses questions, your toothbrush may be the
cause of it.
Many toothbrushes are too firm. Always use a soft bristle brush. The better ones
have rounded ends on the nylon bristles. The cheaper ones do not so they will
scratch and injure the gum tissue at the edge of the tooth. Do not use a medium or
hard brush. They are more appropriate for cleaning a denture or an orthodontic
appliance.
How you use your toothbrush is important too. Do not scrub your teeth and gums
with a back and forth motion of the brush. This abrasion will injure your gums and
cause them to recede. At the base of the tooth, place the soft, rounded bristles
against the gingiva at about a 45 degree angle. Gently wiggle the brush in towards
the edge of the gingiva like a massage. You should see the gum tissues blanch or
whiten as you apply the proper pressure. This is best done with a dry toothbrush.
Do not use toothpaste or water to clean your teeth and massage your gums. In fact,
you do not have to be in the bathroom and it may be better if you aren’t. Dry brush
while you are watching TV, driving or walking around the house. Feel with your
tongue whether each area is still slippery or slimy, then go back and massage again
until it feels clean. The tongue side of the lower teeth are the hardest area to clean
but the easiest to check.
When you have finished cleaning along the gum line, you can wiggle the bristles into
the grooves on the biting surfaces of your teeth. The gum line and the grooves are
two common areas for bacteria to hide.
How do you know if you have injured your gums by improper tooth brushing. Pull
your lower lip down. Count the teeth from the midline. The third tooth is the cuspid
or eye tooth. The two behind the cuspids are the premolars. If your gums have
receded on the lower cuspids and premolars on one or both sides, chances are you
have caused it with your toothbrush.
Summary- Dry brush with a soft toothbrush with rounded bristles. Do not use
toothpaste while cleaning your teeth as this would require you to be in the
bathroom. Toothpaste can be used as polish after cleaning is complete. Think of
massaging your gums as much as cleaning your teeth and test for cleanliness with
your tongue.

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