Irregular, uneven gumlines can cause your teeth to look unhealthy or even misshaped. Part of having an attractive smile is keeping healthy gums around your teeth. But when gums are “too high” or “too low” (receded) there are steps you can take to help them look better.
Causes of Uneven Gums
Trauma or Aggressive Brushing — Overzealous toothbrushing, using a stiff-bristled toothbrush, and repetitive rubbing from oral jewelry can cause trauma to your delicate gum tissues. Too much irritation or trauma over time can cause permanent changes in gum shape, lowering the gumlines. Even habits such as chewing on your fingernails or using your teeth to open bobby pins can gradually reshape your teeth and gums over time.
Gum Disease — Periodontal infections naturally cause gum tissues to detach from the tooth surface, leading to recession. But that’s just part of the problem. Gum disease also causes bone shrinkage, tooth mobility, and permanent tooth loss. Other symptoms include tartar buildup, bad breath, and gaps between teeth (due to gum loss.)
Medication — Certain types of prescription medications can cause gingival overgrowth. Particularly those used for cardiovascular diseases. Always be sure to review changes in your medical history and provide a list of medications taken when you’re here for your dental checkup.
Hormonal Changes — Some women will experience a condition known as “pregnancy tumors” when they’re expecting. The hormonal changes lead to swollen, sensitive gums and occasional gum overgrowths throughout their mouth. The good news is that it usually improves once the baby is born and your hormone levels stabilize. But if it’s still an issue at that point, our Phoenix dentist can use a dental laser to correct your gum tissues.
Tobacco Use — People who smoke tend to experience masked symptoms of periodontal disease. But those who use products such as smokeless tobacco or “dip” will typically suffer from moderate to severe gum recession in the area of their mouth where they hold their snuff. That’s one reason why health experts suggest rotating the dip when using it. However, the best solution is to kick the habit for good.
How to Fix Uneven Gums
At Central Valley Dentistry, Dr. Babak Behbahani offers different types of gum contouring treatments to fit the specific needs of our patients.
For example, if your gums are too high and your teeth look short, we can use a soft tissue laser to gently recontour the gums for a healthier margin. Laser contouring provides immediate results with minimal irritation and recovery. No sutures are necessary and there’s typically little to no bleeding.
But if you have gum recession and the tissues are too low, there’s another option. Pinhole rejuvenation gently brings those gumlines up over the exposed tooth, covering and protecting the root surface. Pinhole gum treatments are less invasive and more comfortable than traditional gum grafting treatments.
Request a Consultation
Call our dentist in Phoenix today to find out which type of gum recontouring corrective treatment is right for you. Central Valley Dentistry is currently accepting new patients.
