Exposed tooth root - What may I expect now

December 06, 2021

  

You have pain while brushing and extreme sensitivity to hot and cold things when you eat and drink. In some cases sour and sweet foodstuff may also cause sharp pain. This is often an indication of exposed tooth root.

The upper most part of the teeth that you see are covered with enamel which protect the inner pulp and nerves. The tooth root lies deep under the gum line and help to fix it to the jaw bone. At times, when our teeth or gums are damaged, the tooth roots are uncovered and unprotected leading to pain and infection.

How to recognize an exposed tooth root?

• First noticeable symptom, of course, is sharp pain while brushing your teeth.
• As mentioned earlier thermal sensitivity as well as sensitivity to sweet and sour food is another common symptom.
• In some cases, you may feel pain when you inhale cold air.
• There may be bleeding in your gums and they may appear red and swollen.
• If you examine closely you will note that some of your teeth seem longer. This is because your gum line has receded and more of the tooth is visible.
• You might see a tooth root prong  itself become if the tooth has broken off. Though, of course, you can see this only in the front teeth.
• A tooth that has become loose and is painful is also an indication of root exposure.

Immediate relief

So you are suffering from exposed tooth root and have begun to wonder what now? The first concern in a painful condition is how to get relief fast. It is not always possible to get to a dentist immediately. Meanwhile certain measures can help to give you temporary relief. You can apply a desensitizing gel or a fluoride gel to control the pain. Another way to get quick relief, especially if the pain in unbearable is to take an over the counter painkiller.

Causes

• The most common reason for tooth root exposure is gum infection as well as gum recession.
• Vigorous brushing of your teeth using a hard bristle toothbrush can also damage your gums and uncover the roots.
• Any kind of injury to the gums or the tooth, such as a hit, will expose the tooth root within them.
• Sometimes a gum injury may occur during orthodontic procedures.
• Misaligned teeth contribute to poor dental hygiene, greater incidence of plaque formation, tartar build up and infection. This may eventually lead to exposure of tooth root.
• Any kind of tooth decay and caries increase the likelihood of root exposure. If you notice tooth discoloration then it may indicate tooth decay.
• Smoking is another contributing factor.
• You have a greater chance of developing gum recession as you age.

Treatment – what to expect

An exposed tooth root needs to be attended by a dentist as soon as possible. The longer it is left untreated, the greater the chances for severe infection, tooth loss and costly treatment. Of course, the line of treatment depends on the cause of tooth exposure.

• If gum disease is the reason then dental scaling that includes cleaning of plaque and tartar will be done by your dentist.
• Dental fillings or dental crowns are used to cover the exposed root if a broken tooth is the causative factor.
• Root canal treatment may be required if exposure of the inner root and nerves has led to infection.
• In the case of gum recession, gum grafting may be the only option. There are different types of gum grafting and your dentist will select according to the degree of damage. These include free gingival graft, pedicle graft and connective tissue graft.

Prevention

A little prevention goes a long way in saving yourself from pain and expensive treatments.
• Maintain good dental hygiene to prevent infection that can damage your teeth and gums.
• Use a soft bristle tooth brush to clean your teeth.
• Use the correct motion while brushing and avoid putting too much pressure.
• Quit smoking as this is another harmful habit that damages your teeth and gum health.
• If your teeth are misaligned then do not wait for dental issues to crop up and get orthodontic treatment.
• Get regular dental check-up to prevent escalation of minor dental problems.

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