Causes
Exposed tooth necks are becoming more and more common, so that more and more tooth necks without the protective gums lie in the oral cavity and are an easy target for bacteria. The most common cause that causes gum recession is brushing. This seems to be surprising at first, because we actually do something good for our teeth with daily brushing.
This is of course correct, but all too often we use toothbrushes that are much too hard and exert far too much pressure on the tooth and gums during the brushing process. We believe that the harder we press and scrub back and forth, the better the plaque is removed. With the right brushing technique and the right instruments, this problem can be easily solved.
If you are affected by this, you can ask your dentist for advice on the best dental care and technique. Medium hard bristles and a gentle “sweeping” from the gums to the tooth are a good start. Electric toothbrushes are particularly suitable, as they clean the tooth thoroughly and give a warning signal that the contact pressure is too strong.
Acidic drinks and fruit also have a negative effect on the tooth and can promote the development of cervical caries. Another cause that favors a retraction of the gums is periodontitis, i.e. an inflammation of the periodontal apparatus. The structures that secure the tooth are attacked by bacteria and the tooth runs the risk of losing its firm seat in the tooth socket.
The gums begin to recede in this process.Basic physical diseases, such as diabetes, also increase the risk of periodontitis and thus the development of cervical caries. Exposed tooth necks are very sensitive to pain, so that a cool breeze can already cause pain. They also provide a predilection site for caries.
If the gums have receded and lost their protective function, the neck of the tooth can easily be attacked by the bacteria. In the area of the molars, carious defects occur more frequently on the occlusal surfaces. This fact is due to the fact that the occlusal surface of a cheek tooth has deep grooves (so-called fissures).
Due to the shape of these fissures, food remains can easily get stuck and serve as a breeding ground for bacterial pathogens. Although the development of cervical caries is much less frequent on a molar than on an anterior tooth, the spaces between the teeth must be cleaned thoroughly every day. The bristles of an ordinary toothbrush usually do not reach far enough into the interdental space to completely clean it of food residues and plaque.
Only the regular use of so-called interdental space brushes (interdental space brushes) can effectively prevent the development of cervical caries on the molar tooth. Even on a molar tooth, cervical caries is manifested at the beginning (initial caries stage) by the appearance of whitish discoloration. In the further course of the disease a clear sensitivity to thermal stimuli develops, which leads to permanent toothache.
Especially on a molar tooth, cervical caries can become dangerous. As soon as the carious defect and thus also the bacterial pathogens have penetrated the hard tooth substance and opened up the medullary cavity, the affected tooth must be extensively treated by a root canal treatment. In the course of this treatment, the root cavity must be cleared out and the nerve fibers completely removed. Only after the root canals have been sealed with a filling material can the actual treatment of the affected molar tooth be carried out.
