Tag Archives: Tooth Sensitivity

Do your gums grow back after quitting chewing tobacco?

I chewed tobacco for about 10 years and recently quit. I noticed that my gums had receded quite a bit. Will they grow back?

Thanks, Steve

Dear Steve,

It’s great that you were able to quit such an addicting habit that affects the entire mouth as well as your general health. Studies have shown that 10% to 30% of regular chew tobacco users have gum recession and develop some bone loss around the teeth. Besides gum recession other risk factors for tobacco use are sores in the mouth, oral cancer, tooth decay and sensitivity.

Unfortunately our gums do not grow back. Gum recession is usually permanent and difficult to repair. Stopping your tobacco use will prevent further gum recession; however you also have to make sure you have good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing daily as well as visiting your dentist every six months for your dental cleanings.

We advise you to address your gum recession concerns with your dentist who may recommend surgery of a more cosmetic or restorative nature to make your smile look more aesthetically pleasing.

Post courtesy of Dr. Malone, Lafayette Louisiana Cosmetic Dentist

Different types of teeth sensitivity

I went to see my dentist because one of my molars had suddenly become really sensitive to everything, even air. It is winter here, and when the cold wind blew into my mouth it really hurt! Hot food or drinks were bothering it, too.

Anyway, my dentist diagnosed the problem in like two seconds, and I am kind of wondering how accurate that diagnosis can be. He is always in a really big hurry, and this time was no exception. He rushed in, barely listened to what I was telling him, then started squirting my tooth with air while asking impatiently if it hurt. Then he put some “desensitizing bonding agent” on the tooth, and the pain went away, and he said that it should heal on its own, then he was gone. I only know what he put on it because I asked the hygienist.

The tooth in question has a really large white filling, and when I went in I wondered if that was the problem. Could he really do a thorough diagnosis like I described? I could really use some advice.

Brent in Minneapolis

Dear Brent,

Sometimes it really is quite easy to diagnose pain issues, and from what you’ve written, yours fell into the easy-to-diagnose category. An unprotected, sensitive spot on a tooth will react to blown air with pain, and a desensitizing agent will help with that. If the pain only lasts for a moment and then goes away, that is an indication that the irritated nerve or pulp of your tooth has the chance of healing on its own. If the pain had lingered, your dentist would probably have recommended a root canal procedure, as that would have indicated irreversible damage and a need to remove the nerve.

The real issue here is that you do not trust your dentist. Your letter indicates that you do not appreciate your dentist’s abrupt manner, but more seriously, you do not trust him to provide you with thorough, careful dental care. Good dental care requires trust.

If you want to try and salvage this professional relationship, I would recommend an honest conversation with your dentist. If he responds with impatience or acts annoyed, I think you will have to find a new dentist.