4 ways your teeth and gums are changing

What's happening inside your mouth? Maybe it seems like your gums are receding a bit or your teeth are shifting. In some cases, these kinds of developments can be age-related and nothing to worry about. In others, they might signal an underlying condition that needs attention. Consider the following changes and how to take action to address them.

1. Receding gums

Does it look like your teeth are getting longer? They're not growing; your gums are moving away from your teeth (receding). That can happen if you brush your teeth aggressively. "If you brush too hard, it irritates the gums, and they move away from the source of irritation," says Dr. Lisa Thompson, a geriatric dentistry specialist at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Receding gums can also signal gum disease. That's caused by plaque buildup on teeth that leads to gum irritation, swelling, and bleeding. This early stage of disease, called gingivitis, can progress below the gum line, becoming periodontal disease, and destroy the ligament and bone holding the tooth in place. At that point, you can experience gum pain, abscesses (infected pockets of pus), and tooth loss.

Take action: Go easy when you brush. Toothbrushing should be a gentle massage, not a vigorous scrub. Also: make sure you brush and floss at least twice a day, and seek dental care on a regular basis. "Gingivitis can be reversed. And once we get periodontal disease under control, we can stop it from worsening, as long as you maintain good dental hygiene and also go to your dentist's office regularly for deep cleanings," Dr. Thompson says. "If you've lost teeth from gum disease, you may need surgery, bone grafts, tooth implants, or a fixed or removable bridge."

2. Shifting teeth

 It's hard to tell by simply looking at your smile, but your teeth shift slightly throughout life. After all, we put teeth through a great deal of stress as they smash and grind up food when we eat. "The pressure of your tongue pushing against your teeth also contributes to subtle shifting," Dr. Thompson says. In some cases, this migration can make a difference in your bite or speech.

More significant tooth shifting — the kind that changes your appearance — is caused by gum disease or bone loss.

Take action: Talk to your dentist. For minor shifting, you might be a candidate for braces, which place pressure on the teeth to change their position. (Don't worry — braces are more advanced and don't hurt as much as they did years ago. You might not need the kind that are glued to teeth; plastic aligners might do the job.)

For significant shifting, you'll need to get underlying problems, such as gum disease, treated first, before considering braces.

3. Changing tooth color

The gleaming white outer layer (enamel) of your teeth changes over time. It can turn gray or yellow from smoking or consuming foods or drinks that stain teeth (such as coffee or tea). Enamel can also become slightly translucent from a change in its water content or from tooth grinding (which wears down enamel).

Take action: To whiten teeth, consider using bleaching trays. The kind you get at the dentist's office — fitted plastic retainers with whitening chemicals — are most effective. You might also consider getting veneers, which are porcelain covers for the surfaces of individual teeth.

If you suspect that you grind your teeth at night, see your dentist, who'll be able to detect telltale signs. If you do: "Wear a mouth guard at night to protect your teeth from future damage while you sleep," Dr. Thompson says. "A custom-fit device from the dentist's office will be stronger and more comfortable than over-the-counter versions."

4. Reduced tooth pain

Are your teeth less sensitive than they used to be? That's a nice development if you're drinking something cold or you need a dental procedure. But less sensitivity also has risks.

Reduced dental pain is caused by the thickening of dentin, the porous yellow material beneath tooth enamel. Dentin buildup occurs with age. "As dentin thickens, nerves inside teeth shrink. You feel less pain, but you might also miss the warning signs of a cavity or another problem that's brewing, and it might go on so long that it gets to an advanced stage," Dr. Thompson says.

Take action: Keep up daily brushing and flossing, and get teeth cleanings at least twice a year. Like all health conditions, dental problems are easier to treat when they're caught early.

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