Does Rough Tooth Brushing Cause Tooth Sensitivity and Gum Recession?
We are often told that brushing your teeth too hard can cause gum recession. In some cases this is true, however the more common reason for gum recession and tooth sensitivity is a condition called Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction. New studies have shown that gum recession is actually caused by clenching and grinding (bruxism) rather than tooth brushing. If you can imagine shaking a fence post continuously, the foundation around the fence post will gradually start to fall away. Our teeth are much the same in that when we spend hours a night grinding or clenching, our bone and gums begin to recede. Studies have shown that ninety-eight percent of adults clench or grind their teeth as a reaction to emotional triggers. During daily eating and chewing, the average person exerts between 12 to 25 kilograms of force, while grinding or clenching teeth can exert as much as 250 kilograms of force. Keeping this in mind, it’s easy to imagine the impact grinding and clenching has on your teeth
