Normal recession for age?

[puzzledenvy]

Hi

39 male.

I have noticed food getting stuck more in the recesses between my teeth and it's harder to get out with my tongue or nail.

It seems my gums are recessed leading to a deeper space for food to hide.

I get regular cleanings and my dentist said my teeth are fine but I'm worried if it's just general ageing or something more concerning.

I have attached some images showing the areas and one where you can see an example of food stuck along with my latest x-rays.

I have no known health conditions and I generally have good oral hygiene.

Should I be concerned about this or the condition of my teeth? (I suffer from anxiety)

 

[MattKW]

You look as if you had 2 upper premolars extracted and then braces?
Anyway, you ho have large interproximal spaces than most people, but that's just your genes. Blame Mum and Dad.
There's nothing that can be done to make this issue go away, but if you leave food stck between your teeth for too long after eating, it will damage the gums. Carry around some interdental brushes (e.g. Piksters, prob red size) for cleaning. Floss won't clear those gaps very well.

 

[puzzledenvy]

Yes, two extracted and braces, I was left with a significant gap on both sides behind my canines. Those gaps are big enough nothing gets stuck and my tongue can easy get anything out of them.

It's the rest of the gaps and it's not like things get stuck and need floss to get out, it's just sitting in that area, mostly on the cheek side and I tried to get it out.

I don't remember this before but perhaps I am just super aware of it now.

I do find the super fine floss that is common here useless and was using interdental brushes but stopped as I thought that might have been making the gaps worse.

I didn't discuss it with my dentist but will also ask next them time.

 

[MattKW]

No, keep using brushes. Some people have point contacts between back teeth (like you), and some have broader contacts. Just Mother Nature. The point contacts are easier to clean and thus less likely to clean but more likely to get food stuck (meat, fruit). Here's a diagram I found relating to baby teeth, but the same principle applies to adult teeth.
Most people are either X or I; S types are really difficult to keep clean and are more common between 2nd and 3rd molars.

 

[puzzledenvy]

Interesting, yes I would say that the contact area between is narrow rather than wide. I still feel my gums between teeth look odd shaped or depressed to me though.