1 year since debonding, black triangles...

[ArchWired28]

I am currently 32 years old, got debonded in April 2013, after 21 months in braces. About 6 months ago (~10 months after debonding), tiny black triangles started appearing in between my front lower and upper teeth. I have been keeping an eye on them, and I notice they gradually become bigger. They are still small and not a significant cosmetic or functional concern, but their progression is bothering me.

I am faithfully wearing the plastic retainers every other night, floss daily, brush and use mouthwash twice daily. I watch myself to not be overly aggressive with the oral hygiene (brush softly etc), but this does not stop the gum loss. I don't have (and never had) gum disease, had a full oral exam, x-rays and cleaning 3 weeks ago and everything was tip-top (according to my dentist).

Does anyone know why the gum shrinkage continues over a year after debonding? Is there anything I can do to stop the gum loss, as well as mask them cosmetically (at least on the top)? Some bodning, perhaps? I would like to avoid veneers because of shaving the healthy teeth. Moreover, if I do veneers while the gum loss is in progress, they will have to be redone?

Thanks for any input!

[mapleleafman888]

First off, sorry that you are getting triangles like that, at least they aren't squares...I kid. The only things I can think would be brushing to hard and to often (my hygienist said that causes gum recession)...or perhaps your retainer is very tight along your gum line? Maybe even with retainers your teeth are continuing to be extruded?

Good luck!

[ArchWired28]

Thanks for your responce, mapleleafman888. The things you've mentioned may, in theory, cause black triangles. I made adjustments to my brushing right after braces were off to brush much more lightly, I even use the kids toothbrush which is supposed to be softer. After 3 months, my brushes still look like new. So overactive brushing is not likely to be the case. The retainers don't seem to press on the gum. Even if they did, I had retainers all the way since debracing, so my question is why all of a sudden the black triangles started to form a year after???

How bad do they look, cosmetically? I am thinking about mentioning it to my dentist next time I am there, but it's going to be in 5 months. I kind of want to wait and see if they stop progressing too, before I have anything done to fix them. They don't look too atrocious, do they? Honest responses, please! I feel I looked at them so much that by now, my judgment is rather impaired.

[plugnickel69]

Your teeth actually look real good! The black triangles I was left with were significantly larger and bonding has only been mildly successful. No one will even notice yours, Actually, I don't think they qualify as black triangles.

[phasesofbeauty]

You have the smallest black triangles that I have seen. If you had not pointed them out to me, I would not have noticed!