Did you know that 38% of people aged 30-39 have some sort of Gingival
recession? Gingival recession, or receding gums, occurs when the gum line wears
away or recedes from the teeth, leaving the tooth roots exposed. Since gums are
a crucial part of the health of our teeth, it's important to stay informed
about their health.
Dentist trips are usually unpleasant
and expensive, it's better to use preventative measures to avoid any decay over
time.
In this guide, you'll learn more
about the causes of receding gums and how to treat it. There'll also be
information about treatments if you're already noticing problems with your
gums.
Read on to learn more.
What
Are Receding Gums?
You can tell your gums are healthy
by looking at how they fit around the crown of your teeth. If they fit snugly
then they're likely healthy. If the gum seems to pull away or recede, there
might be an issue.
At times you'll even see the tooth's
root. As gums recede, gaps form between the gum and tooth which makes it easier
for bacteria to build up. Once that bacteria builds, the surroundings around
that tooth can get damaged.
If it gets bad enough, you can cause
permanent dental damage. It isn't always easy to tell you to have gum damage,
especially in the beginning. That's why you need to take a look at some of the
symptoms:
- Bleeding after you brush or
floss
- Bad breath
- Red, swollen gums
- Pain at the gum line
- Exposed tooth roots
- Gums visibly shrinking
If you have multiple of these
symptoms, it might be time to see your dentist.
Causes
of Receding Gums
There are many reasons why you could
have receding gums. Most of it can be traced back to different lifestyle
choices. If you have symptoms of receding gums, you'll want to look over the
causes as well.
Periodontal
Disease
Periodontal disease, also called gum
disease, is an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place. This is
mainly caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow bacteria to build
on your teeth.
Periodontal disease is common but
it's also preventable. Bad dental hygiene is the main culprit. Brushing and
flossing every day will help prevent periodontal disease.
This disease is no joke, it can
cause tooth loss and the bacteria can travel through your bloodstream through
gum tissue. This can affect other parts of your body, periodontitis is linked
with respiratory disease and arthritis.
Aggressive
Brushing
Surprisingly, some of the most avid
teeth cleaners are the ones with receding gums. This is because they scrub
aggressively which wears down their gums. This can also cause your teeth to be
extra sensitive.
Use a soft-bristled brush and place
your toothbrush with the tips of the bristles at a 45-degree angle to your
gums. Then continue to brush as you normally do but don't push hard on your
toothbrush, don't squash the bristles.
Teeth
Grinding and Clenching
Many people grind their teeth at night. That's why there are mouth guards for people to
wear at night. If you're someone who grinds or clenches their teeth, you're
putting extreme pressure on your teeth that can lead to gum recession.
To combat this, consider getting a
mouthguard and adopting stress management habits. If you can get teeth grinding
under control, you'll be less likely to cause damage to your teeth and gums.
Injuries
to the Mouth
While not as common as the other
causes, mouth injuries have been known to cause receding gums. Direct trauma to
the gum tissues can cause immediate damage. Some of the most common injuries
related to gum recession include:
- Hard falls or contact sports
- Poorly administered dental
procedures
- Wearing ill-fitting partial
dentures
If you experience a mouth injury,
you should also watch for damage to the gum area.
Available
Treatments
If the recession of the gums is too
severe, it might be too late for simple treatments, you might need surgery. If
it is a mild case of receding gums, you might want to try a natural remedy for gum recession. Let's take a look at your other
options.
Deep
Cleaning
If your gum recession is mild then
consider getting a deep cleaning. This is a thorough and careful cleaning of
your entire mouth. The dentist will remove any plaque and buildup from the root
of your teeth right below the gumline.
This is also called tooth planning
and tooth scaling. During this process, your tooth roots will be smoothed down.
Since bacteria are less likely to attach themselves to smooth surfaces, it'll
help prevent future damage.
Gum
Grafting
Gum crafting occurs for slightly
more severe cases. This is a quick and relatively simple process that includes
taking your own solid gum tissue or utilizing a gum joining material. Then the
dental specialist may prescribe you to see a periodontist who specializes in
the gum tissue.
Regeneration
This is a similar type of surgery to
gum grafting. In this case, the dentist will fold back the gum tissue and clean
it. This removes all the bacteria. Then a regenerative material will be applied
to encourage naturally regenerate bone and tissue in that area.
The material is usually something
like a membrane, graft tissue, or tissue-stimulating protein.
Better
Informed About Receding Gums
Although gum recession is common,
it's good to take preventative measures by practicing proper dental hygiene.
Knowing the causes of receding gums can help you adjust your lifestyle to lower
the risks. The risks are nothing minimal either, you can lose a tooth or have
other parts of your body infected.
Be sure to brush your teeth every
day, floss twice a day, and smile often.
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