It can be really easy to think solely of your teeth when you’re employing your at-home dental health and hygiene routine. However, your gums are just as important, as without healthy gums, teeth cannot stand the test of time. One issue that’s often overlooked is gum recession, the progression whereby gums pull away from our teeth. This has the potential to cause serious problems with your oral health, including tooth loss and it’s something that can affect people of all ages. Make sure you’re informed of how gum recession could damage your smile and learn how you can avoid this problem, by reading on.
The causes
There are a number of reasons receding gums may occur including:
- Neglecting good oral care at home, giving way to gingivitis. This is the name given to the early stages of gum disease. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontal disease.
- Grinding your teeth.
- Over brushing your teeth.
- Genetics.
- Tooth injury.
When you have receding gums you may experience the following symptoms:
- Bleeding gums.
- Red and inflamed gums.
- Bad breath.
- Pain and sensitivity at the gum line.
- Shrinking gums.
- Exposed tooth roots.
- Teeth that feel loose.
Consequences and treatment
If left undiagnosed and untreated, gum recession can have serious consequences, including tooth loss. But don’t worry, as there are ways to address varying degrees of gum recession. Whilst it’s not possible to reverse gum recession, if caught in its early stages it can be halted. Take a look at the preventative advice below to explore how you can stop the issue becoming serious.
For those who are showing symptoms of advanced gum recession, it’s possible to undergo surgery. This involves taking a small amount of healthy gum tissue from a different location in your mouth, to cover the area of exposed tooth where the gum has worn away.
Prevention
When it comes to looking after your gums, prevention is vital. Your gums are hardwearing and withstand a lot every single day, but they’re not invincible and unfortunately, they don’t possess the ability to regenerate after sustaining neglect. You should incorporate the following tips, with a view to preserving your gums and natural teeth for as long as possible:
- Come along to regular dentist and hygienist appointments: check-ups and professional scale and polish cleaning will reduce your chances of gum disease and therefore, gum recession. Flagging up signs of gum recession early is the first step to treatment and future prevention.
- Instil good brushing and flossing habits: brushing for two minutes a day twice a day is the minimum if you wish to preserve your natural teeth. Meanwhile, flossing once a day will remove food particles that can otherwise cause tenacious staining and covers the areas your brush cannot reach.
- Don’t over brush: this is a silent culprit when it comes to gum recession that many don’t realise is doing more harm than good. If you’re over brushing and gradually exposing your tooth root, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist here at Corner House how to improve your technique.
- Amend your lifestyle habits: smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and poor diet can all cause and worsen gum recession. If you need support in making new and healthier habits, please do let us know and we can put together a plan of how we can help you achieve this.
If you would like to book your routine dentist or hygienist appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly reception team.