How To Stop Gums From Receding and treatment of receding gums
The gum recession problem is very common, especially (although not necessarily) for those over the age of 40. Receding gums is an extremely common dental ailment that virtually everyone will encounter. Receding gum lines result from gum disease, aging and gum recession-yes, it’s that serious. Recession can be brought on by many different factors, such as genetics, harsh brushing, and even bruxism (gum grinding.)
Because the gums play such an important role in your mouth, making sure that they’re healthy is a crucial part of maintaining overall oral health. One condition to be watchful for is receding gums, in which the gums pull back or shrink from the tooth, exposing the lower regions and root of the tooth. Gums recession is a common dental issue but can be a relatively early sign of gum disease.
Recession forms spaces(also known as pockets) between the teeth and gum line, making it easier for bacteria to build up. The first symptom is usually tooth sensitivity or a tooth that looks longer than normal. If left untreated, areas of bleeding gum become increasingly hard to keep clean due to sensitivity and change in structure. It can go to severe oral health issues, as well as tooth loss. In this article, we will discuss how to stop receding gums and how to treat receding gums.
Signs of Receding Gums
Many people don’t notice their gums are starting to recede, at least not until they become sensitive to cold food, especially drinks. As the gums shrink and recede, your teeth look longer, and you begin to see the root.
Other telltale signs of gum recession include the following:
- Bleeding or pain when brushing your teeth, flossing, or eating hard foods
- Swollen, red-colored gums
- Mouth sores
- Bad breath
- Separation between teeth
- Pus between teeth and gums
What Causes Gums to Recede?
Although the actual causes remain somewhat of a mystery, several culprits have been identified. Gum tissue begins to lose its elasticity as we age. This process is believed to be directly related to the onset of what is known as periodontal disease. Essentially, the process is described as the destruction of the gingival tissue which lines the teeth. In this case, the destruction is caused by a combination of free radicals and bacteria.
Dental health is extremely important for a happy smile and general good health. As we age, the ability to properly maintain and care for our teeth decreases. As the teeth become worn, they begin to lose the ability to hold plaque and tartar. It becomes easier for food particles to enter into our mouths and cause disease. In addition, unhealthy gums are also responsible for keeping teeth firm, but receding gums make this important function harder to do and contribute to tooth loss over time.
How Is Gum Recession Treated?
Mild gum recession may be able to be cured by your dentist by deep cleaning the affected area. Deep cleaning, tooth scaling and root planing, plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth, and root surfaces below the gum line are carefully removed. The exposed root area is planned to make it harder for bacteria to attach themselves. Antibiotics also might be given to get rid of any harmful bacteria.
If your recession cannot be cured with deep cleaning because of excess loss of bone and pockets that are too deep, gum surgery may be required to repair the damage caused by gum recession.
Treatment Options to Stop Gums from Receding
As we get older, it becomes harder for our teeth to maintain their shape and structure. This is due to a reduction in the number of structural tissues which cover the tooth. Additionally, as the teeth become more crowded together, it becomes harder to grip each other and cause friction.
Professional Treatment to Stop Receding Gums
If you’re concerned about receding gums, then you should contact your dentist and see what type of treatment they can recommend for you. If you have severe gum problems or think they may get worse, you may want to look into periodontal surgery. This can repair damaged gum tissue and also correct gum recession.
Surgery may involve scaling or removing the dead and diseased tissue on the root portion of your tooth. This can be done through the traditional scaling techniques, which involve drilling into the jaw bone to remove diseased tissue and clean out the pockets. Hygienist techniques include using dental scaling or taking x-rays of the teeth. Root planing is another procedure that hygienists can perform. This procedure involves making a deep cleaning of your mouth to allow your gums to heal and increase blood flow to the area. By using the professional method, we can treat gum.
Home Treatments to Prevent Gum Recession
If you want to avoid the possibility of experiencing receding gums, it is important to pay attention to the symptoms that they may present. However, when you do observe them, there are a few things you can do about them to help you curb their advance.
To stop from receding the gum, it is vital to keep them from getting worse. A few straightforward methods include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day.
- Flossing.
- The recession of gums with a mouthwash that contains fluoride and a good oral hygiene product.
However, it isn’t just the “bad breath” that is the cause of gum disease; poor oral hygiene contributes to this condition as well. There is nothing more harmful to your health than bacteria living in plaque. Plaque, or tartar, if left untreated, can lead to cavities and ultimately to full-blown decay.
Reduce Stress
Some of the first steps you need to take to reduce any instances of stress or excessive gum disease. While there is no consensus on whether these are related, it has been shown that the two are often strongly correlated. Stress can easily lead to tooth loss if it is not managed properly. Therefore, you should try to make time for your morning coffee without adding sugar that may cause additional tooth decay or irritation.
Good Oral Cleaning Routine
The next step you demand to take is to brush or clean your teeth daily to prevent tooth loss and the development of receding gums. If you have had recent dental work such as crowns or dental implants, it is especially important to ensure that your teeth are thoroughly cleaned before bedtime. Brushing twice daily is sufficient, but you may also want to use floss just in case food gets stuck between your teeth during the night. This strategy aims to make sure that plaque does not accumulate on the inner layer of your teeth, which is called the root.
Reduce Tooth Sensitivity
The final step you should take to prevent receding gums is to reduce your daily sensitivity to hot or cold. Hot and cold temperatures directly affect your sensitivity and can lead to pain and discomfort. Your temperature sensitivity is partially hereditary, but other things can affect it as well, such as smoking, constant hot or cold drinks, the color of your teeth, and even your diet. Dental work can expose tooth roots which will cause the sensitivity to increase as the root becomes compressed against the teeth.
Antibacterial Rinses
Often, your dentist is recommended to use an over-the-counter mouthwash or oral rinse that contains antibacterial ingredients such as Triclosan. This ingredient is used to kill bacteria in the mouth. Antibacterial rinses are great for killing the bad bacteria that contribute to plaque buildup in the mouth. Plaque buildup is the precursor to tonsil stones and ultimately to all types of dental problems, including receding gums. If you suffer from plaque buildup, your dentist may recommend an antibacterial mouthwash or rinse.
Massage Therapy
One natural remedy that you can do for relieving the pain of receding gums and for treating any oral problems is massage therapy. You can purchase products at your local health food store to help you with massage techniques. Massage oils and creams are often recommended to help with the pain of gingivitis, and it’s also a good way to stimulate the salivary glands. Your dentist may also recommend a combination of oils and lotions and some heat compress. The idea is to keep the affected area warm and to use upward strokes only. We can prevent our gums from receding by using massage therapy.
Gum Disease
Gum disease and receding gums often occur together because there are many similarities between them.
Periodontal pockets are formed on the teeth and along with the gingival disease. These pockets are made from connective tissue that is easily damaged and eroded. Gum recession occurs when the roots of the tooth pull away from the bone, exposing the exposed roots of the tooth. Gum recession and inflammation can weaken the jawbone and make it susceptible to further damage from the teeth and the roots.
If you experience any of the signs mentioned above, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your dentist. Visit your dentist regularly and make sure to get your teeth cleaned each time they are checked. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, and make sure to use mouthwash to protect your mouth from bacteria. These steps will help you fight off any bacteria that may be responsible for causing receding gums. Early intervention is crucial in preventing extensive damage to the gums and the teeth, as well as a loss of tooth sensitivity and fullness in your mouth.
What Type of Surgery Is Used to Treat Gum Recession?
The following surgical procedures are used to treat gum recession:
Open Flap Scaling and Root Planing:
During this method, the dentist or periodontist (gum doctor) folds back the affected gum tissue, removes the dangerous bacteria from the pockets, and then snugly secures the gum tissue in place over the tooth root, thus removing the pockets.
Regeneration:
If the bone giving support to your teeth has been destroyed due to gum recession, a method to regenerate lost bone and tissue may be recommended. As in pocket depth reduction, your dentist will fold back the gum tissue and remove the bacteria. A regenerative material, such as a membrane, graft tissue, or tissue-stimulating protein, will then be applied to encourage your body to regenerate bone and tissue in that area naturally. After the regenerative material is put in place, the gum tissue is secured over the root of the tooth or teeth.
Soft Tissue Graft:
There are many gum tissue graft procedures, but the most commonly used is a connective tissue graft. In this procedure, a flap of skin is cut at the roof of your mouth (palate), and tissue from under the flap, called subepithelial connective tissue, is removed and then stitched to the gum tissue surrounding the exposed root. After the connective tissue — the graft — has been removed from under the flap, the flap is stitched back down. During another type of graft, called a free gingival graft, tissue is taken directly from the roof of the mouth instead of under the skin. Sometimes, if you have enough gum tissue surrounding the affected teeth, the dentist can graft gum from near the tooth and not remove tissue from the palate. This is called a pedicle graft.
Your dentist can determine the best type of procedure to use on you based on your individual needs.
Surgical Treatments
Oral Surgery
Find out what conditions might require oral surgery and what to expect.
Root Canals
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a badly decayed tooth or become infected.
Gum Tissue Grafts
A gum graft may be necessary to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of gum recession, or you may choose to have one to improve the appearance of your smile.
Gum Contouring
Also called gum reshaping or tissue sculpting, this cosmetic dental procedure can even out an uneven gum line and give you a smile you can be proud of.
Conclusion
The best way to treat gum recession is to take the best care of your mouth. Brush your teeth every day and see your dentist at least twice a year or as recommended. If you have recession of gums, your dentist may want to see you more often. Always use a soft-bristled toothbrush and ask your dentist to show you the proper method to brush your teeth. If a misaligned bite or tooth rubbing is the cause of gum recession, talk to your dentist about how to correct the problem. Other ways to get rid of gum recession include:
Quit smoking if you smoke.
Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet.
Monitor alteration that may occur in your mouth.
By taking the best care of your teeth, you may have a healthy smile for a lifetime.