Receding Gums – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Your gums will start to recede when you get gum disease. Brushing your teeth hard can also cause a receding gum line. Once they begin to reveal the roots of your teeth, the teeth are not as nice looking as they were before. It will also make you look older. The good news is that there is a remedy for receding gums.
Cause of Receding Gums
The primary cause of receding gums is poor oral hygiene, which leads to gum disease. This means that you are not brushing your teeth enough and flossing. Most often, if you change your dental care habits for the better, you may be able to stop any further gum recession.
Another cause is genetics. It is believed that as many as 30 percent of people have a genetic disposition toward gum disease. This means that even with good oral care that they will likely still get periodontal disease.
The gums will recede because they are deteriorating as a result of the inflammation and your immune system. There is an autoimmune system attack taking place and it will not stop until it is treated. This process is largely painless. When your teeth start to become loose, biting down on a loose tooth when chewing can become painful.
Using tobacco also causes the same problem. Gum recession takes place because nicotine reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood. This reduction causes a cell die off and they recede as a result.
Four other causes of gum recession include diabetes, trauma to the mouth, teeth grinding, and women’s hormonal changes. Having thin gums can also be a problem because they can be worn away more easily.
Symptoms of Receding Gums
You can begin to expect gum recession when your gums bleed when you brush or floss them. The gums will also appear inflamed or red. These are the early symptoms of gum disease. At this early stage, you can usually get rid of gum disease by brushing twice a day and flossing. It is much harder to eliminate it if you do not do so at this stage.
When periodontitis gets started, you will see some additional symptoms. Besides receding gums, you will also see more inflammation, pus at the gum line, spaces will develop between your teeth, pockets will form on the gums, bad breath, and, as it gets worse, some teeth will start to become loose. With receding gums, there is the possibility that it may be unknown to the individual for a long time because there often is no pain associated with gum disease in the early stages.
Treatment for Gum Disease
Your gums will need to be treated by a periodontist in order to stop the deterioration. If not stopped, the destruction may require that your teeth be pulled.
Periodontal Disease Treatment Options
Periodontal disease is measured in four stages. The dentist will categorize the severity of the disease by the depth of the pockets that have formed along the gum line and decide on the appropriate gum treatments.
Scaling and Root Planing
This procedure involves the periodontist cleaning out each pocket, removing inflammation and bacteria. Tartar is also removed, and the rough edges of the tooth roots are smoothed (planed) to eliminate areas where bacteria can easily grow and start new colonies. Some periodontists may use laser treatment to ensure that the bacteria in the pockets are thoroughly eliminated. Laser treatment can target bacteria more effectively and promote quicker healing.
In more severe cases, the dentist may surgically open the pockets to clean the gums more thoroughly. Once cleaned, the gums are stitched closer to the teeth to prevent bacteria from entering.
Bone Grafts
When the jawbone has been significantly damaged by periodontal disease, a bone graft may be necessary to rebuild the jawbone before installing a dental implant. Typically, the bone is taken from the chin or hip. The graft will need to heal completely before the implant can be placed.
Gum Grafts
For receding gums, one option is a gum graft, where tissue from your mouth is used to cover the areas of gum loss. The tissue is stitched in place. If the gums have not receded far, a less invasive technique called pinhole gum surgery can be used. This procedure stretches existing gum tissue to cover the tooth roots, offering a quicker and less painful recovery.
Composite Resin
Composite resin can be applied to cover the exposed tooth roots, protecting them from cavities.
Pink Porcelain or Composite
For aesthetic purposes, porcelain or composite materials can be used to fill the gaps between teeth where the gums have receded, giving the gums a more natural appearance.
Removable Gum Veneers
Removable gum veneers can be used to cover areas of gum recession, restoring a more natural appearance to the gums.
Receding gums should be treated when they are first discovered. Since gums do not regrow, it is not going to get better on its own. Dr. Kumar T. Vadivel, DDS, FDS RCS, MS, a Board Certified Periodontist, provides gum recession treatment. He can help reverse receding gums and treat gum recession in his Carrollton, Cedar hill, Mocking bird/SMU, and Grapevine, TX offices. Nearly all dental insurance plans are accepted. For a consultation or information about periodontal treatment, you can contact his ToothHQ office today
