Why Are My Gums Receding?

Good oral health and a confident smile depend on healthy gums. When your gums begin to show the roots by pulling away from your teeth, though, what should you do? Gum recession signals more underlying problems with your oral health than only a cosmetic one.

Let’s discuss gum recession’s origins, how it impacts your teeth, and some stop-and-treat strategies. We will mainly focus on the topmost causes of gum recession, so that you can get aware on time and protect your gums.

Defining Gum Recession

Gum recession results from the gum tissue around your teeth wearing away or pulling back, therefore exposing either the tooth or its base. Ignoring it could cause more sensitive teeth, raise your risk of cavities, and cause you to lose some teeth.

Critical Causes of Gum Recession

Knowing the causes of gum recession will enable you to act correctly to preserve good gum condition. Gum recession usually has numerous causes:

• Unconcerned about oral hygiene
  Poor brushing and flossing can cause gum line plaque and tartar. Periodontal disease and inflammation may result. These are the main gum recession causes.
• Brushing too hard
  Using a toothbrush with hard bristles or high pressure can injure your gums, which is strange. Physical damage pulls gums away from teeth, worsening recession.
• Gum-related diseases
  Germs damaging the gum tissue and the bone supporting your teeth produce gum disease. Particularly in those over 35, gum pullaway from teeth is mostly due to this.
• Genetic problems
  Your DNA significantly influences your chance of having gum problems. Studies show that, even with good dental care, around thirty percent of people could be genetically more vulnerable to gum disease.
• Changes in hormones
  Changes in hormones might make lips more sensitive and prone to tear away from the teeth during menopause, pregnancy, or adolescence. Women are more prone to suffer from this as their hormones vary so frequently.
• Clenching teeth
  When you bite and grind your teeth, you are stressing your teeth and gums excessively. It is called bruxism. Over time, this pressure could push gums away from teeth, which could hurt teeth.
• Misaligned teeth (also called malocclusion)
  Gum loss can result from teeth out of their proper alignment. Unaligned teeth cause unequal pressure on the gums when you chew. It can induce some shrinkage of gum tissue.
• Using smoking and tobacco
  Tobacco use and smoking cut the blood supply to the gums, slow down healing, and raise gum disease risk—all of which can lead to gum recession.

Signs of Gum Recession

Once the causes of gum recession are known, one should observe its symptoms. Early identification of the symptoms helps to prevent the escalation of the damage. Some symptoms are:

• Visible tooth roots
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Swollen or hardened gums
• Spaces between your teeth and gums
• Bleeding when brushing or flossing your teeth

Why Should the Gum Recession Cause Concern?

Azle Dental Office in TX warns that gum recession is more than just an appearance issue. It can seriously affect your mouth’s health and lead to problems including.

• If your gums recede significantly, teeth may fall out without appropriate support.
• With roots visible, teeth are more susceptible to being damaged by sweet, cold, or hot foods and beverages.
• More chances to develop cavities. Enamel makes one more prone to cavities as it does not cover the bottom of the tooth.

Bringing the Gum Recession Under Control

Although certain causes of gum recession cannot be addressed, there are several actions you may take to reduce your risk significantly:

• Attend to your teeth
  Brush your teeth twice daily with a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste. Floss daily to remove plaque.
• Avoid brushing aggressively
  Protect your gums by brushing gently in circles. An electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor can help.
• Visit dentist regularly
  Early gum recession can be caught and its causes—periodontal illness included—tackled by heading to the dentist for those routine visits and cleanings.
• Give up smoking
  If you smoke, giving up can make your gums and general oral health a lot better.
• Put on a mouthguard
  If you grind your teeth, you need a mouthguard. Ask your dentist for a custom one to protect your smile!
• Address misaligned teeth
  Misaligned teeth can be fixed with orthodontic treatments like braces or clear aligners, which spread pressure properly and lower the risk of gum recession.

Different Ways to Treat Gum Recession

Given below are some of the receding gum treatment options:

• Scaling and Root Planing: It removes plaque and tartar under the gum line during deep cleaning.
• Gum Graft Surgery: In the worst circumstances, a periodontist may cover the visible roots with a gum graft, restoring the gum tissue.
• Pinhole Surgery Method: Less intrusive than conventional gum grafting, the pinhole surgery technique moves gum tissue to cover exposed areas.
• Use of Desensitizing Agents: Toothpaste or treatments with fluoride can help ease the pain that comes from the different causes of gum recession.

Final Thoughts

Gum loss is an avoidable condition suffered by millions of individuals worldwide. While evaluating it can be difficult, knowing the causes of gum recession will help. Good oral hygiene, frequent dental appointments, and avoiding negative habits help maintain gums and oral health.

If you have gum recession or similar symptoms, see a seasoned Texas dentist for an evaluation and treatment plan. Recall, too, that a wonderful smile and generally good dental health depend on strong gums.