Gum recession is essentially when your gums pulls back or away from your tooth. Basically when your teeth or exposed more than a person with a healthy mouth. When your gums start to recede, it usually forms a gap between your tooth and your gum line, making it easier for bacteria to build up. If you leave this untreated, the tissue supporting your teeth and your teeth itself can be damaged, and can result in an “unhappy smile.”
Receding gums is actually a common dental problem. Most people don’t even have a clue that the process is happening because it happens so slowly. Here are two signs that your gums are starting to recede:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Your teeth look bigger than normal
Why Do Gums Recede?
There are quite of few factors that can lead to receding gums. They include:
- Periodontal Diseases – Periodontal disease is a gum disease. It destroys your gum tissue and bones of your teeth, causing the gums to pull away.
- Your Genes – Yes, your genes can be a factor, making some people are more prone to gum disease than others. Studies show that nearly 30% of people may be at risk for gum disease, regardless of how great they care for their teeth, simply because of genes.
- Aggressive Tooth Brushing – Harder is not always better. If you brush your teeth too hard, it can cause you to lose your enamel. This will result in your gums receding over time.
- Insufficient Dental Care – You have to keep up with your dental care and see a dentist annually. If not, you’re a great host for gum disease. Not to mention, plaque turns into tartar, which is very hard to remove with a toothbrush, and can cause cavities.
- Hormonal Changes – Yes, being a girl can also cause gum disease. We know, we know. As if your hormones don’t affect enough aspects of your life. Yet, fluctuations in your hormones can cause your gums to become super-sensitive, causing you to become more susceptible to receding gum.
- Tobacco Products – If this doesn’t give you another reason to stop smoking, then we do not know what will. Tobacco users are much more likely to have pasty plaque on their teeth than non-smokers. This “paste” is very hard to remove, and can lead to your gums receding.
- Grinding and Clenching Your Teeth – This is a bad habit that wreaks havoc on your teeth. It puts way too much force on your teeth, which also causes your gums to recede.
- Crooked Teeth or a Misaligned Bite – When you have crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, an uneven amount of force can be put on your bone and gums. Some areas will get way too much for, resulting in your gums receding.
How Is Gum Recession Treated?
If you have mild gum recession, your dentist can treat it by doing a deep cleaning. The deep cleaning consists of removing the plaque and tartar from your gum line, as well as below your gum line. This will allow your gums to go back to normal. If it cannot be treated with a deep cleaning, gum surgery may be required to fix the damage caused by the gum disease.
Gum recession is not something you want to ignore. If you think your gums are receding, make an appointment with your dentist immediately. There are treatments that can repair the gums and prevent further damage.
This is not something you want to ignore. Bridge Creek Dental of Billings, MT specializes gum recession. Contact Bridge Creek Dental, and schedule an appointment to tack your receding gums today.